Authors: Associate Professor Matthew Read and Professor Jonathan Karpelowsky

The RACS November Annual Academic Surgery Conference (NAASC) celebrates emerging talent in clinical research and the 2024 event was no exception. Building on the legacy of the Surgical Research Society of Australasia (SRS), founded in 1961, the NAASC continues to champion surgical innovation and academic excellence.

Enhanced accessibility and engagement
The 2024 conference introduced significant updates to better support early career clinical researchers. The event shifted to a Friday-Saturday format, merging the previously separate Surgical Research Society Day and Academic Surgery Day into one cohesive program. These changes were met with enthusiasm, reflected in the submission of more than 80 abstracts—a record-breaking milestone.

Spotlight on collaboration
A key addition to the program was the Early collaborative study ideas workshop, where researchers from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand presented proposals to a panel of experts in surgical trials and methodologies. The top two ideas were featured on the final day, with Dr Siobhan McKay’s FORECAST: Fistula Operative Risk Evaluation using CT Acinar Score Tool earning top honours.

International perspectives
NAASC 2024 welcomed distinguished international guests, including Dr Rebekah White from the Society of University Surgeons and Dr Mohamed Zayed from Washington University in St. Louis. Their insights highlighted the importance of global collaboration in advancing surgical research.

Inspiring keynote and recognition
Professor David Watson, Head of Surgery at Flinders University, delivered the prestigious Jepson Lecture on Driving change in surgery – evidence, opinion, or belief? sparking discussions on the future of surgical practice.

Notable awardees included Dr Anshini Jain, who won the Young Investigator Award for her presentation PredictorG – a multicentre translational personalised medicine approach in colorectal peritoneal metastases and Dr Kylie Lim, recognised with the ANZ Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Award, for her study on The economic and environmental footprint of PrecisionPoint prostate biopsies.

Looking ahead
NAASC 2024 showcased cutting-edge research and fostered meaningful connections, reaffirming its role as a hub for surgical innovation. We look forward to welcoming even more groundbreaking ideas in 2025, continuing to shape the future of surgical care.

Meet our prize winners

Proteomics International Young Investigator Award 2024 (awarded to a presenter less than 10 years post-Fellowship)
•    Dr Anshini Jain: PredictorG- a multicentre translational personalised medicine approach in colorectal peritoneal metastases.

ANZ Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (awarded to a presenter who has been a Fellow
not more than five years)
•    Dr Kylie Lim: The economic and environmental footprint of PrecisionPoint prostate biopsies

Travel Grants – Higher Degree (awarded to a presenter who is undertaking a higher degree by research)
•    Dr Cameron Wells: Defining ‘failure to rescue’ after postoperative complications: a systematic review and population-based study
•    Dr Chen Liu: The impact of chyme reinfusion on post-operative recovery following loop ileostomy reversal: a randomised controlled trial

Travel Grants – Clinical (awarded to a presenter who must be a SET Trainee, pre-vocational doctor or medical student)
•    Dr Josipa Petric: Defining the hospital volume required to minimise mortality following esophagectomy for cancer in low population density countries
•    Ms Kaviya Kalyanasundaram: In-vivo testing of bacteriophage therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis with antibiotic and phage resistance

Elsevier eBook vouchers (best visual presentations)
•    Miss Ellie Treloar: The sterile cockpit – what can we learn from aviation?
•    Dr Jocelyn Lippey: Key stakeholder perspectives on implementation of risk based breast cancer screening
•    Miss Nandini Karthikeyan: The utility of IVC diameter for the assessment of hypovolaemic shock in adult trauma patients

Early Collaborative Study Ideas Award
•    Dr Siobhan McKay: FORECAST: Fistula Operative Risk Evaluation using CT Acinar Score Tool