CMR Surgical developed a class of surgical robot called Versius that has already been used in more than 22,000 operations around the world. Slack is the medical director of the Cambridge-based firm and was one of a small team to launch the business in 2014. Robot surgeons can save hospitals money and increase productivity. They operate more quickly and with smaller incisions, often increasing the speed with which patients recover. Although initially used mostly for gynaecological and colorectal operations, more recent versions of Versius can be used for a wider range of procedures. CMR Surgical was valued at £2.4bn in a 2021 investment round.