NeuroGASTRO 2021 - Virtual

Due to the global corona pandemic and its unprecedented challenges, the biennial event took place online between September 2nd to 4th, 2021.  

More than 300 participants from all over Europe and from different specialties joined the first-ever virtual NeuroGASTRO 2021, organized by the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM). The programme stood under the motto of “Advancing understanding and management in Neurogastroenterology and Motility.”

The first day started with a postgraduate course with very educational and helpful for the everyday practice topics: the difficulty of swallowing, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, manometry, and POEM.  During the first plenary session, David Grundy from the University of Sheffield received Lifetime Achievement Award and gave a state-of-the-art lecture. The Best Abstract in Basic Science was awarded to Peter Neckel from Tuebingen University for his work “The many face of Wnt: a regulator of proliferation, and cell death in the enteric nervous system,” while the Best Abstract in Translational Science was given to Joost Algera from University of Gothenburg for his research “Prediction of response to a gluten-free diet in IBS.” Moreover, the best research in clinical medicine was awarded - “Efficacy and timing of a blinded powder reintroduction in IBS patients on a low-FODMAP diet” by Karen van den Houte from KU Leuven.

The first day carried on with high-standard scientific symposia on gastroesophageal reflux disease, imaging and evaluation of dysmotility, and neurogastro research at the cutting edge. The day finished with state-of-the art on diagnostic testing of esophageal motility, focusing on the Chicago Classification version 4.0 and the Lyon classification 1.0.

On the following day, the scientific programme was very intense with cutting edge symposia on clinical management of fecal incontinence and constipation, genetics in FGID, opioids and the GI tract, visceral pain mechanisms, and overlap disorders in neurogastroenterology. Very useful was the session for trainees that gave practical tips on how to get published in NGM, how to excel as a scientist in neurogastroenterology and how to apply for grants successfully.  Furthermore, there was a special session about the new European guidelines on gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia. Microbiota and the new clinical trials in neurogastro were also thoroughly discussed.

A few more awards were given to eminent young researchers: Anisa Choudhary from Queen Mary University and Markus Vogt from Göttingen, and Karen Van den Houte from KU Leuven received the Young Investigator Award, while Silvia Cerantola from University of Padua won the Trainee Prize.

The final day of NeuroGASTRO 2021 kicked off with a symposium about the current and future activities of Rome Foundation, that opened a little bit the door on what to expect from the Rome V criteria.  Quite interesting was the session about the first European guidelines for hydrogen and 13C breath testing. Moreover, electrical stimulation in FGID, clinical management of patients with swallowing and reflux symptoms, and basic neurogastroenterology were discussed during the day.

Despite COVID-19 pandemic and its challenges, this year’s virtual NeuroGASTRO 2021 presented the best education, science, and advancements in neurogastroenterology in an interactive way keeping its high-quality standard. The next NeuroGASTRO will take place on August 30 to September 02, 2023 in Bucharest, Romania.