Furen Xiao, MD, PhD (Chinese: 蕭輔仁) is a distinguished Taiwanese neurosurgeon and clinician-scientist serving as Associate Professor in the Institute of Medical Device and Imaging, as well as in the Division of Neurosurgery at National Taiwan University Hospital.

Dr. Xiao earned his medical degree (M.D.) from National Taiwan University’s College of Medicine, followed by completion of his neurosurgery residency in NTU Hospital’s Department of Surgery. He then pursued advanced training abroad, including a fellowship in stereotactic radiosurgery at Stanford University and a neurosurgery fellowship at UCLA. These clinical accomplishments are complemented by a doctorate: he earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from NTU’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering.

In his clinical practice, Dr. Xiao serves as an attending neurosurgeon in NTU’s Department of Surgery, where he applies his combined expertise in surgery and medical engineering to patient care.

Research-wise, Dr. Xiao bridges neurosurgery and biomedical engineering, exploring areas such as stereotactic radiosurgery, medical image analysis, clinical data mining, spine surgery, brain tumor therapy, and neurotrauma. His contributions include developing deep learning–based methods for lesion and tumor segmentation, implementing algorithms for automatic tumor contouring in radiosurgical planning, and refining computational approaches for cerebrovascular disease management.

Academically, he holds the rank of Associate Professor in the Institute of Medical Device and Imaging and is also associated with NTU’s Department of Surgery and the Program for Precision Health and Intelligent Medicine.

Dr. Xiao is widely recognized for integrating engineering tools especially computer vision and machine learning with surgical practice to enhance precision and treatment planning. His dual MD/PhD background and his strong grounding in both clinical neurosurgery and bioengineering enable him to innovate at the intersection of these disciplines.

Led by Dr. Furen Xiao, a neurosurgeon and biomedical engineer, our lab operates at the critical intersection of clinical medicine and engineering. Our mission is to translate cutting edge engineering research into tangible solutions that directly address complex challenges in neurosurgery and oncology. We specialize in developing intelligent systems for precision diagnosis and treatment, with a core focus on improving outcomes for patients with brain tumors, spinal disorders, and metastatic disease.

Our Expertise: From Clinical Need to Technical Solution

Our unique strength is our deeply integrated, multidisciplinary approach. Dr. Xiao's dual expertise as a practicing neurosurgeon at NTU Hospital and a professor in medical device engineering ensures that every project is rooted in a clear clinical need. Our team combines deep clinical knowledge in neurosurgery and radiology with advanced technical skills in:

Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning

Medical Image Analysis and Synthesis

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (e.g., CyberKnife)

Biomechanics and Surgical Device Development

Key Research Areas & Impactful Projects

Our research, evidenced by a strong publication record in high impact journals, is concentrated in several key areas:

AI-Powered Medical Image Analysis: We are pioneers in using deep learning for the automatic segmentation of brain tumors and lesions from MRI/CT scans, a technology directly applied to enhance the precision of stereotactic radiosurgery planning.

Advanced Image Synthesis: We develop generative AI models, including Diffusion Probabilistic Models, for tasks like semantic 3D medical image synthesis and MRI-to-CT translation, expanding datasets for research and improving diagnostic capabilities.

Precision Radiosurgery and Outcomes Research: We conduct clinical trials and retrospective studies to optimize stereotactic radiosurgery protocols for brain metastases, pituitary adenomas, and spinal tumors, directly influencing clinical practice.

Surgical Innovation and Biomechanics: Our work includes developing predictive nomograms for intracranial pressure, designing dynamic spinal implants, and exploring the biomechanics of surgical conditions.

Joining Our Lab

As a mentor, I guide students and researchers who are passionate about creating technology with immediate clinical relevance. Lab members gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment where engineering principles are applied to solve real-world medical problems. We look for motivated individuals eager to contribute to projects that span from algorithm development to clinical validation.

We welcome students and researchers with backgrounds in:

Computer Science & AI/Deep Learning

Biomedical Engineering & Electrical Engineering

Medical Imaging & Data Science