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About

Mafalda Sobral is a pioneering hepatobiliary and transplant surgeon whose work is redefining the frontiers of minimally invasive liver surgery. Her primary research focus lies in the development and standardization of robotic techniques for complex hepatic procedures, with a particular emphasis on living-donor and whole-graft liver transplantation. Dr. Sobral’s most significant contribution is leading the first European series of full robotic whole liver transplantation, a landmark achievement published in 2024 that has already garnered 35 citations. This work challenges the conventional paradigm that only partial grafts can be transplanted robotically, demonstrating the feasibility and safety of a fully minimally invasive approach for whole organs. She further advanced the field by co-authoring the 2025 international benchmark study for robotic right hepatectomy, which established the first standardized performance metrics from 22 expert centers. This study, with 2 citations to date, provides the critical framework for comparing robotic outcomes against traditional open and laparoscopic methods. Through these efforts, Dr. Sobral is not only expanding the technical possibilities of robotic surgery but also laying the groundwork for evidence-based adoption of these advanced techniques in transplant and oncologic hepatobiliary surgery.