The DATA-SURGE University Hospital Federation (FHU) is hosting its first annual seminar on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Agora of Hautepierre Hospital (Strasbourg University Hospitals).

A hub for medical innovation

This event offers a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals, researchers, engineers, and innovation leaders to come together to address the critical challenges of leveraging health data. Led by Prof. Éric Noll, the DATA-SURGE project (Data Sciences and e-health for Perioperative Medicine) is emerging as a driving force behind the digital transformation of perioperative medicine.

In a global context where surgical activity is growing significantly, optimizing postoperative recovery has become a top public health priority. This is the challenge that the DATA-SURGE FHU addresses.

DATA-SURGE: A Combination of Leading Expertise

The strength of this university-hospital project lies in an unprecedented interdisciplinary synergy among four centers of expertise:

• Scientific excellence: researchers at the forefront of complex database processing, including the Clinical Research Methods Group (GMRC), the iCube laboratory, and the IMAGeS
• Clinical practice: clinicians well-versed in translational research projects, from the departments of surgery (gastrointestinal, orthopedic, pediatric, gynecological), anesthesiology and intensive care, and diabetology.
• Security and ethics: rigorous compliance with the regulatory framework (GDPR), under the supervision of the HUS Data Protection Officer (DPO).
• The patient’s voice: the central integration of patient experts and user representatives to ensure human-centered innovation.

Toward a Revolution in Perioperative Care

By applying machine learning techniques to vast datasets, DATA-SURGE aims to personalize monitoring, predict complications, and optimize the efficiency of technical facilities. This seminar will highlight pioneering initiatives such as the OPTIMISTE program, which uses patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) as a fundamental source of clinical data.

The project is also part of a robust training initiative, integrating health informatics into the curricula of the University of Strasbourg, Télécom Physique Strasbourg, and the Interdisciplinary Thematic Institute for Information Sciences and Technologies in Health (ITI HealthTech).

Practical Information

The seminar is organized by the Strasbourg University Hospitals, Inserm, and the University of Strasbourg.

• Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
• Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: L’Agora – Hautepierre Hospitals, Strasbourg
• Registration required: www.chru-strasbourg.fr/seminaire-annuel-du-fhu-data-surge-2026/

Join this collective effort and discover how data analysis is revolutionizing the daily work of healthcare providers and the patient experience.

Success of the first symposium, “The IHU Strasbourg Interviews,” dedicated to the ethics of health research

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the auditorium of the National University Library of Strasbourg was packed for the first edition of the IHU Strasbourg Interviews, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy, and People with Disabilities. The theme of this event was to discuss the ethics of health research, bringing together numerous political figures, thinkers, and stakeholders in the health sector—particularly in the fields of surgery, interventional medicine, and scientific, philosophical, and ethical research.

A Grand Opening Session

The conference opened with the address “Against Ignorance” by Prof. Jules Hoffmann, Nobel Laureate in Medicine, who made a strong case for rigorous, communicable, and free science.

“Against Ignorance”: An Appeal by Prof. Jules Hoffmann, Nobel Laureate in Medicine

Prof. Albert-Claude Benhamou, President of the IHU Strasbourg, and Prof. Christian Debry, CEO, then welcomed the participants, highlighting the Institute’s ambition to reconcile surgical research of excellence with ethical rigor. The following speakers then took the podium:

• Ms. Catherine Trautmann, Mayor of Strasbourg and President of the Eurométropole;
• Ms. Pascale Pfeiffer, Councilor for the European Community of Alsace;
• Ms. Nadège Hornbeck, Vice President of the Grand Est Region;
• Mr. Samir Henni, Director General of the Strasbourg University Hospitals;
• Ms. Frédérique Berrod, President of the University of Strasbourg;
• Mr. Olivier Klein, Rector of the Strasbourg Academy.

Progress, Quantum Science, and Future Challenges in Bioethics

Prof. Francis Michot, President of the French Academy of Medicine, opened the presentation session by noting that ethics serves as an indispensable “compass” for all technological innovation.

The program continued with an analysis of the concept of progress by Mr. Étienne Klein, physicist and philosopher of science, and research director at the CEA.

Prof. Thomas Ebbesen, Director of the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation, then illustrated the dizzying prospects of “quantum to biological” research before Prof. Jean-François Delfraissy, President of the National Consultative Ethics Committee, shared his vision of the major bioethical challenges facing our societies.

AI and New Methods: Ethics in the Face of Technological Challenges

This is a central theme that was discussed during a roundtable discussion featuring Prof. François Clauss, Associate Professor and Chair of the Ethics Committee at the Strasbourg Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Etienne Muller, professor of public law, Dr. Alessandro Randolfi, surgeon and student vice-dean of the Strasbourg Faculty of Medicine, and Ms. Marianne Rivière, national president of the French Association for Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases.

Following these direct exchanges, the focus shifted to technology with Prof. Bernard Nordlinger, professor of digestive surgery and member of the Academy of Medicine, who emphasized that when it comes to AI, “humans make the decisions”.

Next, Prof. Philippe Ravaud, director of the Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Research, outlined the new frontiers of medical evaluation beyond traditional randomized trials.

Finally, Prof.  Jean Sibilia, Dean of the Strasbourg Faculty of Medicine, summarized the challenges ahead, emphasizing that health must be approached through a comprehensive and cross-cutting “One Health” framework, and he noted that Strasbourg is establishing itself as a European hub where innovation in health is inconceivable without strong ethical principles.

Ethics and Informed Public Decision-Making

Prof.  Agnès Buzyn, former Minister of Health, then shared with participants her insights on managing the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, which brought together the urgency of the situation, the ethics of clinical research, and political decision-making within a national and international context.

The closing remarks were delivered by Prof. Pierre Corvol, honorary administrator of the Collège de France and former president of the Academy of Sciences, who emphasized that it was wonderful to have organized this conference in Strasbourg, renowned for its cutting-edge surgical research, and praised this exceptional occasion, rich in the sharing of experiences and the reflections they inspired. Drawing on his cutting-edge expertise and the exceptional quality of his presentation, he concluded these first “IHU Strasbourg Interviews” with a masterful summary, inviting everyone to continue this essential dialogue.

IHU Strasbourg warmly thanks the Force Foundation for its invaluable collaboration in preparing the event, as well as all the participants. As Prof. Jean Sibilia put it, “May this symposium on research ethics be a founding moment; many more will be needed… but let each of us bring that touch of determination that can change the world a little.”

See you next year!

Learn more about the IHU Interviews:
www.ihu-strasbourg.eu/les-entretiens-de-ihu-strasbourg/

Partners

The Institute of Image-Guided, in partnership with the Force Foundation, is proud to announce the launch of its new major event: “Les Entretiens de l’IHU Strasbourg” The first edition of this conference, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Health, will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the BNU Auditorium in Strasbourg and will focus on the ethics of health research.

Restoring Meaning to “Progress”

Our world is undergoing an unprecedented period of transition. The dizzying explosion of technological and biomedical discoveries is fundamentally challenging our definition of “progress.” As an international center of excellence in surgery and interventional techniques, the IHU Strasbourg is at the forefront of these upheavals. The growing integration of artificial intelligence and the development of bioremediation strategies hold tremendous promise for patients, but inevitably raise new questions.

A vital dialogue for understanding and explaining the challenges facing society

Conceived as annual high-level gatherings, these conferences aim to shed light on major scientific challenges and, ultimately, to strengthen the fundamental bond of trust between researchers and the public. Because being at the forefront of innovation demands unwavering integrity, the IHU Strasbourg wishes to loudly and clearly affirm its values of professional conduct and ethics.

For this inaugural edition dedicated to the ethics of health research, the goal will be to affirm the need to build a comprehensive, fair, and frugal bioethics framework and to translate its implementation into action to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

A distinguished panel of speakers

To shed light on these discussions, this landmark event will bring together leading thinkers and practitioners from the fields of healthcare, research, and philosophy. In particular, we will have the great privilege of hearing from and engaging with prominent figures such as:

• Madam Minister of Health, Families, Independence, and People with Disabilities, Stéphanie RIST,
• Albert-Claude BENHAMOU, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the IHU Strasbourg, Inclusion France 2030 Liaison at the SGPI, former President of the National Academy of Surgery,
• Agnès BUZIN, Former Minister of Solidarity and Health, President of the Evidences Institute,
• Christian DEBRY, Executive Director of the IHU Strasbourg,
• Jean-François DELFRAISSY, Chair of the National Ethics Advisory Committee,
• Thomas EBBESEN, Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Strasbourg, pioneer in the field of nanoscience,
• Samir HENNI, Chief Executive Officer of the Strasbourg University Hospitals,
• Jules HOFFMANN, Professor at the University of Strasbourg, Director Emeritus at the CNRS, Nobel Laureate in Medicine and Physiology,
• Étienne KLEIN, Physicist, Research Director at the CEA, and philosopher of science,
• Francis MICHOT, President of the Academy of Medicine (2026),
• Bernard NORDLINGER, Member of the National Academy of Medicine, Surgical Oncologist, Specialist in Gastrointestinal Cancers,
• Philippe RAVAUD, Member of the National Academy of Medicine, Surgical Oncologist, Specialist in Gastrointestinal Cancers,
• Jean SIBILIA, President (Dean of the Strasbourg School of Medicine).

Decision-makers, institutions, healthcare professionals, and the media: join us in shaping this new vision, where innovation is harnessed to build a more humanistic society.

Practical information:

• Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Auditorium of the BNU in Strasbourg

Register for the conference and download the full program:
www.ihu-strasbourg.eu

Event Partners

On March 3, 2026, the Franco-German IMARA project team was present at the Karlsruhe Technology Park Campus for the launch event of the Science Offensive projects supported by the Interreg Upper Rhin program. IMARA (Imitation MAchine for Robotic Assistance) aims to develop a lightweight robotic platform to assist nursing staff in the operating room environment.

Meeting a daily challenge in the operating room

Today, nursing teams and IBODEs (state-certified operating room nurses) devote a significant portion of their time to time-consuming logistical tasks: preparing, checking, and transporting equipment. To address this issue, the IMARA project aims to design a robotic platform that combines an autonomous mobile robot, to transport instruments from storage areas to the operating room, with an intelligent robotic arm capable of learning and reproducing basic nursing tasks for the preparation and presentation of sterile instruments.

The objective is clear: to relieve caregivers of time-consuming and repetitive tasks so that they can refocus on their core business, patient care and safety, while streamlining operating room logistics.

Franco-German partnership to launch a European dynamic

Led by the IHU Strasbourg, the IMARA consortium brings together the team from the Imaging, Robotics, and Innovation for Health (IRIS) platform at the ICube laboratory of the University of Strasbourg, Reutlingen University, the Fraunhofer IPA Institute in Mannheim, the Operating Room Nurse Training Institute of the Colmar Civil Hospitals, and the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart.

Artificial intelligence and robotics laboratories, third-party testing facilities, paramedical training centers: a complementary group of stakeholders who share a common vision of the needs expressed by operating room nursing teams, which they aim to address with a pragmatic solution. IMARA’s ambition is to lay the foundations for a new industrial sector in the Upper Rhin region to produce lightweight, economical, and interoperable robots for hospital assistance.

During the presentation of the project, Dr. Alain Garcia reiterated the philosophy behind this consortium: “Our main challenge is to develop robotic solutions capable of effectively supporting nurses in the operating room. To achieve this, these technologies must be adapted to the real constraints of the field, remain flexible and scalable, and above all, be easily adoptable by healthcare professionals.”

The total budget for the IMARA project is €956,734, with €478,367 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the Interreg Upper Rhin program, and €239,183 from the Grand Est region, the state of Baden-Württemberg, and the state of Rheinland-Patz.

On behalf of the IMARA consortium, IHU Strasbourg would like to express its warmest thanks to the Interreg Upper Rhine program and the Offensive Sciences initiative, as well as their funders, for their invaluable support for cross-border innovation in the service of tomorrow’s healthcare.

Learn more about IMARA project:
www.interreg-rhin-sup.eu/projet/imara

It’s the annual event that the entire digital health ecosystem has been waiting for. From March 20 to 22, 2026, the Strasbourg Faculty of Medicine will be transformed into a bustling hive of activity to host Hacking Health Camp. With a simple but ambitious promise: healthcare innovation starts here.

A 50-hour creative marathon

Forget long, traditional development processes. Hacking Health Camp is the world’s largest healthcare hackathon. The concept? Breaking down barriers. Over the course of a weekend, worlds that rarely intersect will work hand in hand: healthcare professionals, patients, developers, designers, and entrepreneurs. The goal is not to theorize, but to come up with a working prototype by Sunday evening that can solve a real clinical or everyday problem.

IHU Strasbourg: Loyal sponsor of the hackathon

By supporting the 2026 edition, IHU Strasbourg is reaffirming its position as a catalyst for innovation in healthcare. More than just sponsorship, the institute offers participants direct access to cutting-edge expertise in image-guided surgery and artificial intelligence. Its teams will be on hand to guide technological and clinical projects, with the aim of developing viable solutions for augmented surgery and the care pathway.

Why participate?

Whether you have a project idea or simply want to put your skills to work in healthcare, this is the place to be. Learn, test, co-create, and perhaps launch the start-up that will change the game.

The countdown has begun. Take up the challenge from March 20 to 22 in Strasbourg.

Do you have an idea for improving surgery or healthcare? Don’t keep it to yourself. Come and prototype it with the support of the IHU.

Registration is now open: [Registration link]

Last week, IHU Strasbourg hosted the “Ablation from A to Z” course, organized by the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE). This event marks the start of the 20th anniversary year of its educational department, the European School of Interventional Radiology (ESIR).

An experimental platform for European training

The choice of IHU Strasbourg for this symbolic launch was no coincidence. Since 2022, under the leadership of Prof. Afshin Gangi, a founding member of ESIR, IHU has regularly hosted practical training courses for the learned society.

For these highly technical sessions, the IHU’s state-of-the-art experimental platform offers participants the ideal conditions for learning complex procedures in interventional radiology, particularly in the areas of ablation and embolization.

ESIR: 20 years of educational excellence

Photo credit: CIRSE

This training session illustrates the success of an educational program of international excellence. In two decades, ESIR has established its quality standards, as evidenced by its key figures:

• 149 courses organized across Europe;
• More than 5,000 participants trained;
• A presence in 26 countries.

Find out more about CIRSE: www.cirse.org

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