University of Rochester collaboration is using an AIpowered virtual patient to help dentists strengthen

SOPHIE, an AI-powered virtual patient, is helping dentists improve their communication skills.

For many patients, sitting in a dental chair can be stressful long before treatment begins.

“ Fear, anxiety, uncertainty about a procedure, concerns or misconceptions about treatment can all shape a patient’ s experience,” said Shasha Cui, EdD, MBA, Assistant Professor and Education Specialist at Eastman Institute for Oral Health.

A collaboration between EIOH and the University’ s Department of Computer Science is piloting an interactive platform called SOPHIE – Standardized Online Patient for Healthcare Interaction Education – to dental education.

“ AI cannot replace empathy,” said Ehsan Hoque, PhD, Professor of Computer Science and an expert in human-centred Artificial Intelligence,“ But it can provide an environment where clinicians can repeatedly practise the communication skills patients depend on – without the pressure of practising for the first time during a real clinical encounter.”

SOPHIE uses a three-dimensional virtual character that can see and listen to a clinician, carry on a conversation and respond in real-time. The technology was originally developed to help physicians practise difficult conversations with patients facing serious illness. Cui saw an opportunity to adapt that same approach to dentistry.

“ For dentists, providing excellent care requires more than technical expertise. It also requires knowing how to listen, explain complicated information clearly, recognise concerns and establish trust.”

Cascader is a spinout company formed through a partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Topcon Healthcare and UCL Ventures( formerly UCL Business, the dedicated commercialisation company for UCL). Cascader was established to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge AI from research to realworld clinical application, helping patients, clinicians and healthcare systems benefit sooner from innovations developed at the intersection of eye care, medical imaging and data science.

The seed funding will be used to advance Cascader’ s initial products towards market launch, expand the company’ s team and accelerate the development and delivery of its high-quality healthcare AI.

Cascader’ s initial focus is on macular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of irreversible sight loss globally. Over time, the company aims to develop a broader portfolio of AI tools for healthcare professionals across the eye care pathway, from community optometry and high-street settings to hospital-based specialist clinics. These tools are intended to support earlier and more accurate detection and management of eye disease, while also advancing the emerging field of oculomics: the use of ocular imaging and data to generate insights into systemic conditions such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease.

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