The first NOSCAR® Research Grants were awarded in 2006. Since that time, 63 grants have been presented. Recipients of NOSCAR are conducting research in both animal models and humans.

"NOSCAR is grateful to our corporate partners for supporting NOTES research and helping to advance this minimally invasive technique," said Steven Schwaitzberg, MD, NOSCAR Research Subcommittee co-chair.

Selected past NOSCAR®™ Research Award winners presented data from their projects at the 4th International Conference on NOTES® held in Boston, Massachusetts July 9-11, 2009. Presentations included research on improving patient safety and multidisciplinary team efficiency, the physiologic and immunologic impact of NOTES, drainage of abdominal abscess, and gastric leak testing, among others.

We received an outstanding response for research funding reflecting the momentum this revolutionary technique has created, said Michael L. Kochman, MD, FASGE.

"These grant recipients are conducting research that is pointing us to the next phase in the evolution of the NOTES procedure, which is multicenter human studies."

If your organization is interested in underwriting or participating in NOTES human studies, contact info@noscar.org.