Master’s Degree in Surgical Science & Innovation Technology: double success at the IHU

Master’s Degree in Surgical Science & Innovation Technology: double success at the IHU

Jan 23, 2026 | Education

IHU Strasbourg has recently hosted two intensive sessions of the Master M2 in Surgical Science & Innovation Technology, dedicated to two options within the curriculum:

  • Surgical and bariatric endoscopy (January 12–13),
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) (January 19–21).

Aimed at international doctors and surgeons, these immersive and practical training courses at the IHU Strasbourg are part of an educational program combining theoretical teaching, real clinical cases, and practical hands-on.

Two specialties, one philosophy: learning by doing

Whether it’s bariatric endoscopy or ERCP, the teaching principle remains the same: exposing participants to real-life clinical situations while allowing them to refine their technical skills in a safe environment.

The surgical and bariatric endoscopy option explores endoscopic bariatric procedures, their indications, techniques, and results, with a particular focus on endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

Participants in the Master's 2 program with a specialization in bariatric endoscopy during a hands-on session on the experimental platform at the Strasbourg University Hospital Institute (IHU).

The second option delves into the heart of biliary and pancreatic anatomy, covering ERCP and diagnostic and interventional echoendoscopy.

International doctors and surgeons in training during a hands-on ERCP session for the Master M2 program at the IHU Strasbourg.

A training model centered on hands-on workshops

One of the key features of these sessions is the time devoted to practical hands-on on the experimental platform at the Strasbourg IHU. Organized into small groups, participants alternate between different workshops, which serve as training grounds before moving on to the operating room:

  • simulators and learning devices,
  • ex vivo models,
  • ERCP techniques,
  • fundamentals of endoscopic ultrasound,
  • lumen-apposing metal stents,
  • percutaneous single-operator cholangioscopy.

This progression allows participants to acquire skills that can be directly transferred to everyday clinical practice.

Excellent supervision

The sessions are led by Prof. Silvana Perretta, Director of Education Programs at the IHU, supported by renowned international experts. The program includes lectures, live real-life cases from the operating room, clinical case analyses, and discussions with participants.

Professor Silvana Perretta surrounded by participants during a hands-on session of the Master M2 program at the IHU Strasbourg.

Training tomorrow’s experts in minimally invasive surgery

Through this Master’s program and all of its educational programs, the IHU Strasbourg affirms its role in advanced training in surgical and interventional endoscopy, within a demanding and innovation-oriented international environment.

Discover our upcoming courses and educational programs:
www.ihu-strasbourg.eu

The Force Foundation launches its 2026 Call for Projects at the IHU Strasbourg

The Force Foundation launches its 2026 Call for Projects at the IHU Strasbourg

Jan 22, 2026 | Event

On Thursday, January 22, the IHU Strasbourg had the honor of hosting the launch of the 2026 Call for Projects from the Force for Innovation and Research in Health Foundation. This event brought together the main players in the Alsatian innovation ecosystem, as well as numerous researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs.

The main guidelines for the 2026 edition were presented, emphasizing the importance of supporting projects capable of sustainably improving healthcare, particularly in the Alsace region.

The morning session was led by Lilla Mérabet, Executive Director of the Force Foundation, and Dr. Ali Hamiche, Director of Research at the IGBMC, who is Secretary General and member of the Force Foundation’s Scientific Council.

Lilla Mérabet, Executive Director of the Force Foundation, and Dr. Ali Hamiche, Director of Research at IGBMC, moderators for the morning session

They highlighted the Foundation’s agility and high standards in selecting and monitoring projects and emphasized the mark of excellence that the Foundation Force label now represents for projects.

A call for projects opens to all forms of innovation

The 2026 edition is particularly significant for the Force Foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Projects must fall within four areas that reflect the Force Foundation’s ambition to transform practices: prediction to anticipate risks and personalize care, coordination to streamline care pathways, technologies to equip professionals and patients, and social innovation to develop inclusive solutions tailored to needs.

Participants gathered in the conference room during the morning session

Applications will be evaluated according to several criteria, including the maturity and feasibility of the project, the quality of the team, consistency with the priorities of the call for proposals, potential impact, regional roots, and consideration of environmental issues.

The IHU Strasbourg, a committed partner

By hosting this event, IHU Strasbourg is part of the dynamic driven by the Force Foundation, which combines agility and scientific rigour to bring about initiatives that bring together local stakeholders to provide solutions with real-life applications.

2025 winning team of the FAST-Tx project

In 2025, the FAST-Tx project, led by IHU Strasbourg, was awarded a grant by the Force Foundation for the development of a streamlined pathway for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of lung cancer.

Call for projects 2026 from the Force Foundation (in French): www.fondation-force.fr
FAST-Tx Project: www.ihu-strasbourg.eu

BEWA 2026 in Strasbourg: IHU Hosts Hands-On Training Workshops

BEWA 2026 in Strasbourg: IHU Hosts Hands-On Training Workshops

Jan 16, 2026 | Event

From January 14 to 16, the international congress of the Bariatric Endoscopy World Association (BEWA) brought together a global community of physicians, surgeons, and experts in Strasbourg, all committed to advancing bariatric and metabolic endoscopy. Designed as a major scientific and educational milestone, the event highlighted the essential role of training, innovation, and knowledge sharing in shaping tomorrow’s clinical practices.

Ahead of the scientific sessions held on January 15 and 16 at the Palais des Congrès in Strasbourg, January 14 was dedicated to hands-on training workshops hosted on the experimental platform of IHU Strasbourg. These practical sessions offered participants the opportunity to develop advanced skills in bariatric endoscopy within an environment specifically designed to foster learning, peer-to-peer exchange, and the comparison of clinical practices.

Throughout the three days, the depth of the scientific program and the presence of internationally recognized experts from Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East underscored the truly global reach of BEWA. Live cases, lectures, interactive sessions, and forward-looking discussions addressed the key challenges facing the field, from clinical indications to technological and organizational innovations.

This dynamic is driven by Prof. Silvana Perretta, President of the BEWA Congress and Director of Educational Programs at IHU Strasbourg. Her commitment reflects a long-term vision in which continuing education, educational innovation, and the transmission of expertise are essential to preparing healthcare professionals for the rapid evolution of medicine and surgery.

 

Through its involvement in this event and the development of specialized training programs across multiple innovative fields, IHU Strasbourg supports practitioners throughout their professional journey and contributes to training the experts of tomorrow.

2025 in Review: Key Highlights from IHU Strasbourg

2025 in Review: Key Highlights from IHU Strasbourg

Dec 19, 2025 | Innovation

2025 was marked by numerous successes for IHU Strasbourg’s teams.

Awards recognized excellence in research and innovation: Professor Thomas Baumert received a prestigious ERC Proof of Concept Grant for his research on pancreatic cancer. Professor Silvana Perretta was honored with the SAGES 2025 Award for her pioneering work in surgical endoscopy. Nicolas Padoy’s CAMMA team enjoyed great success at the MICCAI 2025 international conference.

The Force Foundation has awarded a grant to the FAST-Tx project, which paves the way for new, streamlined pathways for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of lung cancer. The launch of mAI Companion®, the result of collaboration between the IHU and Medi-Globe, represents a new step toward improving the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer using artificial intelligence. Also in the field of AI applied to healthcare, a new IHU spin-off, Scialytics, has been created to develop solutions to reduce surgical risks. The IHU is also participating in the POCUSI consortium, winner of France 2030’s “Innovation in Medical Imaging” call for projects to develop a new generation of smart and frugal ultrasound scanners.

In the area of innovative training, the Summer School in Surgical Data Science and BEST have confirmed their appeal to young talents who want to invent the surgery of tomorrow. Finally, in terms of quality and compliance, the IHU’s ongoing commitment has been rewarded with the renewal of Good Laboratory Practices by the ANSM.

We wish all our readers, partners, and teams a very happy holiday season.

Strasbourg to host BEWA 2026, the global event for bariatric endoscopy

Strasbourg to host BEWA 2026, the global event for bariatric endoscopy

Dec 18, 2025 | Event

BEWA 2026: Strasbourg becomes the global capital of bariatric endoscopy

From January 14 to 16, 2026, Strasbourg will host the fifth global congress of the Bariatric Endoscopy World Association (BEWA) at the Pierre-Pflimlin Convention Center, bringing together global experts in bariatric and metabolic endoscopy.

BEWA’s mission is to advance this field through research, innovation, training, and sustained international collaboration. The goal is clear: to ensure safe and effective access to endoscopic procedures for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders, while raising standards of care and training.

This edition will be co-chaired by Prof. Silvana Perretta, Director of Education Programs at IHU Strasbourg and a world-renowned specialist in endoscopic bariatric surgery, and Dr. Christine Stier, President of BEWA.

Three days to explore, learn, and share

  • January 14: Hands-on workshops at IHU Strasbourg
    Participants will have the opportunity to put theory into practice in interactive, immersive workshops organized on the IHU Strasbourg experimental platform. A hands-on experience to refine techniques and skills under the guidance of experts.
  • January 15 and 16: Conferences at Pierre-Pflimlin Convention Center
    Two days of presentations and discussions highlighting the latest innovations and research.

An international community dedicated to innovation
With participants from around the world, BEWA aims to be a place for direct exchanges, enriching discussions, and lasting collaborations. Each event—session, workshop, and meeting—contributes to improving patient care in a spirit of clinical excellence.

Learn more about BEWA and its mission: www.bewa-endoscopy.com
Registration: www.bewa-endoscopy.com/registration