AGA researchers to present exciting data on GI disorders at DDW 2013

Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week- (DDW) 2013, the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 18 to 21, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. DDW is jointly sponsored by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT).

AGA researchers will present exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. All data presented during DDW is embargoed until the beginning of the presentation or an official DDW press conference, whichever occurs first. A list of press activities is available at http://www.ddw.org/press. Newsroom staff can facilitate interviews with researchers presenting at the sessions highlighted below.

All sessions will be held in the Orange County Convention Center.

Late-Breaking Abstract Sessions

Three late breaking abstract sessions will highlight hot new data accepted for presentation at DDW:

• Liver clinical science late-breaking abstracts: May 21, 8 a.m., Room 207
• Basic science late-breaking abstracts: May 21, 10 a.m., in Room 205B
• General GI clinical science late-breaking abstracts: May 21, 10 a.m., Room 303ABC

Scientists present late-breaking abstracts during posters sessions on May 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Hall West A1. Researchers will be present at their posters from noon to 2 p.m.

New Data on the Gut Microbiome

As part of AGA's strategic focus on the gut microbiome, AGA offers speaker sessions and oral research abstracts at DDW 2013. Sessions will discuss the myriad of possibilities that the gut microbiome offers to GI basic and translational researchers, clinicians and patients. New research will report on the microbiome's impact on IBD, cirrhosis, celiac disease, colon cancer and more. View the complete list of invited speaker sessions and oral research abstracts on the gut microbiome - http://www.gastro.org/Microbiome_presentations_DDW2013.pdf.

Plenary Sessions

New for 2013, DDW will feature a joint AGA-ASGE Presidential Plenary Session on May 18 at 10 a.m. ET in Room 415 -- Valencia.

From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the AGA-ASGE joint plenary session will highlight innovative clinical research on IBD, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and gastroparesis, among other topics.

From 10 a.m. to noon, AGA Institute President, Loren A. Laine, MD, AGAF, and his ASGE counterpart have invited noted experts to present on hot topics in gastroenterology and GI endoscopy. Presentations include:

• "Should Colonoscopy Be the Test of Choice for CRC Screening: Yes," Douglas K. Rex, MD, AGAF, FASGE, Indiana University School of Medicine; University Hospital in Indianapolis
• "Should Colonoscopy Be the Test of Choice for CRC Screening: No," David A. Lieberman, MD, AGAF, Oregon Health Sciences University
• "Applying Genetics in Clinical Practice: Screening and Management of Colorectal Cancer," John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF, University of Michigan
• "Gut Microbiome: Implications for Clinical Practice," Gail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF, University of Illinois College of Medicine
• "Hepatitis C: What Therapy This Month?" Michael W. Fried, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

AGA will host a Basic Science Plenary Session on May 19 at 2 p.m. ET in Room 307ABC. Data being presented includes:

• Inactivation of a Single Allele of P120catenin Dramatically Accelerates KRAS-Driven Carcinogenesis in the Pancreas (2:03 p.m. ET, Abstract #436a). Maximilian Reichert et al.
• Complete Conversion of Crypt Progenitor Cells Into ATOH1-Positive Cells by Targeted Deletion of DLL1 and Dll4 in LGR5-Positive Intestinal Stem Cells (2:15 p.m. ET, Abstract #436b). Hiromichi Shimizu et al.
• Tissue-Specific Knockout of the RNA-Binding Protein HuR Inhibits Intestinal Mucosal Growth by Down-Regulating Wnt Signaling (2:27 p.m. ET, Abstract #436c). Lan Liu et al.
• A Novel In Vitro SPEM Culture Provides a Model for Characterization of Metaplasia in the Stomach (2:39 p.m. ET, Abstract #436d). Victoria G. Weis et al.
• Crohn's Disease-Associated Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli Suppress Autophagy Response to Replicate Intracellularly by Regulating Host MicroRNA Expression (3:21 p.m. ET, Abstract #436e). Hang T. Nguyen et al.
• Human Gut Microbiota Modulates Gut Serotonergic Pathway and Motility (3:33 p.m. ET, Abstract #436f). Purna C. Kashyap et al.

Other exciting data will be presented during DDW, including 63 clinical symposia, 13 translational symposia, nine research symposia, nine state-of-the-art lectures, seven distinguished abstract plenary sessions, and other committee-sponsored and special sessions on a range of GI topics. Additionally, the AGA Institute will sponsor four curbside consultant sessions. A total of 10 focused research roundtables and focused clinical updates - breakfast sessions designed to help participants choose the must-see basic science and clinical research abstracts presented during DDW - will occur throughout the meeting.

Special Sessions for Fellows and Young GIs

AGA has developed special sessions to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material. All sessions occur on Monday, May 20, and include:

• Board Review Session (8 a.m., Room 208) - designed around content from the new Digestive Diseases Self-Education Program- 7, this session will serve as a primer for third-year fellows preparing for the board exam, as well as a review course for others wanting to test their knowledge.
• Career and Professional Related Issues (12:30 p.m., Room 208) - will provide advice on common career issues such as choosing a practice type and location, developing an attractive CV, interviewing, negotiating contracts, and work-life balance.
• Maximizing Opportunities within Fellowship Training: Advice from Fellows and Faculty (2 p.m., Room 313) - presents information on how to create a niche within GI. A designated portion of the session will also examine GI career opportunities in research, hepatology and education, as well as provide an assessment of advanced clinical training opportunities.

AGA Academy of Educators Plenary Session

AGA presents a committee-sponsored symposium, AGA Academy of Educators: Planning for Promotion: Promoting Your Professional Portfolio (May 21, 8 a.m., Room 202AB), for academic clinicians or medical educators who are interested in taking their careers to the next level. This interactive session will highlight important topics in portfolio preparation and will teach attendees how to create a CV worthy of promotion. Presentations will be followed by roundtable discussions led by faculty leaders.

AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship

During the sixth annual AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship (May 19, 8 a.m., Room 109A), experts will provide a comprehensive overview of GI permeability in gastroenterology and its clinical significance to functional GI disorders.

Source: American Gastroenterological Association