How does a spark of an idea become a life-saving medical device? Engineer, inventor and entrepreneur Robert Webster III traces that spark back to his childhood.
He was encouraged to weave both imagination and investigation into his learning.
"Growing up my parents really trained me to be a researcher without even knowing it," said Webster, senior associate provost for commercialization and technology transfer and head of the Medical Engineering and Discovery Lab.
"I was homeschooled, and my mom and dad empowered me to turn the world into a research problem. They'd say, 'why don't you figure out how to do an experiment on this or how would you get more information about that?'" said Webster, who is also the Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering, professor of electrical engineering, otolaryngology, neurological surgery, urologic surgery and of medicine.
PASSION FOR SURGICAL ROBOTICS
Webster fell in love with solving highly technical problems. But unlike many mechanical engineers, he wasn't drawn to robots themselves until he saw the potential of using the technology to help save lives.
As an undergraduate at Clemson in 2001, Webster learned about the first transatlantic tele-surgical operation using a robot.
"That operation was amazing, and even though the entire field was just starting, I knew surgical robotic engineering is what I wanted to work on, and it's what led me to graduate school at Johns Hopkins University," he said.
BREAKTHROUGH DEVICE SUCCESSES
Webster has greatly advanced surgical robotics with a focus on improving accuracy and reducing invasiveness during procedures.
"The problems I love solving involve creating smaller tools that enhance a surgeon's dexterity, allowing them to make smaller incisions or even no incisions so we don't leave patients with months of recovery or complications," Webster said.
Innovations from Webster's lab have resulted in more than 75 patents and applications and two startup companies, Virtuoso and EndoTheia. The technology replaces traditional endoscopes, allowing surgery in some of the most difficult-to-reach areas of the body.
Both companies received breakthrough device designation from the Food and Drug Administration and successfully completed first human use of their devices.
"In May 2025 we were able to remove 11 tumors out of six patients with bladder cancer. All of the surgeries were completely successful, and all tumors residing in the bladder's surface layers were entirely removed," he said.
Webster's work is also respected among his peers. Recently, he was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors as well as elevated to IEEE Fellow, a prestigious title awarded by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers to members who have made significant contributions to the fields of engineering, science and technology.
AI IMPROVING SURGERY
Webster's latest work brings artificial intelligence into the lab by automating devices.
"I believe AI in surgery will provide better surgical care for patients around the world in terms of democratizing the skills of the best surgeons through AI robotic devices," said Webster, whose Vanderbilt lab and startup Virtuoso recently received a $12 million award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration around automating robotic surgery.
"Imagine if every single patient could be treated as well as we treat the top 10 percent right now? AI automation and robotics have the potential to make that happen," Webster said.
PASSION FOR PARTNERSHIP
Webster's work continues to push the boundaries of surgical robotics, ensuring Vanderbilt remains at the forefront of medical technology innovation. But he knows successfully bringing an idea from concept to creation is like carrying a candle through a snowstorm.
As senior associate provost for commercialization and technology transfer, a leader in the Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering, and an inaugural Vanderbilt Innovation Ambassador, Webster mentors and partners across the university and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to create pathways for other inventors.
"The system for engineers to get their ideas into doctors' hands is incredibly inefficient," he said. "I'm empowering others at Vanderbilt by helping people with really good ideas through the rough patches that I've overcome myself."
TURNING MEDICAL IDEAS INTO REALITY
Part of that pathway is a new partnership between the university, VUMC and Nissha Medical Technologies. Nissha invested in one of Webster's startups (EndoTheia Inc.) and is moving its Engineering & Innovation Center of Excellence to Vanderbilt under a long-term lease agreement.
"This is exciting because Vanderbilt can be an idea engine, then Nissha will be able to be a conduit and manufacturing partner for our ideas and technologies to the wider world," he said.
SPECIAL COLLABORATIONS
Webster's favorite collaborations are with his family, his beach volleyball teammates when he's taking a much-needed break from the lab, and with his students.
He's supported hundreds of undergraduate and graduate research projects and supported the careers of numerous Ph.D. students who are now highly successful innovators within his or other startups or have earned faculty positions.
"When I recruit students, the number one thing I'm looking for is a shared career vision of using engineering skills to ultimately help patients by helping doctors do their jobs more effectively," he said. "We are choosing to use our engineering talent to make a positive impact in the world. To me that's really fun."
