RACS Annual Research Conference
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Overview
Join us at the RACS Annual Research Conference for the latest in surgical research, innovation and education.
The RACS Academic - Surgery Committee invites you to the 2026 Annual Research Conference which will be held from Thursday 12th to Friday 13th November at the Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University, Sydney.
The conference is being organised in partnership with the Association of Academic Surgery (United States) and includes the popular Developing a Career and Skills in Academic Surgery (DCAS) -content. The two-day conference includes sessions of interest to all involved in surgical research from students to fellows.
Day 1 (Thursday 12th November) highlights include the Developing a Career in Academic Surgery (DCAS) program and hot topic talks on academic surgery.
Day 2 (Friday 13th November) highlights a focus on innovation in surgery and the Jepson Lecture.
Across both days will be multiple abstract sessions for the Surgical Research Society that include both full oral and quick-fire presentations with prizes awarded for the highest ranked presentations. Abstracts are open to all surgical specialities and are invited from researchers at all career stages.
The faculty includes academic surgeons from the United States, New Zealand and Australia representing multiple specialities. During the meeting there will be opportunities to network and meet leading academic surgeons and researchers.
The RACS Academic Surgery Committee looks forward to seeing you in November at Macquarie.
Latest updates:
- Abstract submissions are now open - see abstracts section below
- Jepson Lecture speaker announced
- Registrations are now open for this event.
Information about each of the above can be found below.
We look forward to seeing you in Sydney.
Abstracts
Abstract submissions for the 2026 conference are now open and close on Monday 31 August 2026 at 11:45 pm (AEST).
Two presentation formats are available:
• Oral presentation — 8-minute presentation plus 2-minute Q&A (10 minutes total)
• Quick-fire presentation — 3-minute presentation plus 2-minute Q&A (5 minutes total; one slide with minimum font-size requirements)
Prizes and Awards
The RACS Annual Research Conference 2026 offers a range of prizes recognising excellence in surgical research and academic surgery.
Young/Early Investigator Award
Awarded to a presenter less than 10 years post fellowship. This award funds attendance and presentation at the ASC in the USA in 2028.
Travel Grant – Clinical
Awarded to a SET Trainee, Pre-vocational Doctor or Medical Student. The travel grant funds expenses to travel, accommodation and conference registration.
Travel Grant – Higher Degree
Awarded to a higher degree by research presentation. The travel grant funds expenses to travel, accommodation and conference registration.
ANZ Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Award
Awarded to a presenter who has been a Fellow for not more than 5 years. This award of AUD $2,000 requires the presenter to present their research at the ANZ Chapter Surgical Forum at the RACS Annual Scientific Congress in 2027.
Abstracts may be submitted for multiple prizes. It is the author's responsibility to ensure they conform to any preconditions (e.g. only open to trainees). The awarding of a prize is at the discretion of the adjudication panel.
Event highlights
Event highlights
- The Jepson Lecture, delivered by Professor Ian Bissett from Aotearoa New Zealand
- Cochlear site visit after day one of the conference
- Professor Zsolt Balogh on avoiding burnout
- Associate Professor Michael Talbot on combining research and innovation in private practice, plus more.
Be part of the future of surgical science. Don’t miss this dynamic event where careers are launched, collaborations begin, and surgical science thrives. Your voice and ideas can help shape the next wave of surgical research priorities.
Registrations are now open
Jepson Lecture
We are delighted to announce that Professor Ian Bissett will deliver the Jepson Lecture at the 2026 RACS Annual Research Conference.
Ian Bissett ONZM is a Professor in Surgery at the University of Auckland and Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Auckland City Hospital. He spent more than 10 years as a general surgeon working in Nepal from 1987-98, then gained an MD and completed his colorectal fellowship training in 1998-2001, before taking up his present position. He is the past chair of the NZ National Bowel Cancer Working Group and past president of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and NZ. He has now retired from clinical surgery but continues as the director of the National Intestinal Failure and Rehabilitation Service for Adults. His particular interests include intestinal failure, rectal cancer, gut motility, faecal incontinence and global surgery. He has 250 publications in peer reviewed journals. He and his wife, Jo, have three children and five grandchildren.