ECCO Country Member Profiles: Austria
Christoph Högenauer, Alexander Moschen, ECCO National Representatives, Austria
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Austria |
Name of group: Working Party on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (Working Party IBD, Arbeitsgruppe CED) of the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ÖGGH)
Number of active members:
ECCO: 83
ÖGGH: 1271
Number of meetings per year: Three annual regular meetings; several regional meetings.
President and Secretary:
Leader of the Working Party IBD: Christoph Högenauer
President of ÖGGH: Herbert Tilg
Secretary of ÖGGH: Harald Hofer
National Representatives:
First Austrian National Representative: Christoph Högenauer
Second Austrian National Representative: Alexander Moschen
Joined ECCO in: 2001
Incidence of IBD in the country (if available):
Annual incidence of IBD: Crohn’s Disease: 6.7/100,000; Ulcerative Colitis: 4.8/100,000 (Petritsch W et al. J Crohns Colitis 2013;7:58–69)
What has changed since your society became an ECCO Country Member?
We have encouraged our fellow gastroenterologists to attend ECCO Meetings and to become aware of guidelines. We continue to encourage them to become ECCO Members.
Is your society making use of the ECCO Guidelines?
Yes, the ECCO Guidelines are a template for national guidelines and recommendations.
Have you developed links with other countries through your ECCO Country Membership?
- Have you developed research projects with other countries through your ECCO Country Membership?
Together with Germany and Switzerland in the IBD-DACH consortium. The first research projects were launched in 2018. - Have you developed educational activities with other countries through your ECCO Country Membership?
Together with Germany and Switzerland the “IBD-DACH in discussion” meeting: https://ibd-dach.com/ - Has your country been involved in a fellow exchange through ECCO?
Not so far.
What are your main areas of research interest?
Novel biomarkers for IBD, iron therapy in IBD, the role of the microbiome in IBD, microbiome and cancer, and faecal microbiota transplantation.
What are your most prestigious/interesting past and ongoing projects?
A common national IBD database has not been implemented so far. Some centres are running a database based on IBDIS; local bio banks are available in some academic centres.
Which ECCO Projects/Activities is the group in?
ECCO Guidelines
What are your aims for the future?
Increasing the activities of the Austrian IBD research study group. Increasing awareness among politicians and health care providers of the necessity of modern facilities specialising in the treatment of IBD patients.
How do you see ECCO helping you to fulfil these aims?
Facilitating collaboration with IBD working parties from other countries.
What do you use ECCO for? Network? Congress? How do you use the things/services that ECCO has to offer?
ECCO Congress, ECCO Guidelines, the ECCO IBD Intensive Advanced Course and the ECCO Workshops. Use of the ECCO Network to communicate and collaborate with colleagues within Europe.
 Austrian IBD working party at the Weyregg meeting 2018 © Austrian IBD working party |