SOBRADPEC and Acta Cirurgica Brasileira: 20 years assisting the development of surgical research in Brazil

PREFACE

SOBRADPEC and Acta Cirurgica Brasileira

20 years assisting the development of surgical research in Brazil

José Eduardo de Aguilar-Nascimento

President of the X Congress and of the Central-West Section of SOBRADPEC. Full Professor, Department of Surgery, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Brazil

^{Correspondence}

We are proud to hold in Cuiabá, capital of the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, in which is situated the geodesic center of South America, the X National Congress of Experimental Surgery. Much more than that, we were pleased to host the 20^th Anniversary of the Brazilian Society for the Development of Surgical Research (SOBRADPEC). Founded at Paulista School of Medicine (EPM), Federal University of Sao Pauo (UNIFESP) in September 1987. Since its beginning aimed to congregate researchers, stimulating scientific investigation, and promoting knowledge interchanges between either national or international institutions. Professor Saul Goldenberg, the founder of SOBRADPEC stated 20 years ago that the society would host those who cultivate the gift of both teaching and research. He stated that it was essential to divide acquired knowledge in order to benefit mankind. This wise man, far ahead of his time, created the official Journal of SOBRADPEC, our Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira. Through the pages of the "Acta", many of us, affiliates of this Society, and various other members of the Brazilian community of research surgeons published thousand of papers in the last 20 years. By now, Acta is indexed in important world databases such as Medline and SciELO, and has published more than a thousand original articles mainly on experimental surgery. Many of these articles came from either doctorate or master thesis of the various postgraduate programs of Brazilian Universities. Thus, the contribution of SOBRADPEC during its existence, and by all means, the contribution of the Acta Cirurgica Brasileira for the national post-graduation is unquestionable. However, a Journal like the Acta Cir Bras does not, of course, depend solely on its permanent staff. Without the efforts of authors, readers and referees, it would be discontinued.

X National Congress of Experimental Surgery

But let me say a few words about the Congress. A Congress like this one could not be carried out without the financial assistance of many sponsors. I would cite for example: the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Health Ministry - Science & Technology Department (MS-DECIT), UNIMED-Cuiabá, and the Mato Grosso State Research Support Agency (FAPEMAT). The logistics support from the Federal University of Mato Grosso, FUPEC, Brazilian Federation of Gastroenterology (FBG), and from the great

Brazilian College of Surgeons (CBC) was fundamental. A small but loyal team of friends that join with me inside the organizing committee was obliged and will be no longer forgotten. Our weekly wednesdays night meeting during a whole year was a trade mark of the unique aptitude of the academic-surgeons, "the blue caps" that gather together into the SOBRADPEC.

This supplement contains 14 complete original papers presented at the X National Congress of Experimental Surgery which central theme is Innovation and Technology in Surgery. The scientific program was planned aiming at provoking an intense and substantial discussion during the three days of the Congress over a large range of issues on both experimental and clinical surgery. Round tables, conferences and panel were scheduled to cover issues that varied from ethics in research to the state of the art in liver transplantation, from microsurgery to bariatric surgery, and from nutrition to laparoscopy. More than fifty speakers from all over the country were included in the scientific program. Two foreign guests were also invited and honored all of us for their commitment with the spirit of the Congress: Professor Norbert Nemeth from Hungary and Professor João Luis Raposo D'Almeida from Portugal. An expressive number of papers are presented by hundreds of investigators (senior researchers, postgraduate students, residents, and medical students) in sessions of either oral or poster presentation. We hope that we attained our aims and that the Congress turns to be a "call in arms" for the next organizing committee to join forces to carry on the same (or greater) enthusiasm of this event to the next Congress.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  26 Apr 2007
• Date of issue
  2007