Happy Anniversary Paul Enck
I would like to highlight some of the milestones of Prof. Enck’s remarkable career. His main interests and focus in research are the brain-gut-axis in health and disease with focus on functional gastrointestinal disorders, gut microbiota, regulation of eating and food intake, the pathophysiology of nausea, vomiting and motion sickness, and the psychophysiology and neurobiology of the placebo response, with specific emphasis on age and gender contributions. He has published more than 180 original data paper in scientific, peer-reviewed journals, several book chapters and review articles. His seminal papers evaluating the role of the brain-gut-axis in functional bowel disorders are a tour de force in translational research. His work has continued to be highly cited and helped to advance the field not only of neurogastroenterology and motility or gastroenterology, but medicine at large. 

G. Barbara, President ESNM

Congratulation to Vincenzo Stanghellini

We are very delighted to hand out the ESNM Lifetime Achievement Award to Vincenzo Stanghellini!

Congratulation to all Award Winners during the NeuroGASTRO in Lisbon!

We are very pleased to congratulate all Award Winners: Javier  Aguilera-Lizarraga, Rubina Aktar, Maria Julieta Arguero, Lisse Decraecker, Magdy El-Salhy, Nikita Hanning, Jasper Pannemans, Mafalda Sousa, Nathalie Stakenborg and Lucas Wauters

Congratulation Jan Tack

We are very happy to announce that Jan Tack, long-time member of the ESNM Steering Committee, has been elected President of the Rome Foundation. Congratulation! The Rome Foundation is an independent not for profit organization that provides support for activities designed to create scientific data and educational information to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Our mission is to improve the lives of people with functional GI disorders.

Congratulation Niall Hyland

Niall Hyland, member of the ESNM Steering Committee has been awarded a significant global grant to advance insight into how our gut bacteria responds to affects medications for depression and anxiety. Niall Hyland at APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre, University College Cork was awarded the  EUR 100,000 global grant by Nature Research and Yakult, beating a field of nearly 200 international applicants.

A New Approach for PPI Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Case: A Novel Gastric-Retentive Bile Acid Sequestrant

Last year an interesting Phase 2b study presented in DDW about a novel gastric-retentive Bile Acid Sequestrant (IW-3718). This year in DDW secondary end-points were presented. This drug is a slow-release tablet of colesevelam. This drug binds to bile acids which are refluxed into the stomach. Different doses of IW-3718 (500-1000-1500 mg) were given QD for 8 weeks and compared to placebo. All patients continued with PPI. Severity and frequency of GERD symptoms were improved especially with 1500 mg dose. Adverse event rates were 42-52% for IW-3718 and 41% for placebo. 10 patients were withdrawn because of adverse events; 1.4-4.4% for IW-3718 and 4.3% for placebo.
Authors concluded that IW-3718 was efficacious in reducing of symptoms in PPI refractory GERD patients. IW-3718 was safe and well-tolerated at all doses.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5085(19)36784-8

2019 2nd Neurogastro Day Switzerland
On Saturday, August 24th 2019, more than 70 medical professionals (gastroenterologists, dieticians, surgeons and nutrition specialists) from all over Switzerland and abroad participated in the second SwissNGM Neurogastro Day, organized by PD Dr. Pohl, Treasurer SwissNGM, and supported by Lasermed, Permamed and Takeda. A rich and interesting program combining lectures, case studies, tandem sessions and State of the Art talks was presented to the audience. Internationally renowned expert Prof. Witt talked about complementary medicine in functional gastrointestinal disorders.

TANDEM nEUROgastro

With the aim to build successful collaborations, reinforcing the cross-talk between clinical and basic research, the 3rd nEUROgastro TANDEM meeting succeeded also this year to create a European network of young investigators, eager to bring together a new set of valuable expertise to discover new knowledge in the Neurogastroenterology field. Announced by the respective National NeuroGASTRO Societies, GENIEUR network and ESNM, the nEUROgastro TANDEM meeting 2019 was held at the Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC) / NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal, from September 2 to 4.

1st German Australian Psycho-Neuro-Gastroenterology Summer School

The 1st Tübingen based German Australian Psycho-Neuro-Gastroenterology Summer School is a collaborative initiative between Tübingen University and the Universities of Newcastle and Brisbane, Australia. Those insitutes are already closely connected. In the past, a research axis leading from Tübingen to Newcastle and Brisbane has been developed with a focus on psychoneurogastroenterology. This is an emerging research and clinical field in-between the disciplines of psychology/psychosomatic/psychiatry, neurology/neurosciences and gastroenterolog. The field has no established curriculum in current medical teaching and training. It is facing increasing demand and attention from patients, doctors, and the public, as it covers a wide range of patients in need for adequate diagnosis and therapy.