Magdeburg Is Becoming a Hub for Surgical Research
More than 300 experts will discuss AI, robotics, new biomarkers, and the future of surgical medicine at the 29th Surgical Research Days
What will surgery of the future look like? What role do artificial intelligence, robotic assistance systems, and new biomarkers play? And how do technological developments from research and industry find their way into clinical practice? From September 24 to 26, 2026, more than 300 experts from hospitals, research institutions, and industry will address these and other questions at the 29th Surgical Research Days in Magdeburg.
The Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery at Magdeburg University Medical Center is hosting this year’s conference of the Surgical Research Section of the German Society for Surgery (DGCH). Under the theme “Biomarkers and Technology—Driving Us into the Age of Surgeomics,” the conference will focus on current developments and future prospects in surgical research.
- What: 29th Surgical Research Days of the Surgical Research Section e. V. of the German Society for Surgery (DGCH)
- When: September 24–26, 2026
- Where: STIMULATE Research Campus and the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operations and Automation IFF
The program includes, among other topics, robotic surgery, artificial intelligence, organoids in molecular oncology and co-clinical studies, immunotherapy, and transplant medicine. The conference thus covers the full spectrum of current surgical research. At the same time, the conference will address the key research areas of Magdeburg University Hospital—ranging from immunology and oncology to medical technology and image-guided minimally invasive procedures. The responsible use of animal testing in research and education, as well as approaches to improving research, will also be presented and discussed.
In addition to technological developments, the conference also addresses issues that extend beyond individual surgical procedures: a panel discussion will focus on women in leadership positions in surgery, while another session will examine changes in medical school curricula and the professional profile of surgeons.
From Biomarkers to Robotics
A key focus of the conference is the question of how new technologies and scientific findings can transform surgery. Modern biomarkers and procedures such as liquid biopsy open up new possibilities for investigating diseases at the molecular level. At the same time, researchers and technology partners are developing new robotic and image-guided procedures that could support surgical interventions with even greater precision and minimal invasiveness in the future.
Artificial intelligence is also playing an increasingly important role in this context, from research through to clinical application. The conference brings together different disciplines, thereby creating a space for exchange between medical research, medical technology, and clinical practice.
Technology Meets Clinical Application
An innovation partnership between Magdeburg University Hospital and BEC Medical Robotics demonstrates how clinical needs, in collaboration with technology partners, can give rise to new solutions. The project is the focal point of the opening event and bridges clinical medicine, research, and technology development.
Another key focus is on early-career researchers. Workshops cover the fundamentals of experimental surgical research and give young scientists the opportunity to present their own research and network with experienced researchers. In this way, the conference also addresses the question of how surgery can attract and train the next generation of scientists to meet the challenges of the coming years.
“The Surgical Research Days bring together leading experts from various disciplines. They offer an excellent platform for exchanging scientific findings, initiating new collaborations, and working together on solutions for the future of surgical medicine,” says Prof. Dr. med. Roland S. Croner, Director of the University Clinic for General, Visceral, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery at Magdeburg University Medical Center and conference chair.
With the STIMULATE Research Campus and the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operations and Automation (IFF), the conference will take place at two locations where medical technology, digitalization, automation, and research are closely intertwined. This also brings the transfer of scientific findings into practical application into sharp focus.
Further information on the program is available here.
Contact
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ulf Kahlert, Director of Research, Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery at Magdeburg University Hospital, Conference Secretary, ulf.kahlert@med.ovgu.de