OAK BROOK, Ill., April 5, 2010 – The Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research® (NOSCAR®), a joint effort of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), today announce the 2010 NOSCAR® Research Award winners. The funds, granted through Olympus Medical Systems' Olympus Research Fund will be distributed among five grant recipients supporting research projects in the emerging transdisciplinary therapy known as Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery® (NOTES®), an approach that could ultimately represent a major paradigm shift in minimally invasive therapy and patient care. NOSCAR® received 21 grant applications for the $250,000 in research funds. This grant increases Olympus' total funding to $1.5 million for basic research.
"We continue to receive an outstanding response for basic research funding and are grateful to Olympus Medical Systems for recognizing the importance of supporting research that is helping to advance this minimally invasive technique," said Michael L. Kochman, MD, FASGE, NOSCAR Research Subcommittee Co-Chair.
NOTES is performed by using the patient's natural openings for surgery. The first NOSCAR® Research Awards were announced in 2006. Since that time, 61 grants have been awarded. Recipients of the 2010 awards are conducting research in both animal models and humans.
"These grant recipients are conducting research that is adding to the growing evidence on the feasibility of this revolutionary procedure," said Steven D. Schwaitzberg, MD, NOSCAR Research Subcommittee Co-Chair.
In July 2008, NOSCAR leadership granted funds to determine topics requiring further basic research in order to make the NOTES platform feasible. That grant, used for research called the Delphi Study, gathered data from physicians and researchers around the world to identify those areas requiring additional research and investigation. Some of the topics identified are being funded through this current grant from Olympus as listed below.
2010 NOSCAR Research Award Recipients
Mohammad Al-Haddad, MD
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind.
Propofol Sedation for Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES®): Feasibility Study in Dogs
Juliane Bingener-Casey, MD and Erica Moran, MD
Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minn.
Feasibility of Translumenal Endoscopic Omental Patch Closure of Perforated Viscus
Elena Dubcenco, MD
St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
A Long-Term, Randomized, Comparative, Survival, Porcine Model Study Evaluating Effectiveness of Adhesiolysis (Adhesion Re-Formation): Transgastric NOTES® vs. Laparoscopy
Eric S. Hungness, MD
Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.
Transrectal NOTES® Appendectomy in Humans: A Feasibility Study
Erica Moran, MD
Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minn.
Mediaststinal Lymph Node Sampling using NOTES® Techniques: Creation of a Training Model and Feasibility of Techniques
For more information about NOSCAR and NOTES, visit www.noscar.org or call 630-570-5616.
About NOSCAR
Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery® (NOTES®) might represent the next major advancement in minimally invasive therapy. To address this emerging technology, a working group consisting of expert laparoscopic surgeons from SAGES and a group of expert interventional endoscopists representing ASGE have joined together as the Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research® (NOSCAR®) Working Group on NOTES.
The growing capabilities of therapeutic flexible endoscopy have ushered in a new era in treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. Refinements in laparoscopic surgery have progressed to the point that complex surgical procedures, such as gastric bypass, can now be performed in a minimally invasive fashion. These trends have set the stage for the development of even less invasive methods to treat conditions in both the gut lumen and in the peritoneal cavity. It seems feasible that major intraperitoneal surgery may one day be performed without skin incisions. The natural orifices may provide the entry point for surgical interventions in the peritoneal cavity thereby avoiding abdominal wall incisions. For more information, visit www.noscar.org.
About the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) was founded in 1981 to foster, promote, support and encourage academic, clinical and research achievement in gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery. Our members are general and colorectal surgeons who perform endoscopy and laparoscopy as part of their practice as well as surgical residents, fellows, and other allied health personnel. The Society has grown from fewer than 50 original members to more than 5,500 from every state and over 80 countries. Visit www.sages.org for more information.
About the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Since its founding in 1941, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has been dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy. ASGE, with more than 11,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education. Visit www.asge.org and www.screen4coloncancer.org for more information and to find a qualified doctor in your area.
About Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
Olympus developed the first gastrocamera in 1950, and has since developed a wide range of fiberscopes and videoscopes for direct internal observation of the human body. Today, we are expanding our minimally invasive treatment business to offer a wide range of instruments and peripheral devices for medical treatment and clinical diagnoses, including endoscopic surgery. We are improving medical and healthcare services by developing "more patient-friendly medical care" technology for early detection and treatment of diseases, even "greater reliability" in our unsurpassed devices and "high efficiency" in our products and services to better serve our customers' needs. More information on the company can be found at www.olympus.co.jp/en/.
Media Contacts:
Barbara Connell
NOSCAR
630-570-5616
barbara@noscar.org
Anne Brownsey
ASGE
630-570-5635
abrownsey@asge.org