Seminar
“Engineering MRI-Guided Robotic Interventions for Clinical Translation”
Pedro Moreira, PhD
Research Scientist and Instructor, Department of Radiology
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Harvard Medical School
Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers unparalleled soft‑tissue contrast, multimodal imaging capabilities, and real‑time thermometry, making it an ideal modality for guiding precise and minimally invasive interventions. However, its restrictive environment and workflow limitations create a unique engineering challenge. This presentation will examine how these challenges motivate novel approaches in MRI‑compatible devices, optimal surgical planning, and workflow integration. I will discuss the development of robotic platforms designed to enhance targeting accuracy, reproducibility, and intra‑procedural feedback in image‑guided therapies. Case studies, including MRI‑guided prostate interventions and stereotactic brain procedures, will illustrate how engineering innovations are enabling clinically viable systems that complement radiological workflows and support broader translation. Collectively, this work demonstrates how new approaches can be integrated to expand interventional capabilities and improve the precision and safety of percutaneous therapies.
Bio: Pedro Moreira is a Research Scientist in the Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an Instructor in Radiology at Harvard Medical School. His work bridges engineering, imaging, and medicine, with a focus on developing MRI‑compatible robotic systems to improve minimally invasive procedures. He holds a PhD in in Automatic Systems from the University of Montpellier (France) and has spent the past years designing and validating image‑guided robotic devices for clinical use. His interests include advancing the clinical translation of imaging‑robotic technologies, particularly those that pair MRI with robotic assistance for safer, more accurate needle‑based interventions.
For a zoom link please contact Kate Harrison at kharrison@wpi.edu