Vattikuti Foundation Honors KS International Innovation Award Winners
India-West News Desk
MIAMI, FL – The Vattikuti Foundation concluded the KS International Innovation Awards 2026 on April 17, recognizing several surgical teams for advancements in robotic-assisted procedures and medical technology.
The annual event, established in 2015, serves as a forum for evaluating new methods intended to improve surgical precision and patient recovery.
The awards are named in honor of the late Shri Krishnaswamy Subrahmaniam, an early advocate for robotic surgery. A jury of medical experts, including representatives from the University of Oxford, Stanford University, and AIIMS New Delhi, evaluated submissions based on clinical relevance, originality, and scalability.
In the Technology Track, Federico Piramide of San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital received first place for developing immersive virtual environments used in preoperative planning. Daniele Amparore, representing the University of Turin and Candiolo Cancer Institute, was named runner-up for his work on postoperative telemonitoring via connected medical devices.
The Procedure Track saw Federico Lavagno of the University of Turin take first place for a single-port nephroureterectomy technique. Dr. Kalayarasan Raja from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research was the runner-up for a modified robotic hepatectomy. Additionally, the People’s Choice Award was granted to Dr. Atanu Kumar Pal of Aster Medcity for a robotic Level 3 IVC thrombectomy.
Foundation leadership noted that these entries demonstrate a shift toward integrating data and clinical expertise to address surgical challenges.
Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, CEO of the Vattikuti Foundation, stated that the recognized innovations focus on the entire surgical continuum, from planning to postoperative care. The Michigan-based foundation, established in 1997, continues its mission to expand the use of robotic surgery through international collaboration and education. For more: www.vattikutifoundation.com
