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22 April 2026 | Volume 21, Issue 1

P-ECCO Committee Update: Acknowledging Leadership and Welcoming New Expertise

Written by
Seamus Hussey

P-ECCO Committee Member

As Chair of the Paediatric Committee of ECCO (P-ECCO), I am pleased to mark an important transition within our committee—one that reflects both the strength of our recent leadership and the continued renewal of expertise within our group.

At the end of their terms, we extend our sincere appreciation to Dror Shouval and Firas Rinawi for their outstanding service. Dror’s tenure as Chair has been defined by intellectual leadership, strategic clarity, and an unwavering commitment to advancing paediatric IBD within ECCO and beyond. He has strengthened P-ECCO’s academic profile, fostered meaningful collaboration across the ECCO network, led the revision of the ECCO-ESPGHAN Clinical Guidelines for Paediatric Crohn’s disease, and ensured that paediatric priorities remain firmly embedded within the organisation’s broader agenda.

Firas Rinawi has been an equally valued contributor, bringing clinical insight, energy, and a strong commitment to education. His work has supported the delivery of high-quality educational initiatives and reinforced engagement across the paediatric IBD community. Firas will continue to co-lead our topical review on monogenic IBD. Together, Dror and Firas leave a cohesive, ambitious, and well-positioned committee. We thank them both and look forward to their continued contributions to the field.

We are delighted to welcome two new members whose appointments reflect the depth of emerging talent in European paediatric IBD: Lorenzo Norsa and Anat Yerushalmy-Feler.

Lorenzo Norsa © ECCO

Lorenzo Norsa is a highly regarded clinician-scientist with a growing European profile. His research is centred on the translational aspects of paediatric IBD, with a focus on disease mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and precision medicine approaches. He has contributed to several multicentre collaborations and is recognised for his rigorous and methodologically strong work. Alongside his research, he is an engaged educator with a clear commitment to developing the next generation of paediatric gastroenterologists. His appointment brings important scientific depth and a forward-looking research perspective to P-ECCO.

Anat Yerushalmy-Feler © ECCO

Anat Yerushalmy-Feler joins P-ECCO as an emerging leader with a strong track record in clinical and outcomes-based research. Her work has advanced understanding of paediatric IBD phenotypes and disease trajectories, with a particular emphasis on optimising patient-centred care. She is actively involved in collaborative research networks and has demonstrated leadership in integrating multidisciplinary approaches to clinical management. Her combination of academic productivity and clinical innovation will be a significant asset to the committee.

We look forward to the perspectives and energy that our new members will bring. Building on strong foundations, we remain committed to advancing paediatric IBD care, research, and education across Europe, in close collaboration with the wider ECCO community.

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