Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It gives us great pleasure to invite you to participate in the 38th International Symposium on Pediatric Surgical Research (ISPSR) which will take place in the vibrant city of Guangzhou, China from 9-11 October 2025.

Guangzhou, known as the "City of Flowers," boasts a fascinating blend of ancient traditions and modern innovation. As the heart of the historic Maritime Silk Road, Guangzhou has been a hub of international trade and cultural exchange for over 2,000 years. The city is home to the iconic Canton Tower, one of the tallest structures in the world, offering breathtaking views of the Pearl River. For those interested in history, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall provides a glimpse into traditional Cantonese architecture and craftsmanship, while the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, a Buddhist temple over 1,400 years old, offers a serene retreat. The historic Shamian Island, with its colonial-era architecture, narrates the city's rich past as a trading port. Culinary enthusiasts will delight in Guangzhou’s reputation as the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine, featuring world-famous dim sum and a vibrant food scene that embodies the city’s spirit of hospitality.

Over the years, the International Symposium on Paediatric Surgical Research has become a global research forum for presenting high quality research. The first day of the Meeting will be devoted to Keynote lectures on relevant clinical topics in pediatric surgery by world experts and the other two days to research and innovations in pediatric surgery. This year the topic for the first day is Recent Updates in Pediatric Surgery. The internationally renowned experts in their respective fields will speak on topics such as fetal surgery and fetal therapy, regenerative medicine, necrotizing enterocolitis, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, solid tumors, esophageal atresia, short gut syndrome, hepatobiliary malformations, airway surgery, metabolic and bariatric surgery in adolescents, robotic surgery, telemedicine and pediatric urology.

We hope that the 38th International Symposium on Pediatric Surgical Research in Guangzhou - through both formal sessions and especially informal gatherings - will provide a wonderful opportunity for pediatric surgeons and basic scientists to have a fruitful exchange of ideas and generate new research collaborations.

We very much hope that you will be able to join us for the International Symposium on Paediatric Surgical Research to be held for the first time in China and make this a unique and memorable conference.