Dr Changyan He is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the Discipline of Medical Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

Dr He develops robotic technologies to make minimally invasive surgery safer and more precise. He leads the Medical Robotics Theme within the Medical Technology Research Centre.

His research brings together magnetic actuation, miniature robotic instruments, fibre-optic sensing and intelligent control. By combining innovative robot designs with real-time feedback, he aims to help clinicians navigate delicate anatomy and perform complex procedures in areas that are difficult to reach with conventional instruments. His work spans applications in microsugeries, e.g., neurosurgery and retinal surgery.

A major contribution is his first-author paper published in Science Robotics in 2025, which demonstrated a magnetic robotic tool capable of gripping, cutting and collecting tissue samples in the brains of living piglets. This work represents an important step towards minimally invasive robotic neurosurgery and attracted international media attention.

Before joining Newcastle in 2023, Dr He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children, following doctoral research at Beihang University and a visiting research appointment at Johns Hopkins University. He collaborates with engineers, clinicians and industry partners to translate advances in robotics into practical medical technologies.

Research Expertise: Magnetic Actuation; Microrobots; Robotic Design and Control; FBG Sensors; Continuum robots; Surgical Robots