A second meeting to stimulate medical innovation in Strasbourg
On June 5, 2025, the IHU Strasbourg will host the second IHU Strasbourg I ITI HealthTech meeting, organized in partnership with the Institut Thématique Interdisciplinaire HealthTech of the University of Strasbourg and the ICubelaboratory. This meeting is a continuation of the dialogue initiated in 2022 on the dynamics of translational research, at the crossroads of engineering sciences, medicine and health technologies.
This new edition will bring together researchers, clinicians, engineers and project leaders to share their advances and explore new synergies around the design, prototyping and validation of innovative medical devices. The afternoon will feature a number of highlights, including presentations of results from projects supported in 2022, a spotlight on current proofs of concept, a poster session devoted to 2024 projects, and an overview of the technological platforms that accelerate the transition from idea to clinical application.
In particular, the event will showcase the cross-disciplinary expertise of IHU Strasbourg – with its preclinical and clinical research divisions and its DIAMS service dedicated to healthcare data and artificial intelligence – as well as ICube’s IRIS platform, specialized in rapid prototyping for medical robotics.
The meeting will conclude with a convivial moment and the possibility, upon registration, of visiting the IHU’s technical facilities. This initiative illustrates the partners’ shared desire to create an environment conducive to innovation, anchored in the region, serving research and the transformation of medical practices.
From April 14 to 17, 2025, IHU Strasbourg welcomed participants in the University Diploma (DU), Master 1 and Master 2 programs in surgical endoscopy for a intensive training session. Under the guidance of Prof. Silvana Perretta, Director of Educational Programs at the IHU, this session enabled future experts to perfect their skills in the most advanced techniques of interventional endoscopy.
A rich program combining theory, demonstrations and advanced practice
Each morning began with a series of high-level lectures and live demonstrations from the IHU operating theater. Highlights included:
Endoscopic management of complications in bariatric surgery (Dr. P. Riva)
Primary bariatric procedures and gastric complication techniques (Pr S. Perretta)
Basics of endoscopic resection (EMR, ESD) and POEM (Pr S. Perretta, Dr R. Maselli)
The approach to complex biliary lesions and the fundamentals of ERCP (Dr B. Dallemagne, Dr T. Voiosu)
The lectures were enriched by remote presentations from European specialists, providing a multidisciplinary perspective.
Practical immersion in ex-vivo and in-vivo models
The afternoons were devoted to technical training on the IHU’s experimental platform. Participants were able to perform complex gestures in an environment that faithfully simulated operating room conditions. The program included :
Navigation and endoscopic suturing
Perforation closure
Placement of bariatric stents
Vacuum therapy
EMR, ESD, POEM and ERCP on simulated models
Introduction to cholangioscopy and LAMS (Lumen apposing metallic stent)
Master 2 students were able to deepen their knowledge of dissection and resection techniques.
Excellent training for tomorrow’s practitioners
This week of training illustrates IHU Strasbourg’s strong commitment to developing skills in surgical endoscopy. Thanks to teaching that combines clinical expertise, technological innovation and simulation, the DU and Masters courses are training a generation of professionals ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s surgery.
Are you passionate about medicine, technology, and innovation? Do you dream of pushing the boundaries of tomorrow’s healthcare by exploring fields like minimally invasive surgery, artificial intelligence, and robotics? Then don’t miss the B.E.S.T. Innovation Course 2025—an immersive program at the crossroads of science, design, and entrepreneurship.
Two sessions, one international experience
IRCAD Taïwan – July 28 to August 1, 2025
IHU Strasbourg – August 25 to 29, 2025
Building on the success of previous editions, the B.E.S.T. Innovation Course 2025 returns with two exclusive sessions at IRCAD Taiwan and IHU Strasbourg, two world-renowned centers for surgical innovation.
This intensive program is designed for students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs eager to develop groundbreaking solutions for the future of healthcare. Over the course of a week, you’ll be immersed in an unparalleled learning environment, blending interactive lectures, design thinking workshops, and real-world operating room experiences.
A program designed to unleash your creativity
Understand the challenges of medical innovation through presentations by international experts,
Experiment with the most advanced technologies: surgical robotics, artificial intelligence, simulation and new experimental platforms,
Engage in innovation challenges—turning ideas into prototypes,
Observe live surgeries and witness the latest advancements in minimally invasive techniques,
Pitch your project to a panel of experts and investors!
Artificial Intelligence & Robotics: innovation in action
The 2025 edition will focus on the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in tomorrow’s medicine. From diagnostic assistance to the optimization of surgical procedures, these technologies are already revolutionizing medical practice. Through demonstrations, case studies, and expert discussions, you’ll discover how AI is evolving into a co-pilot for surgeons and innovators.
An international network of experts and innovators
By joining the B.E.S.T. Innovation Course, you join a dynamic communityof innovators and benefit from the support of world-renownedsurgeons, engineersand entrepreneurs. It’s the perfect opportunity to develop your network and accelerate your career in medical innovation.
Secure Your Spot Today!
Discover in pictures what awaits you at the B.E.S.T. Innovation Course 2025!
Registration is now open! Don’t miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of medical innovation. Secure your place today and join a community of passionate innovators!
[Strasbourg, France] — [18 March 2025] — Prof. Silvana Perretta, a renowned minimally invasive surgeon and Director of Education at the University-Hospital Institute (IHU) in Strasbourg, France, has been honored with the 2025 SAGES Pioneer in Surgical Endoscopy Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of surgical endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery.
Prof. Perretta’s career spans decades of innovation, education, and advocacy in flexible endoscopy and minimally invasive surgical techniques. As Director of Education at the IHU Strasbourg, Prof. Perretta has been instrumental in fostering international collaboration, spearheading advanced training programs, and mentoring the next generation of surgical leaders. Since 2011, she has led the Business Engineering and Surgical Technologies (B.E.S.T.) program, which aims to bridge the gap between medicine and new technology. By providing – free of charge – young professionals, engineers, and medical students with the skills to innovate and lead, the program has become a model for integrating cutting-edge technology into medical practice.
Prof. Perretta was elected Vice President of IRCAD France, a role she held until July 2023. A strong advocate for surgeons performing interventional endoscopy, she has played a pivotal role in developing new endoscopic platforms, devices, and flexible robotics. Prof. Perretta pioneered Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES), performing the world’s first transvaginal cholecystectomy, and introduced POEM and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty techniques in France. She has also led groundbreaking work in hybrid surgical endoscopy, lean endoscopic simulations, and global digital medical education.
Prof. Perretta was awarded the SAGES Career Development Award in 2011, became the first woman in 20 years to be elected SAGES STORZ lecturer in 2020, and was named Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France in January 2021. Recently, Dr. Perretta was elected Chair of the EAES Flexible Endoscopy Committee, and she serves on the IFSO Flexible Endoscopy Committee, the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Emerging Surgical Technologies and Education, the WEO Surgical Endoscopy Committee, the AMEE Surgery Track Steering Committee and the SAGES AI Task force. She is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of EVE-Evolving Education, a company focused on democratizing surgical endoscopy training worldwide. In April 2024, she founded the Bariatric Endoscopy World Association (B.E.W.A.), where she now serves as Vice President. Additionally, she is the President and founder of FAIR, an organization dedicated to supporting women in surgery, science, and MedTech by providing opportunities, resources, and networks to help them thrive in historically underrepresented fields.
The SAGES Pioneer in Surgical Endoscopy Award is among the most respected honors in the field, celebrating pioneers who have shaped the future of surgical endoscopy through innovation, research, and leadership. Past recipients include luminaries such as Prof. Jeffrey Ponsky, a trailblazer in endoscopic procedures, and Prof. Lee Swanstrom, an innovator in advanced minimally invasive and flexible surgical techniques, and previously Director of Innovation at the IHU Strasbourg. Prof. Perretta is the first woman surgeon to receive the prize, as well as being the youngest woman overall to receive it, and the first woman after Dr Sybill Storz in 2016.[1]
“SAGES is an organization that has long set the standard for excellence and innovation in minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery,” said Prof. Perretta. “It is an incredible honor to join the ranks of such distinguished pioneers whose work has transformed surgical care globally.”
Prof. Perretta’s work aligns closely with the mission of SAGES, which emphasizes inclusivity, interdisciplinarity, and the global advancement of surgical practice. Her leadership at the IHU Strasbourg has established the institution as a premier center for research and training in flexible endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery. Through her efforts, she has helped to bridge the gap between surgical innovation and real-world clinical application, impacting patient care worldwide.
The award was presented during the 2025 SAGES Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California, an event that convenes the brightest minds in the field to exchange ideas, showcase advancements, and celebrate excellence in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery.
About Prof. Silvana Perretta Prof. Perretta is an internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive surgery and surgical endoscopy. As Director of Education at the IHU Strasbourg, she has designed and implemented cutting-edge training programs, fostering skill development and innovation in surgeons worldwide. Her contributions to research, education, and clinical practice have solidified her reputation as a leading figure in the global surgical community.
About SAGES The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is an international organization dedicated to advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques and fostering innovation in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery. Through education, research, and global collaboration, SAGES strives to improve patient outcomes and transform surgical care worldwide.
From February 12 to 14 and March 5 to 7, 2025, the IHU Strasbourg hosted two groups of students of the Master’s degree in Santé – Surgical Science & Innovation technology, option Bariatric endoscopy for their first hands-on session of the second year of the curriculum. This top-class course,led by Professor Silvana Perretta, Director of the Institute’s Education Programs, is part of the academic trainings, developped in partnership with the University of Strasbourg and part of the EVE – Evolving Education – platform.
For three days, each group of practitioners from Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East were able to learn about the most advanced techniques in interventional endoscopyfor the treatment of obesity, a fast-changing field at the heart of minimally invasive management strategies.
Immersive, practice-oriented teaching methods
The teaching program, built around hands-on workshops, live demonstrations and interactive clinical cases, aims to enhance participants’ technical skills while stimulating critical reflection on indications and therapeutic approaches. The IHU’s cutting-edge technological environment provides realistic situations and encourages learning through simulation, with personalized support from internationally renowned experts.
“This master’s program is much more than just a training course: it’s a genuine laboratory for exchange between practitioners, a place for transmitting not only skills, but also the values on which tomorrow’s surgery is founded”, emphasizes Prof. Silvana Perretta.
Join the next session
Are you a surgeon or gastroenterologist looking to deepen your expertise in endoscopic bariatric surgery?
Discover the complete surgical and interventional endoscopy program and upcoming training sessions on our website or directly via the EVE platform:
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About Prof. Silvana Perretta
About SAGES
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