Video
New Episode of One Expert – One Minute
In the latest episode of our One Expert – One Minute video series, Prof. Tobias Böttler (Freiburg) shares his insights into the pivotal role of the immune system across a broad spectrum of diseases and its increasing relevance for future therapeutic strategies.
Recorded at the Falk Foundation Symposium “Next Gen Liver Immunology” in Freiburg, Prof. Böttler highlights how advances in immunology are reshaping our understanding of disease mechanisms — from gastroenterology and liver diseases to oncology. He emphasizes that a deeper understanding of immune processes is not only key to disease pathogenesis but also holds significant potential to improve patient outcomes through innovative therapies, including immunotherapies.
Watch Episode 6 with Prof. Tobias Böttler: Immunology Drives Future Therapies
©Falk Foundation e.V., Freiburg. All rights reserved.
May 22nd is World EoE Day – Recognizing the Impact of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disease of the esophagus, driven by eosinophils. The cardinal signs of EoE are symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, such as dysphagia and food impaction. It significantly impairs quality of life, as eating, especially in social settings often becomes challenging for patients.
Increasing awareness of EoE among healthcare professionals is a key step toward earlier diagnosis and timely management of this rare disease.
Let’s advance EoE awareness. Together.
World IBD Day – IBD as a Growing Global Challenge
On World IBD Day, the Falk Foundation joins the international community in raising awareness of inflammatory bowel diseases, a group of chronic conditions estimated to affect more than 10 million people worldwide.
The steadily increasing global prevalence of IBD places growing demands on diagnostic expertise, patient-centered disease management, and continuous medical education.
As a long-standing and trusted partner for healthcare professionals, the Falk Foundation provides high-quality educational resources and a platform for international scientific exchange in gastroenterology, with a strong focus on IBD. Explore our full range of educational offerings here Falk Foundation International and join us in advancing IBD knowledge worldwide.
Long M et al, Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2026;11(4):284-298
Subcutaneous Guselkumab induction therapy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (ASTRO): Subcutaneous guselkumab induction and maintenance was safe and efficacious, establishing a fully subcutaneous therapeutic regimen with this IL-23 antibody.
Grancher A et al, Gut. 2026;75(4):748-759
Does a long time to colonoscopy after a positive fecal immunochemical test result have a deleterious impact on colorectal cancer outcomes? The risk of colorectal carcinoma, advanced-stage colorectal carcinoma or advanced adenoma was not increased in patients who received a colonoscopy after 3–24 months compared to those with an early endoscopy after 2–3 months in a nationwide cohort study from France.
Parente A, J Hepatol. 2026;84: 329–338
Liver transplantation after medical assistance in dying: Canadian multicenter experience shows favorable outcomes: This Canadian multicenter study evaluated liver transplantation following organ donation in the context of medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Among 313 transplantations, 56 livers were transplanted after MAiD, and outcomes were compared with donation-after-circulatory-death grafts. Early graft function as well as short-term patient and graft survival were comparable. These findings highlight the potential of this donation pathway to increase organ availability in countries with MAiD programs.
Mol B et al, JHEP Rep. 2025;8(3):101700
Proctocolectomy in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC): Association with improved transplant-free survival: This multicenter cohort analysis from the International PSC Study Group Registry (IPSCR) evaluated the impact of proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy on outcomes in patients with PSC. Patients who had undergone proctocolectomy showed significantly improved transplant-free survival compared to PSC patients without. The findings support a potential role of the gut-liver axis in PSC progression, although residual confounding and selection bias must be considered when interpreting the results.
Castellucci LA, N Engl J Med. 2026;394(11):1051-1060
Bleeding risk with apixaban vs. rivaroxaban in patients with acute venous thromboembolism: The risk of clinically significant bleeding was reduced by approximately 50% in patients receiving apixaban as compared to rivaroxaban in a prospective trial enrolling 2760 patients.
Oldenburg L et al, Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2026;11(4):314-322
Ileocecal resection versus infliximab for ileal Crohn's disease – Retrospective 10-year follow-up of the LIR!C trial: Patients who had ileocecal resection had better 10-year therapy-free remission rates than those who received infliximab. Rates of clinical remission were comparable in both groups with a suggestion that younger patients (< 20 years) derived greater benefit than older patients in terms of sustained clinical remission.
Márta K et al, Gut. 2026;75(5):995-1002
High vs. gradually increasing energy nutrition in the early phase of acute pancreatitis (GOULASH trial): Based on this early terminated trial, a high-energy strategy for early nutrition in pancreatitis does not decrease mortality/severity, but potentially increases organ failure and pain relapse rate.
Symposium
Milestones & Horizons in Hepatology – A Tribute to Michael Manns
June 25 – 26, 2026, Hannover, Germany
Hannover Medical School, Building J2, Lecture Hall A, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Symposium 244
XXVIII International Bile Acid Meeting – Bile Acids in Health and Disease 2026
July 3 – 4, 2026, Vienna, Austria
Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere, Arsenalstrasse 10, 1100 Vienna, Austria
Workshop
Infectious Diseases in the GI Tract
October 29, Brussels, Belgium
Square Brussels Convention Center, Rue Ravensteinstraat 2, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Symposium 245
Current Disease Management of IBD – Between Guidelines and Art
October 30 – 31, 2026, Brussels, Belgium
Square Brussels Convention Center, Rue Ravensteinstraat 2, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Current Falk literature:
Crohn's Disease
Epidemiology – Clinical Presentation – Diagnosis and Monitoring – Therapy
Based on previous versons by E. Dirks
Poster DINA1 / DINA3
A11E / A11E-DINA3