From February 11 to 13, the 20th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (ASC) took place in Las Vegas, USA, bringing together the most innovative researchers, surgeons, and other members of the academic surgical community from around the world. This prestigious event is a joint meeting of two leading organizations in academic surgery—the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) and the Society of University Surgeons (SUS)—where the latest scientific advancements and future perspectives in surgery are presented.
Academic Surgical Congress / Personal archive photo
Among the participants of this year’s congress was Agnė Sidabraitė, a sixth-year medical student at Vilnius University, who had the honor of presenting her research in the Basic Science: Multidisciplinary Quickshot Session. Her presentation, titled "Improving Diagnostic Precision in Distal Cholangiocarcinoma with CRISPR/Cas9", showcased an innovative study conducted in collaboration with abdominal surgeon Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aistė Kielaitė-Gulla, Dr. Stephen Knox Jones Jr., a researcher at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU GMC-EMBL Institute), and his PhD student Uzair Ahmed. This research proposes an alternative, non-invasive early cancer diagnostic strategy, leveraging cholangiocarcinoma-specific microRNA biomarkers extracted from liquid biopsy samples and detected using advanced gene-editing technologies.
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The congress not only provided an opportunity to present research findings but also facilitated engagement in international academic discussions, gaining insights from leading experts, and understanding the significance of translational science—bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical practice. Events like these serve as an exceptional platform for young researchers to grow, innovate, and contribute to the advancement of medical science.