The 31st International Symposium on Paediatric Surgical Research (ISPSR) was held at the Hotel Villa Diodoro, Taormina, Sicily, Italy from 12 to 14 October 2018. This was a highly successful meeting in which 137 papers on paediatric surgical research were presented. As always, the highlight of the symposium was the Prize Session. There were ten excellent papers presented at this session. The Prem Puri Basic Science Research Prize was awarded to Dr. Bo Li from Toronto for his presentation on “Neonatal intestinal organoids to study ex vivo intestinal epithelial disorders”. The Michael Höllwarth Clinical Research Prize was awarded to Dr. Anne Marie O’Donnell from Dublin for her presentation on “Abnormal Scn1b and Fxyd1 gene expression in the pulled through ganglionic colon may influence functional outcome in patients with Hirschsprung’s disease”.

The International Board of Paediatric Surgical Research thanks Professor Carmelo Romeo and his team for a highly successful meeting in Taormina.