A-STAR
Augmenting the surgeon. Advancing the science.
AI in Surgical Technology & Augmentation Research develops surgical AI systems for planning, guidance, education, and validation.
Our mission
A-STAR advances artificial intelligence across the full surgical journey — from risk stratification through patient education and rigorous validation.
By the numbers
Team members
Current A-STAR people and collaborators
Active projects
MOSI and SIRIS
Publications
Research outputs in the publication index
Research & projects
Intelligence across the surgical journey.
A-STAR maps AI research to the four phases of surgical care — each phase grounded in clinical problems that matter to surgeons and patients.
Phase 01 / Risk Stratification & Planning
Risk Stratification & Planning
Pre-operative risk assessment, candidate identification, and surgical decision support driven by validated algorithms.
Projects in this phase
MOSI
Metabolic & Obesity Staging Index
Decision support and prospective validation for bariatric surgery.
Open projectSIRIS
Surgical-IRIS Education
AI-powered surgical patient education built on Mayo Clinic's IRIS platform.
Open projectThe team
The people behind A-STAR.
A clinical and technical team translating surgical AI from research questions into validated tools.
Collaborators
Upcoming events
A-STAR Lab Journal Club
During this session, participants will discuss recent advances in artificial intelligence in surgery and brainstorm new ideas for future research and innovation. This event is limited to Mayo Clinic employees.
A-STAR Lab Abstract Accepted for the 2026 AI Research Summit
An abstract presentation by Dr. Reza Shahriarirad, titled 'Biological Age Reversal Following Bariatric Surgery: A Longitudinal Cohort Study Using AI-Derived ECG Age,' has been accepted for poster presentation at the 2026 AI Research Summit. This work highlights the A-STAR Lab's continued efforts to apply AI to clinically meaningful questions in bariatric surgery, including the use of AI-derived biomarkers to better understand physiologic changes following surgical weight loss.
From the lab
A-STAR Lab Represents Mayo Clinic at the 2026 ASMBS Annual Meeting
Dr. Simon J. Laplante delivered an invited talk on "Quantum Computing: Solving Complex Surgical Data Challenges" and the A-STAR Lab presented the MOSI abstract poster at the 2026 ASMBS Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
A-STAR Lab Attends the 2026 SAGES Annual Meeting
Dr. Simon J. Laplante and Dr. Abdulrahman Alomar represented the A-STAR Lab at the 2026 SAGES Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida (March 24–27, 2026).
A-STAR Lab Welcomes Dr. Amin Madani to Mayo Clinic
Dr. Amin Madani, founder of the Surgical Artificial Intelligence Research Academy (SARA) at UHN Toronto, visited Mayo Clinic and delivered a Department of Surgery lecture on AI in surgery.
Collaborating institutions
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