Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Tess Kramer is an emerging researcher specializing in minimally invasive pulmonary diagnostics, with a particular focus on robotic bronchoscopy and advanced imaging technologies for the detection of peripheral lung nodules. Her work sits at the intersection of interventional pulmonology and cutting-edge imaging, addressing one of the field's most pressing challenges: the gap between high navigational success rates and disappointing diagnostic yields in small lung lesions. Kramer's most significant contribution has been pioneering the integration of needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) with robotic navigational bronchoscopy — a novel combination that enables real-time, microscopic tissue imaging directly at the needle tip. This approach has the potential to dramatically improve the accuracy of lung cancer diagnosis without the risks associated with transthoracic needle aspiration. Her landmark 2022 study on this technique has already garnered 21 citations, reflecting rapid uptake of interest within the pulmonology community. Across her publication record, Kramer has accumulated over 36 citations in just two years, demonstrating meaningful early-career impact. Her research offers a promising pathway toward safer, more accurate diagnosis of lung cancer — the world's leading cause of cancer-related mortality — making her a researcher well worth following.