Letter from the ECCO President
Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet, ECCO President
 Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet © ECCO |
Dear ECCO Friends,
We are going through a hard time. The first cases of COVID-19 in Europe were reported during the ECCO Congress in Vienna. The world is facing a pandemic which is not easy to treat and for which the course cannot be predicted. As IBD physicians, we are used to manage a difficult disease but not a lockdown. The ECCO spirit will help us coping with social isolation, which is the opposite of the ECCO goal. Our organization will contribute to this fight by publishing weekly interviews of worldwide experts (link to interviews) telling us how to manage our patients and how to keep moving forward during this pandemic.
The results of an ECCO survey capturing physicians’ perspectives about COVID-19 will be soon in the public domain. As it is time for even more solidarity, ECCO has decided to join the ongoing IOIBD registry (SECURE-IBD) collecting all cases of COVID-19-infected patients.
The ECCO Congress in Vienna was very successful with 7,307 attendees from 102 countries. Our congress is always a unique opportunity to promote the best academic research and to provide high-quality education. All scientific sessions have shed new light on IBD pathogenesis and treatment, giving hope to our patients. Thanks to our committees, a total of 17 educational courses were included in the education programme this year, making all attendees happy as they could choose the one(s) meeting with their expectations. The update of the UC Guidelines is ongoing. A multidisciplinary panel of experts reflecting the current management of IBD patients and incorporating for the second time patients nominated by EFCCA will publish updated guidelines in 2021.
I really hope to see you soon after a few months of lockdown. This pandemic will help us realise how much ECCO friendship is an essential part of our life. In addition to your IBD patients, please do not forget to take care of your family and yourself.
Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet
ECCO President