Dear ECCO IBD Community,
Dear Friends,

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I welcome you to ECCO’25, the 20^th Congress of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation, hosted for the first time in my hometown of Berlin! We continue with the ECCO REACH Strategy, and this year, we focus on the letter A, corresponding to the goal: Attain sustainable IBD care.  

The resulting congress theme is - Sustainability in IBD and Beyond, working towards sustainable delivery of care: prevention, optimal treatment and efficient use of resources.  The ‘beyond’ part will be emphasized in our Saturday morning ECCO lecture: “Lean, green and clean – sustainability in clinical practice and beyond” given by Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Director of Environmental Medicine at the University Hospital of Augsburg, Germany.

As we embark on another remarkable gathering of the global IBD community, I am thrilled to share with you the impressive milestones we have achieved together in preparation for this year’s event. We are delighted to report that more than 7,000 delegates have already registered, and we are well on the way to one of the largest congresses in ECCO history. This enthusiastic response highlights the growing importance of our shared mission to advance knowledge and improve patient care worldwide.

The scientific engagement this year is unparalleled, with 1,765 abstracts submitted, the highest number in ECCO’s history. This remarkable result, reflects the dynamism and innovation of the IBD research community, and we cannot wait to see these contributions presented during the Congress. I am particularly happy to announce that we have expanded the highly regarded Digital Oral Presentation (DOP) sessions from 10 to 15. A new Friday morning series of five sessions has been introduced to the programme, ensuring even more opportunities to share cutting-edge research and foster stimulating discussions.

The poster exhibition will feature 1,358 posters, setting yet another record for ECCO. As always, the Guided Poster Tour will take place on Friday, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with authors and explore the latest developments in IBD research together with IBD experts.

Our Congress format promote accessibility and inclusivity for all participants. The Scientific Programme and DOP sessions takes place onsite in Berlin and will also be livestreamed via our Congress Virtual Platform, available through the ECCO website and app. For added convenience, the recordings will remain available on demand for three months. The Educational Programme is primarily conducted onsite, but selected courses will be recorded and made available online as well. These include the 4th Postgraduate Course in IBD, 16th N-ECCO School, 23rd IBD Intensive Course for Trainees, 6th School for Clinical Trialists, and the inaugural Educational Course for Industry Partners

Berlin, a city of rich history, culture, and innovation, provides the perfect backdrop for ECCO’25. I encourage you to explore its vibrant neighborhoods, iconic landmarks, and diverse culinary offerings during your stay.

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary event. Together, we are driving progress in IBD care and research, and I am confident that ECCO’25 will be a transformative experience for all.

See you in Berlin!

Britta Siegmund
ECCO President 2023-2025