Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Dr. Xiaoqiao Zhang is a leading colorectal surgeon whose research has fundamentally shaped the evidence base for robotic surgery in rectal cancer. His work centers on comparing robotic and laparoscopic techniques, with a specific focus on middle and low rectal cancer—a challenging surgical site where precision is paramount. Dr. Zhang is best known as the principal investigator of the landmark REAL trial (Robotic versus Laparoscopic surgery for middle and low rectal cancer), a multicenter randomized controlled trial that has become the definitive study in the field. The trial’s short-term outcomes, published in 2022, have already accumulated over 450 citations, demonstrating its immediate and profound impact on surgical practice. Dr. Zhang’s contributions extend to large-scale retrospective analyses of robotic colorectal surgery across China, and his ongoing work on the REAL trial’s long-term oncological outcomes—including 3-year locoregional recurrence rates—is eagerly awaited by the global surgical community. He has also explored nuanced factors affecting surgical quality, such as the influence of surgical start time on patient outcomes. Through rigorous, high-impact clinical research, Dr. Zhang has provided the crucial data surgeons need to make informed decisions about adopting robotic technology for rectal cancer.