Fostering Excellence in IBD Research: ClinCom-Led Educational Highlights at ECCO’25
During ECCO’25, the ECCO Clinical Research Committee (ClinCom) took the lead in organising two highly engaging and insightful educational sessions: the 6th School for Clinical Trialists and the 1st Educational Course for Industry Partners. Both courses generated strong interest and meaningful discussion among participants, reinforcing the value of multidisciplinary collaboration in the advancement of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) care and research.
6th School for Clinical Trialists: empowering IBD research teams
On February 19, 2025, the 6th School for Clinical Trialists convened in Berlin as part of ECCO'25, offering a focused educational experience for clinical researchers, clinical trial coordinators, IBD Nurses and allied health professionals. The course aimed to enhance participants' understanding of clinical trial design and execution within the IBD field. The programme featured two sessions: "The Pathway for a Trialist" and "All You Need to Know About Trials", covering essential topics such as trial setup, regulatory considerations, patient recruitment and team collaboration. Attendees gained practical insights into the complexities of conducting clinical research, with an emphasis on improving trial quality and patient outcomes. By fostering knowledge and skills among IBD research professionals, the School for Clinical Trialists contributes to the advancement of high-quality, patient-centred clinical trials, aligning with ECCO's commitment to excellence in IBD care and research.
1st Educational Course for Industry Partners: bridging clinical practice and industry collaboration
Also on February 19, ECCO launched its first-ever Educational Course for Industry Partners, designed for corporate members and non-members engaged in IBD research and development. The course aimed to foster greater mutual understanding between the pharmaceutical industry and clinical practice. The programme consisted of two main sessions: “Insights into IBD Treatment”, focusing on how to integrate registration trials with real-world data, treatment sequencing strategies and ECCO Guidelines development, and “Access to Trials and Medication”, which tackled pressing challenges related to global disparities in medication access, particularly in Europe, Asia and South America. The interactive format encouraged open dialogue, identified knowledge gaps and highlighted opportunities for collaboration to improve patient access and outcomes. This inaugural course marked an important step in strengthening the relationship between industry and clinical stakeholders, underscoring ECCO’s role in advancing innovative, patient-centred approaches in IBD care.
