This Thursday, October 15, 2026, the National and University Library (BNU) will host the 3rd Strasbourg Health Research Conference. On this occasion, Prof. Christian Debry, Director General of the IHU Strasbourg, will present an overview of the institute’s current status and its new goals within the framework of Strasbourg’s strategic plan.
A catalyst for innovation rooted in the Alsatian ecosystem
As the only university hospital institute in France entirely dedicated to the future of surgery and interventional medicine, the IHU Strasbourg draws on a region with exceptional scientific and medical resources. Located at the heart of the Nextmed medical technology campus, the institute serves as a true “third place” for experimentation, bringing together the University of Strasbourg, the Strasbourg University Hospitals (HUS), national research organizations, and industrial partners.
With strong support from institutions and local authorities—the Eurométropole de Strasbourg, the European Community of Alsace, and the Grand Est Region—this model embodies a unique continuum between research, education, commercialization, and patient care. Its mission addresses a dual objective: to accelerate the transfer of innovations to patients to personalize their care, reduce the risk of complications, and improve their quality of life, while actively contributing to the growth of France’s medical technology industry.
Artificial Intelligence and Biosurgery: Pioneering Surgery 4.0
During the segment dedicated to the Strasbourg strategic project, Prof. Christian Debry will outline the IHU Strasbourg’s roadmap for shaping “Surgery 4.0”: a minimally invasive, image-guided practice enhanced by digital technologies and robotics.
This new project is structured around two cutting-edge areas rooted in the region’s key strengths:
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The integration of artificial intelligence into the operating room: developed by the team led by Professor Nicolas Padoy, a pillar of the ENACT National AI Cluster (Nancy–Strasbourg), these new approaches aim to assist surgical teams in real time.
- The rise of regenerative biosurgery: Advances in surgical practices will incorporate innovative concepts based on the use of biomaterials developed directly within the Strasbourg-based Inserm Joint Research Units (UMRs).
Event: 3rd Strasbourg Health Research Conference
Date and time: Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Presentation by Prof. Christian Debry starting at 2:00 p.m.: “The Strasbourg Strategic Project: Current Status – Our IHU”)
Location: BNU Auditorium, 6 Place de la République, Strasbourg (Free admission, subject to availability)
Programme des 3es Rencontres de la Recherche en Santé de Strasbourg (2026) (in French)
