Peter Dungel, head of the photobiomodulation research group at LBI Trauma, is the new president of the Austrian Society for Surgical Research (Österreichische Gesellschaft für chirurgische Forschung). The presidency was ceremoniously handed over at the 2021 annual meeting, which, due to Covid, was held as a hybrid event together with the congress of the Austrian Society of Surgery. Dr. Dungel has been an active member of the Austrian Society for Surgical Research for years and has already held various functions on the board. Every year he organizes the participation of numerous LBI young scientists at the society’s annual meeting.

Since 30 years, the Austrian Society for Surgical Research maintains the connection between experimental and clinical surgical research in Austria. Cooperation with other societies such as traumatology, physiology, anatomy, oncology, immunology, and endocrinology is supported and promoted.

Special goals are the networking of local research institutions, the intensive exchange of scientists and clinicians and especially the promotion of young scientists. For the scientific and collegial exchange, the presentation of projects and their results, the annual meeting of the Society for Surgical Research takes place every year in November.

Many young colleagues can gain their first experience in giving scientific talks at the annual conference. For additional motivation, the society offers lecture prizes and the Hans Waclawiczek PhD Award (including 2000 € prize money). In the past, employees of LBI Trauma were repeatedly among the winners of lecture awards.

Together with a powerful team, Dr Dungel is already planning to host the 2022 congress, which will hopefully take place again with personal participation in Pichl / Schladming.