Wide range of topics from training to AI discussed

The Irish Society of Gastroenterology Summer Meeting 2025 comprised two days of presentations that covered a varied line-up of national and international speakers, who spoke on a range of topics of interest to specialists and associated clinicians. The meeting also featured the Society’s AGM, and a discussion on training opportunities in Ireland and abroad.

The conference had a number of high-quality oral presentations and a satellite symposium, sponsored by Gilead, titled ‘Current progress in our understanding and management of hepatitis delta virus’, delivered by Prof Geoff Dusheiko, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital and University of London School of Medicine in the UK.

Another fascinating satellite symposium, sponsored by Pfizer, was titled ‘Sequencing of treatments for UC [ulcerative colitis]’ and was delivered by Dr Alissa Walsh, Consultant Gastroenterologist, John Radcliffe Hospital, UK. As always, the meeting provided invaluable networking opportunities and at the conference dinner, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Prof Paud O’Regan for his contributions to the field and work enhancing patient care and improving outcomes.

The conference also featured a plethora of interesting poster presentations that encompassed practical research to further patient care, as well as a session on medico-legal considerations delivered by Dr Ellen Walshe, Medico-legal Consultant at the Medical Protection Society in Leeds in the UK.

The meeting opened with the ‘President’s choice: Top oral presentations’. These included ‘Development of a core outcome set for IBD [inflammatory bowel disease] patients with stomas’ by Dr Lakshman Kumar; ‘Rising demand for ERCP [Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography] in Ireland: Temporal trends and mortality risk factors’ by Dr Ciaran McCloskey; ‘Immunophenotype of patients with advanced chronic liver disease following branched chain amino acid supplementation’ by Dr Matthew McKenna-Barry; ‘Outcomes post-argon plasma coagulation during device-assisted enteroscopy in a national referral centre’ by Dr Roisin Connaughton; ‘Optimising endoluminal pressure may improve left colon polyp detection during diagnostic colonoscopy’ by Dr John Campion; ‘Advanced therapy for immune-checkpoint inhibitor colitis: A retrospective analysis of biologic utilisation and outcomes’ by Dr Shane Elwood; and ‘FIT [faecal immunochemical test] testing in the symptomatic population: Is it FIT for purpose?’, delivered by Mr Eugene Mech.