Letter from the ECCO President
Fernando Magro, ECCO President
 Fernando Magro © ECCO |
Dear Colleagues,
Dear ECCO Family,
As we look back on the 20th Congress of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO), held in Berlin from February 19 to 22, 2025, I am deeply grateful and proud for all that we have accomplished together. Centred around the theme "Sustainability in IBD and beyond", the Congress underscored our shared commitment to fostering long-term strategies in IBD care. The scientific programme featured a rich and varied selection of sessions, covering the latest advances in IBD care, innovative monitoring tools and sustainable surgical practices. In addition, collaborative sessions, such as the ESGE–ECCO joint discussion on endoscopy, highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in achieving sustainable patient outcomes.
With more than 8000 attendees representing 99 countries, this year’s Congress reaffirmed ECCO’s position in the setting of international IBD care. For those unable to attend in person—or for anyone wishing to revisit the Congress highlights—I invite you to watch the ECCO'25 Film, which captured the spirit and scientific highlights of the event. A record-breaking 1534 abstracts were accepted, showcasing groundbreaking research and innovative studies from leading institutions across the globe.
The educational programme featured hands-on workshops and specialised courses tailored to meet the diverse needs of the IBD Community, further emphasising our continued commitment to comprehensive education and interdisciplinary collaboration. In this context, I would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the various ECCO Committees in shaping and delivering this high-quality programme. Among the many highlights were the 10th H-ECCO IBD Masterclass, the N-ECCO School, the 10th D-ECCO Workshop, the 11th Y-ECCO Science Workshop, the 6th ECCO Imaging and Endoscopy Workshop, the 4th ECCO Postgraduate Course in IBD, the 23rd ECCO IBD Intensive Course for Trainees and the 12th ECCO Ultrasound Workshop—each reflecting ECCO’s commitment to excellence in multidisciplinary education.
As we look ahead, let us carry forward the spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines ECCO and stay tuned for the exciting initiatives and events on the horizon!
At ECCO 2026, we are excited to debut the Masterclass in IBD Surgery, a new initiative offering an in-depth exploration of both traditional and emerging surgical techniques while fostering collaboration among experts in the field. In parallel, we are proud to announce the launch of JCC Plus, an open access journal dedicated to building a broad, inclusive community of clinicians, researchers and patient associations. With a strong focus on accessibility, JCC Plus aims to make high-quality scientific content accessible to all, promoting closer connections between science, clinical practice and patient engagement in IBD. To learn more about this new project, please visit https://www.ecco-ibd.eu/publications/jcc-plus.html. Also, please keep an eye on the upcoming ECCO Guidelines and Topical Reviews, which will address the management of paediatric populations and the prevention and management of infections and malignancies, along with several other key topics in daily clinical practice. I would also recommend exploring the upcoming issues of ECCO News, where you can keep up to date with the latest research (featured in the Y-ECCO Literature Reviews), enjoy insightful interviews with members of the ECCO Family (Meet the Reps, Y-ECCO Interview Corner) and more! Last but not least, don’t miss the upcoming E-QUALITY project and the calls for ECCO Grants and Awards—wonderful opportunities for young professionals seeking to advance in the IBD field.
Best wishes,
Fernando Magro
President, European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO)