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Welcome, by Miguel Gassul
It is my pleasure to announce the forthcoming Congress of the European
Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) that will take place in Innsbruck,
Austria from the 1st to the 3rd of March 2007. ECCO aims with this congress to
gather all clinicians and scientists interested in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
in Europe and around the world.
During the congress, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying IBD will
be discussed in the light of new findings and old dogmas will be revisited
and challenged. Most clinicians treating IBD patients are convinced of the
need for a more personalised management of our patients. We now try to do
so with the tools available. | |
However the concept of personalised management
has changed, and will do so even more in the future, with the adveniment
of genetics, proteomics, and immunology as tools to better tailor the
treatment of patients and to achieve longstanding remission and a good quality
of life. A personalised management needs, with no doubt, understanding
of the clinical problem and the underlying mechanism producing it, as well
as the chances to respond to a given therapy. ECCO has taken the decision to
implement these concepts and to put all their efforts into it.
Since ECCO also wants to be a forum for science related to IBD, free papers
can be submitted to the congress. Abstracts will be peer-reviewed and the
best will be invited to be presented as oral communication, integrated in
the congress sessions, whereas others will be presented as posters. It is
ECCO's idea that the Poster Session has to be very (inter)active, and enough
time for presentation and discussion will be given in a comfortable area and
atmosphere.
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Also during the ECCO Congress, the 5th IBD Intensive Advanced Course for
Junior Gastroenterologists will take place. Students invited for this course will
take part in the congress and will also be invited to very specific lectures
and teaching especially designed for them. This course has gained a good
reputation among fellow gastroenterologists due to the high interaction
between the students and the professors.
Information about this course can
be obtained at the National IBD Groups, the ECCO Secretary
(e-mail: patricia.geens@imelda.be) or ECCO website (www.ecco-ibd.org).
ECCO wants to welcome you at its Congress in Innsbruck, a city of art
surrounded by impressive nature, and hopes to strengthen its ties with all
scientists, clinicians, industry and organisations interested in IBD.
Miquel A. Gassull M.D., Ph.D.
President of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation
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