IHPBA Launches Research Committee

During the 7th World Congress of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Assocaition in Edinburgh, the IHPBA Research Committee was created. The IHPBA as the leading scientific organization in the field of HPB diseases is the optimal platform for developing and performing large surgical trials in HPB surgery. These trials under the guidance and auspices of the IHPBA should be of the highest quality and credibility.Thus, the aims of the Research Committee are: (a) to enhance evidence-based medicine in HPB surgery, (b) to facilitate large trials with adequate sample sizes, and (c) to potentiate efforts and ideas from IHPBA members. The Research Committee will try to establish a platform for high-quality multi-center inter-continental clinical trials in HPB surgery.

To generate a strong network, specific IHPBA Trial Units will be defined based on a proof of experience of conducting, organizing or participation in clinical trials and a certain case-load of pancreatic resections, major liver resections, and biliary operations per year.

The exact requirements for a IHPBA Trial and for IHPBA Trial Units will be circulated and announced on the IHPBA webpage after the next meeting of the Research Committee during the A-PHPBA conference in March 2007. Then, also guidelines and information about the planned process in developing an IHPBA trial will be published.

If you are interested in participating in upcoming trials of the IHPBA please feel free to contact me directly!

Markus W. Büchler, MD
President, IHPBA