SPECTRA Labs

The SPECTRA Lab is a translational research group dedicated to the development and equitable application of artificial intelligence in surgery. Founded and directed by Anisha R. Kumar, MD, the lab brings together clinicians, computer scientists, and biomedical informaticists to build AI systems that are accurate, fair, and generalizable across diverse patient populations. Operating on a mentorship-driven model, SPECTRA trains the next generation of surgeon-scientists through rigorous, reproducible research at the intersection of clinical medicine, data science, and biomedical informatics.

To advance surgical care through rigorous, equitable, and clinically-grounded artificial intelligence research.

Surgical Precision, Equity, and Clinical Technology Research in AI

Research Focus

AI-Assisted Imaging and Surgical Decision Support

We develop and validate deep learning models for the analysis of surgical imaging data to support clinical decision-making and operative planning.

Perioperative Risk Prediction

We apply machine learning and large language models to multimodal clinical data, including structured electronic health records and clinical notes, to predict postoperative outcomes and improve surgical safety.

Lasting impact

We investigate bias and fairness in AI models applied to aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, with a focus on ensuring equitable performance across diverse patient populations.

Funding and Support

The SPECTRA Lab is supported by institutional funding from Stony Brook University, including:

  • Brook and Beyond Innovation award 

  • Department of Surgery Seed Grant

Collaboration and Mentorship

The SPECTRA Lab works in close collaboration with investigators in biomedical informatics, computer science, and applied mathematics. We are committed to training resident physicians, medical students, and graduate students to lead rigorous, reproducible research in surgical AI.

Trainees and collaborators interested in joining or partnering with the SPECTRA Lab are encouraged to reach out via the Contact page.

Leadership

Anisha R. Kumar, MD is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Stony Brook University, dual board certified in Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, with additional certification from the American Board of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (ABAIM). A faculty affiliate of the AI Innovation Institute (AI3), she founded the SPECTRA Lab to advance rigorous, equitable AI research at the intersection of surgery, computer science, and biomedical informatics.