Y-ECCO

Dear Friends, We have now entered the latter part of 2026 and this can mean only one thing: the next ECCO Congress is already on the horizon! With abstract submissions due in November, lots of work is already underway to ensure that the 22nd ECCO Congress in Copenhagen will be one of the best yet. In particular, we hope to offer lots of opportunities for Y-ECCO Members to get involved and to further develop networks and collaborations.

Ask any gastroenterologist in Europe to name a leading voice in IBD and microscopic colitis research, and the name Juozas Kupčinskas quickly comes up. Head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Vice Rector for Research at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) in Kaunas, Juozas has built one of the most versatile research profiles in the field, spanning IBD, microscopic colitis, genetics and the gut microbiome. He now brings that breadth of experience to ECCO's newly formed Committee for Microscopic Colitis. We sat down with Juozas for this edition of the Y-ECCO Interview Corn

Dear Friends, It was great to see so many familiar faces and to meet so many bright, new and enthusiastic Y-ECCO Members at the recent 21st ECCO Congress in Stockholm.

Now that the inbox calm has (mostly) returned post ECCO, it is time to look back at the 12th Y-ECCO Science Workshop, held on February 18, 2026, just ahead of the main ECCO Congress in Stockholm. The workshop once again proved why it is a fixed highlight of the meeting: generous presentation times, fearless discussions and science that is anything but ‘junior’. Early-career researchers shared the stage with senior experts, creating an open and stimulating atmosphere that encouraged depth, nuance and curiosity.

Iago Rodríguez-Lago is a gastroenterologist based in Bilbao, Spain and fully dedicated to clinical practice and research in IBD. Over the years, Iago has become actively involved in several national and international scientific societies, including ECCO, where he currently serves as Chair of EpiCom, and UEG, where he was recently elected Chair Elect of the Education Committee.

Dear Friends, It was very nice to see so many familiar faces at the recent UEGW meeting in Berlin, and even better to see so many Y-ECCO Members making important contributions. The days are getting shorter and colder, which can mean only one thing… the ECCO Congress is coming!

The IL-22–oncostatin M axis promotes intestinal inflammation and tumorigenesis Cineus R, Luo Y, Saliutina M, et al. Nature Immunology 2025;26:837–53. doi: 10.1038/s41590-025-02149-z.

Physiological data collected from wearable devices identify and predict inflammatory bowel disease flares – The IBD Forecast Study Hirten RP, Danieletto M, Sanchez-Mayor M, et al. Gastroenterology 2025;168:939–51.e5. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.12.024.

Early infliximab levels and clearance predict outcomes after infliximab rescue in acute severe ulcerative colitis: Results from PREDICT-UC Li Wai Suen CFD, Choy MC, Con D, et al. Gastroenterology 2025 July 21. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2025.07.020

Robin Dart is widely recognised within the IBD Community—not only as a dedicated clinician-scientist but also as a leading voice for early-career professionals through his role in Y-ECCO since 2022. As current Chair of the Y-ECCO Committee, he has helped shape the future of the next generation in ECCO. In this edition of the Y-ECCO Interview Corner, we speak with Robin about his personal journey, his vision for an inclusive and collaborative Y-ECCO, and the lessons he has learned along the way.

Dear Y-ECCO Friends, Now that the sun is setting on the summer, I hope that everyone has enjoyed a break with friends and family. The Y-ECCO Committee was delighted to host the 3rd Y-ECCO Mentorship Forum in Vienna in June. While we retain the same format each year, rotation of the faculty and delegates means that the forum is always different. We were again supported by many senior members of the ECCO Family, who kindly gave up their time, and the meeting was once more a great occasion and a fine opportunity to come together outside of the congress.

Global evolution of inflammatory bowel disease across epidemiologic stages Hracs L, Windsor JW, Gorospe J, et al. Nature 2025;642:458-66. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-08940-0

Noninvasive, microbiome-based diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease Zheng J, Sun Q, Zhang M, et al. Nature Medicine 2024;30:3555–67. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03280-4

Preclinical protein signatures of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: A nested case-control study within large population-based cohorts Grännö O, Bergemalm D, Salomon B, et al. Gastroenterology 2025;168:741–53. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.11.006

Luisa Avedano is widely recognised within the IBD Community as a leading voice for patient representation. She currently serves as CEO of the International European Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (IFCCA), formerly known as EFCCA, based in Brussels. In this edition of the Y-ECCO Interview Corner, we are honoured to speak with Luisa and gain insights from her inspiring work, her perspectives on IBD research and her knowledge of the vital role that patients play as active contributors to science.

Dear Y-ECCO Friends, As the days are getting longer and spring has sprung in earnest, the ECCO Congress may feel like a distant memory. However, it is not long until the abstract submission window for ECCO 2026 in Stockholm opens. “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late”, so why delay? As Y-ECCO Members, do remember that you are eligible to apply for the Best Abstract Award, so make sure your membership is up to date and get your research ready for the 2026 ECCO Congress.

Hypercoagulation after Hospital Discharge in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Study Griffiths BH, Desborough MJR, Duijvestein M et al. Clin Gastro Hep 2024.

Multimodal profiling of peripheral blood identifies proliferating circulating effector CD4+ T cells as predictors for response to integrin α4β7-blocking therapy in inflammatory bowel disease Horn V, Cancino CA, Steinheuer LM, et al. Gastroenterology 2025;168:327–43.

Harms with placebo in trials of biological therapies and small molecules as maintenance therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis Gros B, Blackwell J, Segal J, et al. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024;9:1030–40.

Jonas Halfvarsson is a familiar name to most colleagues and a leading expert in the global Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) field. He is a professor of gastroenterology at Örebro University and a consultant gastroenterologist at Örebro University Hospital in Sweden.