Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi signs Agreement to pilot innovative surgical platform - Polyphonic

● Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will integrate the Polyphonic™ Digital Ecosystem into three of its operating rooms for one year ● The project builds on Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s growing portfolio of pioneering AI-driven technology initiatives

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to pilot Polyphonic™, an innovative digital ecosystem designed to enhance surgical performance, team collaboration, and training. The hospital will be the first in the Middle East to trial this technology, underscoring its role as a regional leader in healthcare innovation.

Developed by Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Polyphonic is a connected digital system for the operating room that includes solutions such as case planning, telepresence, and the secure recording, organization, and sharing of surgical video data. The solutions enable real-time collaboration, remote guidance, and performance analysis to improve surgical outcomes and education.

As part of the pilot project, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will integrate Polyphonic into three of its operating rooms for one year, focusing on minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures.

Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “Global collaborations are critical drivers of innovation in medicine. At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, we’ve consistently led the way in introducing the world’s most advanced technologies to the region, driven by the mission of providing the best care and outcomes for our patients. Our collaboration on the Polyphonic project is a significant step toward that mission. This technology will enable our teams to analyze and enhance surgical performance, foster collaboration, and ultimately unlock broader possibilities for smarter, safer, and more connected surgeries.”

The project builds on Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s growing portfolio of pioneering initiatives, including its partnership with Toshiba to bring the region’s first heavy ion therapy center for cancer treatment, and its partnership with BioTwin to explore virtual human twin technology in breast cancer screening and prevention.

Dr. John Rodriguez, Chief of the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, added: “We are excited to pilot the Polyphonic ecosystem with the goal of strengthening our remote collaboration, coaching, and learning capabilities across Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. This project will allow us to evaluate how technology can improve surgical performance and expand educational opportunities. Initially, we’ll use Polyphonic for live case observations within our institution and enable access for our residents as part of their surgical training. While measurable improvements in outcomes and education will take time, this is a foundational step toward a more connected and data-informed surgical environment.”

By embracing transformative technologies like Polyphonic, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi continues to shape the future of surgery in the region, creating an environment where world-class care, precision, and learning converge. This initiative reaffirms the hospital’s commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes through innovation and further positions the UAE as a hub for advanced healthcare. Recognized by the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s National Center for Health Research as the top health research hospital in the UAE, this partnership further reinforces its leadership in clinical innovation, medical research, and education across the region.

Research remains a cornerstone of the hospital’s mission, with consistent growth in funding through industry collaborations, government grants, and academic partnerships since 2017. In 2024, the hospital closed 40 research studies and continues to lead groundbreaking clinical trials focused on regional priorities. Backed by advanced technology and a multidisciplinary team, these efforts reflect a long-term commitment to advancing medical science and setting new standards of care across the Middle East and beyond.