The 12th Joint Conference of the University of Chicago and PUMCH Liver Surgery Program

Peking Union Medical College Hospital

No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing,China

More than 80 physicians, researchers and medical professionals gathered in Beijing September 12–13 for the 12th Joint Conference of the University of Chicago and PUMCH Liver Surgery Program, held at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). The two-day conference brought together experts from China and abroad to exchange the latest developments in liver surgery, transplantation, cancer treatment and clinical research, while strengthening longstanding academic and clinical collaboration between the University of Chicago and PUMCH.

The conference opened September 12 with remarks from Du Shunda of PUMCH, Prof. J. Michael Millis of the University of Chicago and Mao Yilei of PUMCH. The program featured discussions spanning surgical innovation, interdisciplinary technologies and systemic treatment for liver cancer, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape of modern liver medicine.

Among the key topics on the first day were advances in living donor liver transplantation and emerging approaches to the treatment of acute liver failure. Speakers also explored the application of new technologies to surgery, including 3D-printed liver tissue and robotic and sensing technologies designed to support more precise diagnosis and treatment. These discussions highlighted how developments across medicine, engineering and digital technology are opening new possibilities for surgical care.

Liver cancer treatment was another major focus of the conference. Experts discussed recent developments in systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, differences between Chinese and international treatment guidelines, and approaches to managing complex liver metastases. The conference also featured multidisciplinary team discussions involving physicians from PUMCH and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, providing an opportunity to examine complex clinical cases from multiple medical perspectives.

The second day shifted toward the future of clinical practice and medical research. Discussions examined recent progress and emerging directions in the systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, biliary tract cancer and pancreatic cancer, with experts sharing perspectives on how advances in treatment are shaping clinical decision-making.

Research was also a central theme. Speakers discussed what constitutes high-quality clinical research, how to identify meaningful clinical questions and how clinical experience and large-scale data can contribute to surgical innovation. A presentation drawing on the SAGES minimally invasive liver surgery registry provided an international perspective on the use of clinical data to advance research in liver surgery.

Across the two days, the conference provided a forum for clinicians and researchers to share experience, discuss emerging technologies and examine new approaches to liver disease treatment and research. The breadth of topics and international participation reflected the increasingly collaborative nature of contemporary medicine, where progress depends not only on advances in individual specialties but also on sustained exchange across institutions and disciplines.

The conference concluded with remarks from Du Shunda, Prof. J. Michael Millis and Zhao Haitao. By bringing together experts from PUMCH, the University of Chicago and other leading medical institutions, the joint conference continued to foster academic exchange and collaboration in liver surgery and related fields, creating new opportunities for shared learning and future cooperation.