In conversation with Prof Louis Phee: Precision engineering for better healthcare
Prof Louis Phee highlights how the Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professorship in Engineering helps bring innovative medical solutions from the lab to the clinic.
Text: Jesmine Ong
Learn more about Prof Phee’s work from this video.
In medicine, precision can make all the difference. When surgeons operate inside the human body, even a millimetre can determine the success of a procedure.
For Prof Louis Phee, NTU’s Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, who has been appointed Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor in Mechanical Engineering, this challenge drives his research in medical robotics and mechatronics.
Prof Phee designs robotic systems that allow doctors to perform procedures through extremely small openings in the body – an approach known as minimally invasive surgery. These techniques can reduce patient trauma, shorten recovery time and improve surgical outcomes.
“My work focuses on building medical robotic systems for minimally invasive care, where clinicians operate through narrow pathways inside the body,” he says.
Expanding the possibilities of medical technology
Supported by the Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professorship in Engineering, Prof Phee and his team are exploring new ways to overcome the limitations of conventional surgical instruments.
“The professorship allows us to explore new ideas, test each of them thoroughly, and understand their potential before narrowing our focus,” he says.
Prof Phee with his research team at the Robotics Research Centre.
One example of a commercialised product is a robotic endoscopic system designed to give clinicians greater precision and control during delicate procedures.
“By combining robotics with flexible endoscopy, we’re able to overcome some of the physical limitations of conventional instruments,” said Prof Phee.
His research also includes the development of ingestible medical capsules designed for weight control, where safety and reliability inside the body are critical.
Prof Phee believes that engineering innovation must ultimately serve real-world needs. Beyond research, he is deeply involved in mentoring students and young engineers, helping them understand what responsible innovation looks like.
“For me, engineering doesn’t stop at solving technical problems. It also means thinking about potential impact and how ideas move into real-world use.”
Through sustained support from the Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professorship, his work continues to advance medical technologies while preparing the next generation of engineers to design innovations that improve lives.
Learn more about NTU’s Professorships here.
