Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 took place in Chicago from May 2–5, bringing together global experts in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery. The meeting showcased a wide range of clinical and translational research, including late-breaking data, novel therapeutics, and emerging technologies, alongside interactive sessions designed to advance understanding and improve patient care.
Guselkumab is a selective IL-23 inhibitor approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease, following the positive efficacy and safety findings from the phase 3 GALAXI 2 & 3 studies. A long-term extension study of the trials is currently ongoing with the Week 96 results recently presented at DDW 2026. In this interview, Professor Remo Panaccione explores the current role of guselkumab in the treatment paradigm for CD, and discusses the aims, design and Week 96 findings from the long term extension of GALAXI 2 & 3.
Early data from the phase 2b DUET-UC trial suggest the first co-antibody therapy JNJ-78934804 may offer a new strategy for treatment-refractory ulcerative colitis by simultaneously targeting TNF and IL-23 pathways. In an interview, Dr Maria T. Abreu discusses unmet needs in UC, the rationale for dual-pathway inhibition, and the design and key outcomes of the study.
Meet the immunologists redefining the future of practice, research, and technology! The touchIMMUNOLOGY Future Leaders 2026 have been nominated by the immunology community to recognize the rising stars shaping the future of research and clinical care. These clinicians, researchers and innovators are driving progress across the specialty — from advancing clinical practice to challenging convention and improving patient outcomes.
In this Q&A, touchIMMUNOLOGY Future Leader Dr Nuru Noor discusses what inspired his career in gastroenterology, the mentors and colleagues who have guided him, and the critical importance of addressing difficult-to-treat IBD phenotypes to advance patient care.
In this Q&A, touchIMMUNOLOGY Future Leader Dr Bourgonje discusses what drew him to a career in gastroenterology, a defining breakthrough in his research that influenced the field, and the current innovations in inflammatory bowel disease that excite him most.
ARTEMIS-UC (NCT04996797) is a phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating tulisokibart in participants with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). In this Q&A, we spoke with Dr Christopher Ma (Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada) about the mechanism of action of tulisokibart and the rationale for investigating the therapy in moderate-to-severe UC. Dr Ma also explores the aims, design and key findings from the phase 2 ARTEMIS-UC study, and the significance of the Week 50 results.
Every May, United European Gastroenterology (UEG) marks Digestive Health Month; a pan-European awareness campaign dedicated to improving prevention and early detection of digestive diseases and cancers. Bringing together UEG’s scientific expertise and advocacy work, the campaign creates a coordinated effort engaging healthcare professionals, medical societies, patient organizations, policymakers and other key stakeholders in shared priorities in digestive health.
The phase 2b, placebo-controlled TUSCANY-2 study (NCT04090411) investigated afimkibart, a TL1A inhibitor, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). In this Q&A, Maggie Neighbors (Genentech Inc., USA) outlines the mechanism of action of afimkibart and the aims and design of the phase 2b TUSCANY-2 study, including the application of high-sensitivity serum proteomics, and discusses the study’s key findings and how they extend previous data.
Several presentations and abstracts from last month’s European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) 2026 congress highlighted emerging concepts extending beyond therapeutic efficacy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These included new insights into the gut–brain axis, comparative safety across therapies, artificial intelligence (AI) tools for clinical practice, comorbid metabolic disease and molecular approaches to defining disease remission. Together, these studies illustrate the expanding scope of IBD research and the growing focus on more comprehensive approaches to disease assessment and management.
The 2026 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) congress showcased an evolving clinical landscape, highlighting advances in biomarker-driven care, novel oral agents targeting key inflammatory pathways, and long-term real-world outcomes of established biologics and advanced therapies. Across ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), the meeting underscored a shift toward precision medicine, earlier optimization of therapy, and sustained disease modification. We summarize the most impactful clinical trial data presented at ECCO'26, focusing on therapeutic innovations, comparative effectiveness studies, and long-term results shaping the future of IBD management.
The UEG Rising Star Awards celebrate and support the most promising early-career clinical and research scientists in gastroenterology and digestive health, recognizing their high-quality work and fostering their development within the international UEG community. By highlighting the achievements of young gastroenterologists and giving them a platform to present at UEG Week and engage with peers and mentors, the initiative helps accelerate their research impact and career growth. We asked each of the winners what the award meant to them and to their career.
As the field of immunology continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical. As we welcome the new year, we asked our touchIMMUNOLOGY 2025 Future Leaders to share the developments they believe will shape the future of the field. Here, they highlight five emerging areas poised to influence clinical practice—not only in the year ahead, but for years to come.
The 33rd edition of United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week took place from 4–7 October 2025 at Messe Berlin, welcoming thousands of delegates both in-person and online through a hybrid format. Over four days, the congress once again proved to be a cornerstone of global collaboration in digestive health - uniting clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders to share the latest advances in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and digestive science.
In this exclusive interview, Professor Detlef Schuppan discusses the latest findings from the phase 2b CEC-004/CEL clinical trial evaluating ZED1227, a first-in-class inhibitor of tissue transglutaminase, for the treatment of symptomatic celiac disease. The study, presented at UEG Week 2025 in Berlin, sheds new light on histologic improvement, symptom response, and the ongoing challenge of differentiating true celiac activity from IBS-like symptoms.
As touchIMMUNOLOGY approaches 5 years of providing education for busy healthcare professionals involved with immune-related conditions, we are looking to the future—and it certainly looks bright! This year, we are celebrating our inaugural touchIMMUNOLOGY Future Leaders to recognize the outstanding talent that has entered our field in recent years. These individuals are set to innovate and transform the field in the years to come.
Obesity is driving a surge in digestive diseases and cancers across Europe. At UEG’s landmark event, experts called for bold, EU-wide solutions, including early screening, person-centred care, and multidisciplinary support. Prof. Patrizia Burra highlights systemic prevention strategies to combat obesity, reduce stigma, and protect digestive health for millions at risk.
Dr Bram Verstockt, a clinician-scientist at KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, shares insights into his journey into gastroenterology and his pioneering research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this interview, he explores the promise of precision medicine, noninvasive monitoring tools like intestinal ultrasound, and the need to better understand IBD heterogeneity to drive more personalized and effective patient care.
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