Inside UEG’s vision for research, collaboration, and innovation

The UEG Research Committee drives coordinated research facilitation and helps shape funding priorities in digestive health across Europe by advising stakeholders and supporting collaborative scientific initiatives.

We spoke with the newly appointed Chair of the Research Committee, Prof. Chloé Melchior, about her priorities for strengthening collaborative research and her vision for advancing digestive health research across Europe. Prof. Melchior also reflected on how UEG has shaped her career and shared her thoughts on how the organisation can best support young gastroenterologists. As a specialist in gut–brain interactions, Prof. Melchior outlines her research focus and offers insights into where the field of neuro-gastroenterology is heading.

Q. What are your key priorities as the new Chair of the UEG Research Committee?

As a newly elected chair of the UEG Research Committee, I will have 3 key priorities. Firstly, I would like to update and complete the White Book 2. This support is very important to identify the strategic priorities and create a “gastrointestinal research road map”, including a dissemination strategy, a toolkit, and a way to engage policy makers. Secondly, I would like to improve access to European Funding for gastrointestinal health by continuing the work done on the start-up grant, and going further with this. I would like to create a task group of Research Committee members, who are experts in those projects, to analyse how we can improve the quality of applications, identify the important factors leading to Horizon project acceptance, and provide guidance for application success within our field. This project is quite ambitious, but also very exciting. Last but not least, I would like to help young gastroenterologists get involved in research, as those who start early are more likely to continue throughout their careers, ultimately increasing the overall impact of research within gastroenterology. Many young gastroenterologists have complained that they would like to be involved in research, but that it is not available in their centre. For this point, we will have to define the needs and the best options to achieve our goals and, of course, work with the Young Talent group.

Q. How has UEG impacted your career, and which ongoing projects or initiatives are you currently involved in?

UEG has supported my career in many ways, helping me find a network that was missing at a national level. The most important moment was when I was granted the UEG Research Fellowship in 2020, which allowed me to visit Magnus Simrén’s group in Sweden. This position really helped me to grow, and I am so thankful to UEG and to Magnus for this opportunity. After that, I started collaborating at a European and international level. A few years later, I received the UEG Rising Star 2025, a prestigious award. UEG has also given me the opportunity to meet amazing people. I am now involved in the UEG council as Chair of the Research Committee; this position aligns with my goals, as I am very involved in research myself.

Q. What is your vision for UEG’s role in advancing digestive health research across Europe?

My vision is for UEG to be the home of digestive health research in Europe: a place where collaboration transcends borders and specialties, where early-career researchers find mentorship and opportunities, and where our collective voices influence European research priorities to the benefit of patients and society.

Q. How can UEG support young gastroenterologists in advancing their careers?

As explained earlier, young gastroenterologists will really be one of my priorities as Chair of the Research Committee. UEG can help young gastroenterologists by providing many free opportunities, from science to education but also research, grant support and networking. I can also advise all young gastroenterologists interested to take part in the Young Talent Group, which is a great opportunity for them to get into UEG and gain visibility.

Q. Could you describe your research on gut–brain interactions, and where you see the field of neuro-gastroenterology heading?

I work at Rouen University Hospital in France and at Rouen Normandy University in the INSERM research lab, Nutrition, inflammation, and microbiota-gut-brain axis (Director, Prof. Moïse Coëffier). My research focuses on disorders of gut-brain interactions, but mainly in irritable bowel syndrome. I am particularly interested in the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome. My recent research focuses on the factors associated with food intolerances, but also the overlap between eating disorders, such as Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorders (ARFID). I also have the opportunity to collaborate with many scientific researchers on translational projects, and I really hope in the near future that we will be able to better characterize patients and provide personalized management.

The UEG Research Committee

Assigned to achieve coordinated research facilitation to stimulate funding in the field of digestive health.

Promote and enhance digestive health research in Europe by advising and providing evidence to funding bodies on priority areas for research.