Prof. Dr. med. Mazda Farshad

Area of Research

Description of Research Interest

My research is dedicated to advancing precision surgery in orthopedics and spine care by integrating clinical expertise with translational research and innovation. A central focus is the development of patient-specific diagnostics, planning, and execution of surgery, leveraging digital tools, simulation, robotics, and AI. As Co-Chair of SURGENT, a University Medicine Zurich Flagship Project, I help set new standards in precision spine and neurosurgery. Through international and national collaborations such as FAROS (robotic-assisted, AI-guided navigation), PROFICIENCY (immersive surgical training and simulation), and OR-X (a translational center for surgical innovation and validation), I aim to accelerate the safe adoption of novel technologies. My clinical research builds on infrastructures such as the Clinical Trial Center, the University Spine Center Zurich, and the EndoSpine Academy, which combine patient care, education, and research. In addition, I promote preventive and rehabilitative strategies through the University Center for Preventive and Sports Medicine. Bridging surgery, engineering, and data science, my goal is to establish scalable, multidisciplinary models that improve outcomes, enhance patient safety, and transform surgical education and innovation.

Special Expertise

• Orthopedic Surgery
  
• Spine Surgery (degenerative, deformity, tumor, trauma)
  
• Spine Endoscopy
  
• Patient-specific diagnosis, analysis, and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders
  
• Precision surgery & digital surgical planning
  
• Translational surgical research and innovation
  
• Development of infrastructures for surgical technology (OR-X, Balgrist Campus)
  
• Epidemiology and Public Health in orthopedics
  
• Clinical and applied musculoskeletal research
  
• Preventive and Sports Medicine
  

Shareable Platforms, Services, Equipment & Infrastructure

• Operating Room X (OR-X)
  
• Balgrist Campus
  
  
  
• Swiss Center for Musculoskeletal Imaging (SCMI) 
  
• Swiss Center for Musculoskeletal Biobanking (SCMB)
  
• Swiss Center for Movement Analysis (SCMA)
  

Member of Collaborative/interdisciplinary Research Consortia

• SURGENT (Co-Chair) – University Medicine Zurich Flagship Project on precision surgery in spine and neurosurgery
  
• FAROS – Horizon Europe Project on robotic-assisted surgery and AI-guided intraoperative navigation
  
• PROFICIENCY – Innosuisse Flagship project on immersive surgical training and proficiency-based progression using advanced simulation technologies
  
• OR-X (Operating Room X) – National translational research and teaching center for surgical innovation and validation
  
• Clinical Trial Center – Multidisciplinary research platform for musculoskeletal and spine-related translational projects
  
• EndoSpine Academy – International platform for education and research in endoscopic spine surgery.
  
• University Spine Center Zurich – Largest interdisciplinary spine center in Switzerland, offering comprehensive care and research across the full spectrum of spinal disorders.
  
• University Center for Preventive and Sports Medicine (UZSM) – Collaborative initiative focusing on prevention, sports medicine, and rehabilitation research