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§ Private Profile · Geffen Hall 885 Tiverton Drive Los Angeles, CA 90095
Research and training center developing surgical technology and training for surgery.
Key people at Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology, UCLA.
The Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology at UCLA is a research institution in Los Angeles, California, developing digital health solutions, telemedicine platforms, wearable diagnostics, and immersive simulation training for minimally invasive procedures. Operating within Rosenfeld Hall, this university hub is supported by institutional funding and philanthropic contributions, including a notable $20 million donation from Eugene and Maxine Rosenfeld. The facility functions as a living laboratory where interdisciplinary teams across medicine, engineering, and data science collaborate to optimize patient outcomes and revolutionize surgical education for medical professionals. Current leadership includes Executive Director Peyman Benharash and Research Director Bijan Najafi, who oversee major initiatives such as National Science Foundation funded care in place technologies. Originally established by founder Carmack Holmes, the center continues to unite experts to advance innovative surgical tools and robotics without relying on commercial revenue.
Key people at Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology, UCLA.
The Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT) at UCLA is a research and innovation hub, not a commercial company, dedicated to advancing surgical technologies through interdisciplinary collaboration among medicine, engineering, data science, and behavioral research[1][3][4]. Located adjacent to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Rosenfeld Hall, CASIT develops solutions in digital health, telemedicine, next-generation surgical tech, wearable diagnostics, and immersive simulation training to optimize patient outcomes amid challenges like an aging population and rising healthcare costs—such as $93 billion in annual U.S. losses from poor access and 20% of Americans aged 65+ by 2030[1].
CASIT fosters minimally invasive procedures via robotics, AI, data analytics, and behavioral science integration, while supporting education through patient simulators, laparoscopic/robotic labs, and team training for surgical residents[2][3]. It drives "care-in-place" initiatives, like the C2SHIP project funded by a $4 million award, to enable home-based chronic disease management using wearables and smart systems[7].
CASIT emerged from the need for disaster-proof healthcare, inspired by an earthquake that highlighted vulnerabilities in surgical systems, prompting UCLA to create a resilient innovation center[6]. Established as a UCLA-designated research facility, it shares a high-tech space in Rosenfeld Hall—opened in 2023—with the UCLA Simulation Center, funded by philanthropists Eugene and Maxine Rosenfeld, building on UCLA's early adoption of simulation for medical training[2][5].
Key leaders include Executive Director Dr. Peyman Benharash (professor of surgery and bioengineering), Research Director Dr. Bijan Najafi (professor of surgery spearheading wearables and AI), and Education Director Dr. Areti Tillou (chief of trauma), who guide its evolution from surgical simulation to broader digital health applications[7]. Early traction came through resident training programs and interdisciplinary partnerships across UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and California NanoSystems Institutes[1][2].
CASIT rides the wave of decentralized healthcare, leveraging AI, wearables, and telehealth to shift care from hospitals to homes—critical as chronic diseases and aging strain systems, with initiatives like C2SHIP testing real-world wearables for proactive management[1][7]. Timing aligns with post-pandemic telemedicine growth and U.S. healthcare inefficiencies, positioning UCLA as a leader in "hospital-grade" in-home tech amid demands for equitable access[3][7].
It influences the ecosystem by training next-gen surgeons via simulation (reducing errors and costs), fostering industry pilots, and bridging academia-industry gaps—evident in global conference wins and partnerships that standardize digital therapeutics for healthy aging[2][5][8].
CASIT is poised to expand in-home and AI-enhanced surgery, with C2SHIP clinical trials imminent and pilot funding for UCLA faculty signaling scaled wearables deployment[7]. Trends like AI personalization and remote monitoring will amplify its reach, potentially redefining minimally invasive care globally as demographics shift.
Its earthquake-born resilience underscores enduring impact: from transforming disaster response to everyday precision medicine, CASIT exemplifies how academic hubs drive healthcare's innovative frontier[6].
