Atrium Health, French surgical institute partner on innovation district

Atrium Health is working with IRCAD, a French-based surgical research and training institute, to form the organization's first North American headquarters and create a space where surgeons can practice performing safer procedures.

The research building will be constructed in Charlotte, N.C.'s new innovation district, called "The Pearl," next to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Charlotte campus currently being built, Atrium said Monday.

"We envision IRCAD being a 'super magnet,' attracting businesses, physicians and surgeons to train and collaborate in the latest surgical techniques, including: robotics, medical virtual and augmented reality, surgical artificial intelligence and simulation training," said Eugene Woods, president and CEO of nonprofit Atrium Health, in a news release.

Called the Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l'Appareil Digestif in French, the Institute for Research into Cancer of the Digestive System focuses on educating physicians about minimally invasive surgery techniques through its robotics, research laboratories and research and development units in computer science.

The institute was founded in 1994 near the University Hospital of Strasbourg in France, and has expanded to six training centers in five countries, facilitating the education of more than 7,200 physicians annually in 18 specialties. IRCAD also runs the free minimally invasive surgery training website WeBSurg.

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Future physicians trained at Wake Forest University School of Medicine's campuses in both Charlotte and Winston-Salem will be able to use IRCAD's technology as part of their instruction.

IRCAD has robotics that design and develop tools for diagnosis and virtual reality systems that can transform a patient's medical images into a virtual 3D clone, allowing surgeons to better prepare for surgery.

"Having the opportunity to become part of the new innovation district and its proximity to Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Charlotte, in its formative stages, will allow us to grow and excel together as we train the world's best surgeons with the latest technology, innovations and techniques," said Dr. Jacques Marescaux, the president and founder of IRCAD, in the news release.

Leaders from Atrium and IRCAD plan to create a public-private partnership to underwrite the training center's start up costs and acquire the necessary technology.

While some entities such as leading life science technology firms have already made financial and technological commitments, Woods said the companies continue to talk with donors, corporate interests and government leaders to secure a significant amount of additional funding.

The Pearl, along with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, will break ground sometime in mid- or late-2022 in midtown Charlotte.

The headquarters is expected to open by 2025 and attract thousands of medical professionals to Charlotte annually with its medical virtual and augmented reality, surgical artificial intelligence and simulation training, he said.