Research is a cornerstone of IPSAC’s academic approach to Global Surgery. We are committed to the discovery, development, and implementation of solutions that improve children’s health worldwide. Our mission is to foster and support innovative research initiatives while addressing the persistent disparities that limit scientific advancement in developing countries.

We actively promote clinical research within Children’s Hospitals, providing investigators with guidance in research design, methodology, and scientific writing to strengthen the quality and impact of local studies.

Our translational research efforts are bolstered through a strategic collaboration with the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Science, Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMUS). Together, we aim to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications.

A major focus of our research capacity building is the mentorship and professional development of young investigators. We invest in early-career researchers by providing mentorship, sponsoring their participation in international scientific meetings, and supporting their efforts in manuscript preparation and grant writing.

Among our flagship translational projects is the investigation of the mechanisms of chronic hepatic fibrosis, which has led to applied clinical research exploring targeted therapies to mitigate the severity of Biliary Atresia — an incurable congenital bile duct disease that disproportionately affects newborns in low-resource settings.

Building on these findings, we are conducting an ongoing randomized interventional clinical trial using repurposed Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) at the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital in Hanoi, Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Aga Khan University in Karachi. This groundbreaking trial exemplifies our commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration, uniting basic scientists and clinicians from multiple medical specialties to translate innovation into tangible improvements in pediatric surgical outcomes.