Season’s Greetings from the IHPBA President

Dear Members,

As 2025 comes to a close, I would like to reflect on what has been a highly productive and inspiring year for the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. Across our global community, the shared commitment to excellence in HPB care, education, and research continues to drive meaningful progress.

One of the major highlights of the year was the successful completion of all three regional congresses. The AHPBA Annual Meeting in Miami, the 16th Biennial E-AHPBA Congress in Dublin, and the 10th Biennial A-PHPBA Congress in Bangkok each delivered outstanding scientific programmes and strong attendance. Together, these congresses demonstrated the strength of our regional associations and advanced collaboration and innovation across our international network.

Education, collaboration, and research remain central to our mission, and I am pleased to highlight several important developments in this area. The HPBridge Project continued to demonstrate significant impact in 2025, fostering meaningful partnerships between centres in high-income and low- and middle-income countries, and supporting education, mentorship, and collaborative research. In recognition of its success, plans are underway to expand the HPBridge programme from six to nine groups in 2026, further extending its reach and strengthening global connections within the HPB community.

Building on these initiatives, I am delighted to highlight the introduction of new Early Career Group (ECG) and HPBridge Research Grants, supported by the IHPBA Foundation. These grants represent an important investment in the future of our specialty, providing valuable support for early-career investigators and for collaborative research efforts.

Important changes are also planned for 2026 that will further strengthen our association. The Membership Affordability Working Group is actively reviewing membership fee structures, with the goal of introducing new models that improve accessibility and affordability for colleagues in low- and middle-income countries, reflecting our commitment to equity, inclusion, and global engagement.

At the same time, 2026 will mark the launch of a new membership management system and redesigned website, significantly enhancing the overall member experience. These improvements will streamline access to educational content, events, and professional connections across our global community.

The highlight of the coming year will undoubtedly be the 17th IHPBA World Congress in Singapore, from 28–31 October 2026. This landmark event will bring together the global HPB community for an outstanding scientific programme and meaningful international collaboration in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. I encourage members to begin planning their participation early, including submitting abstracts by the 31 March deadline, to ensure broad representation of our community’s scientific work.

None of these achievements would be possible without the dedication of our volunteers, committee members, regional associations, and partners, as well as the engagement of our members worldwide. Your involvement continues to shape the direction and impact of the IHPBA.

As we prepare for the year ahead, I warmly invite you to renew your joint IHPBA and Regional membership and remain an active part of our international HPB community. I also encourage you to consider supporting the IHPBA Foundation, which plays a vital role in advancing education, research, and global collaboration initiatives. Contributions can be made at the time of renewal or directly through the IHPBA website, and every donation helps extend the reach of our shared mission.

I wish you and your families a joyful holiday season and a successful year ahead. I look forward to our continued work together and to welcoming many of you in Singapore in 2026.

Warm regards,

Professor René Adam
President, IHPBA

Published on Monday 15th December 2025