Society News

AGA President Sheila Crowe, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FACG, AGAF, recently spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers to advocate for AGA legislative priorities including increasing funding for NIH and biomedical research, support for the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, and support for the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act. Dr. Crowe met with eight congressional offices and received helpful feedback on the upcoming agenda in Congress and how it impacts AGA’s priorities.

NIH funding

Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act

Fixing the current coinsurance problem for Medicare beneficiaries who undergo a screening colonoscopy that becomes therapeutic remains a top AGA priority. Most of the offices that Dr. Crowe met with were cosponsors of the legislation, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (HR 1017/S.479), that would waive coinsurance payment regardless of the screening outcome. Dr. Crowe shared her experience with patients and the financial burden this places on beneficiaries who need to be screened. Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-CA, and Rep. Scott Peters, D-CA, both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and supporters of the bill, will continue to advocate that the bill receive a hearing this year to help move it through Congress. The bill continues to have wide bipartisan support. Read more about the issue and how you can explain it to your patients.

Step therapy

More and more patients are being subject to step therapy protocols, also known as “fail first” under which they are required to try and fail sometimes two or three therapies before receiving coverage of the initial therapy recommended by their physician. With the emergence of new biologics to treat diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, more and more digestive disease patients are being subject to these protocols, which can have adverse effects on their health. Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act (HR 2077) would provide patients and providers with a fair and equitable appeals process when step therapy has been imposed and provides common sense exceptions for the provider to appeal. Dr. Crowe spoke of the impact this policy is having on digestive disease patients and the burden it puts on physician practices that have to take time away from patients to navigate the convoluted insurance appeals process. We are hopeful that many of the offices that we met with will support HR 2077. Read more about the issue.

Food is Medicine Working Group

Dr. Crowe also had a productive meeting with Rep. Jim McGovern’s, D-MA, office and learned more about the recently created Food is Medicine Working Group that he has initiated. McGovern is the Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Nutrition which is responsible for our nation’s nutrition guidelines and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Working Group will focus on costs related to hunger and the importance of nutrition in treating chronic illness and disease. AGA looks forward to working with McGovern and members of the Working Group on this bipartisan initiative.

Capitol Hill needs to hear the voice of GI

In conjunction with Dr. Crowe’s visit, AGA launched a Virtual Advocacy Day to encourage members to contact their legislators in support of the issues that Dr. Crowe was advocating during her meetings. We thank those members who took time out of their schedules to take action.

AGA President Sheila Crowe, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FACG, AGAF, recently spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers to advocate for AGA legislative priorities including increasing funding for NIH and biomedical research, support for the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, and support for the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act. Dr. Crowe met with eight congressional offices and received helpful feedback on the upcoming agenda in Congress and how it impacts AGA’s priorities.

NIH funding

Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act

Fixing the current coinsurance problem for Medicare beneficiaries who undergo a screening colonoscopy that becomes therapeutic remains a top AGA priority. Most of the offices that Dr. Crowe met with were cosponsors of the legislation, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (HR 1017/S.479), that would waive coinsurance payment regardless of the screening outcome. Dr. Crowe shared her experience with patients and the financial burden this places on beneficiaries who need to be screened. Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-CA, and Rep. Scott Peters, D-CA, both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and supporters of the bill, will continue to advocate that the bill receive a hearing this year to help move it through Congress. The bill continues to have wide bipartisan support. Read more about the issue and how you can explain it to your patients.

Step therapy

More and more patients are being subject to step therapy protocols, also known as “fail first” under which they are required to try and fail sometimes two or three therapies before receiving coverage of the initial therapy recommended by their physician. With the emergence of new biologics to treat diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, more and more digestive disease patients are being subject to these protocols, which can have adverse effects on their health. Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act (HR 2077) would provide patients and providers with a fair and equitable appeals process when step therapy has been imposed and provides common sense exceptions for the provider to appeal. Dr. Crowe spoke of the impact this policy is having on digestive disease patients and the burden it puts on physician practices that have to take time away from patients to navigate the convoluted insurance appeals process. We are hopeful that many of the offices that we met with will support HR 2077. Read more about the issue.

Food is Medicine Working Group

Dr. Crowe also had a productive meeting with Rep. Jim McGovern’s, D-MA, office and learned more about the recently created Food is Medicine Working Group that he has initiated. McGovern is the Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Nutrition which is responsible for our nation’s nutrition guidelines and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Working Group will focus on costs related to hunger and the importance of nutrition in treating chronic illness and disease. AGA looks forward to working with McGovern and members of the Working Group on this bipartisan initiative.

Capitol Hill needs to hear the voice of GI

In conjunction with Dr. Crowe’s visit, AGA launched a Virtual Advocacy Day to encourage members to contact their legislators in support of the issues that Dr. Crowe was advocating during her meetings. We thank those members who took time out of their schedules to take action.

AGA President Sheila Crowe, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FACG, AGAF, recently spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers to advocate for AGA legislative priorities including increasing funding for NIH and biomedical research, support for the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, and support for the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act. Dr. Crowe met with eight congressional offices and received helpful feedback on the upcoming agenda in Congress and how it impacts AGA’s priorities.

NIH funding

Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act

Fixing the current coinsurance problem for Medicare beneficiaries who undergo a screening colonoscopy that becomes therapeutic remains a top AGA priority. Most of the offices that Dr. Crowe met with were cosponsors of the legislation, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (HR 1017/S.479), that would waive coinsurance payment regardless of the screening outcome. Dr. Crowe shared her experience with patients and the financial burden this places on beneficiaries who need to be screened. Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-CA, and Rep. Scott Peters, D-CA, both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and supporters of the bill, will continue to advocate that the bill receive a hearing this year to help move it through Congress. The bill continues to have wide bipartisan support. Read more about the issue and how you can explain it to your patients.

Step therapy

More and more patients are being subject to step therapy protocols, also known as “fail first” under which they are required to try and fail sometimes two or three therapies before receiving coverage of the initial therapy recommended by their physician. With the emergence of new biologics to treat diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, more and more digestive disease patients are being subject to these protocols, which can have adverse effects on their health. Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act (HR 2077) would provide patients and providers with a fair and equitable appeals process when step therapy has been imposed and provides common sense exceptions for the provider to appeal. Dr. Crowe spoke of the impact this policy is having on digestive disease patients and the burden it puts on physician practices that have to take time away from patients to navigate the convoluted insurance appeals process. We are hopeful that many of the offices that we met with will support HR 2077. Read more about the issue.

Food is Medicine Working Group

Dr. Crowe also had a productive meeting with Rep. Jim McGovern’s, D-MA, office and learned more about the recently created Food is Medicine Working Group that he has initiated. McGovern is the Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Nutrition which is responsible for our nation’s nutrition guidelines and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Working Group will focus on costs related to hunger and the importance of nutrition in treating chronic illness and disease. AGA looks forward to working with McGovern and members of the Working Group on this bipartisan initiative.

Capitol Hill needs to hear the voice of GI

In conjunction with Dr. Crowe’s visit, AGA launched a Virtual Advocacy Day to encourage members to contact their legislators in support of the issues that Dr. Crowe was advocating during her meetings. We thank those members who took time out of their schedules to take action.

The 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium took place Jan. 18-20, 2018, in San Francisco. During the meeting, investigators presented groundbreaking research designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of GI cancers. Here are some of the most noteworthy headlines from the 2018 meeting.

Promising Results Using Liquid Biopsy to Improve CRC Early Detection

Researchers in Taiwan developed a screening test for early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection that requires a simple blood draw to assess for circulating tumor cells in the blood. The test demonstrates 88% accuracy to detect all stages of colorectal illness, including precancerous lesions. If validated and made commercially available, this test could be readily integrated into a patient’s routine physical exam, thereby increasing CRC screening compliance.

CELESTIAL Results May Lead to Cabozantinib Approval in Second-Line HCC

The phase III CELESTIAL trial met its primary endpoint by demonstrating a survival advantage with cabozantinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that progressed following prior systemic therapy. Other outcomes included improvements in progression-free survival and objective response rate, as well as an acceptable safety profile, thus positioning cabozantinib for potential approval in the second-line setting in HCC.

RAINFALL Meets Primary Endpoint, But Ramucirumab Will Not Be Pursued for a First-Line Indication in G-GEJ Cancer

Results of the global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III RAINFALL trial established the statistical benefit of ramucirumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGFR-2, added to standard chemotherapy for patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G-GEJ) adenocarcinoma. The findings revealed a significant 25% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death for the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). However, the reduction corresponded to only a 9-day improvement in median PFS, so the clinical benefit of frontline ramucirumab is debatable.

The Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is cosponsored by AGA, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).

More news from the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is available at gicasym.org/daily-news.

[email protected]

The 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium took place Jan. 18-20, 2018, in San Francisco. During the meeting, investigators presented groundbreaking research designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of GI cancers. Here are some of the most noteworthy headlines from the 2018 meeting.

Promising Results Using Liquid Biopsy to Improve CRC Early Detection

Researchers in Taiwan developed a screening test for early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection that requires a simple blood draw to assess for circulating tumor cells in the blood. The test demonstrates 88% accuracy to detect all stages of colorectal illness, including precancerous lesions. If validated and made commercially available, this test could be readily integrated into a patient’s routine physical exam, thereby increasing CRC screening compliance.

CELESTIAL Results May Lead to Cabozantinib Approval in Second-Line HCC

The phase III CELESTIAL trial met its primary endpoint by demonstrating a survival advantage with cabozantinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that progressed following prior systemic therapy. Other outcomes included improvements in progression-free survival and objective response rate, as well as an acceptable safety profile, thus positioning cabozantinib for potential approval in the second-line setting in HCC.

RAINFALL Meets Primary Endpoint, But Ramucirumab Will Not Be Pursued for a First-Line Indication in G-GEJ Cancer

Results of the global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III RAINFALL trial established the statistical benefit of ramucirumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGFR-2, added to standard chemotherapy for patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G-GEJ) adenocarcinoma. The findings revealed a significant 25% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death for the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). However, the reduction corresponded to only a 9-day improvement in median PFS, so the clinical benefit of frontline ramucirumab is debatable.

The Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is cosponsored by AGA, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).

More news from the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is available at gicasym.org/daily-news.

[email protected]

The 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium took place Jan. 18-20, 2018, in San Francisco. During the meeting, investigators presented groundbreaking research designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of GI cancers. Here are some of the most noteworthy headlines from the 2018 meeting.

Promising Results Using Liquid Biopsy to Improve CRC Early Detection

Researchers in Taiwan developed a screening test for early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection that requires a simple blood draw to assess for circulating tumor cells in the blood. The test demonstrates 88% accuracy to detect all stages of colorectal illness, including precancerous lesions. If validated and made commercially available, this test could be readily integrated into a patient’s routine physical exam, thereby increasing CRC screening compliance.

CELESTIAL Results May Lead to Cabozantinib Approval in Second-Line HCC

The phase III CELESTIAL trial met its primary endpoint by demonstrating a survival advantage with cabozantinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that progressed following prior systemic therapy. Other outcomes included improvements in progression-free survival and objective response rate, as well as an acceptable safety profile, thus positioning cabozantinib for potential approval in the second-line setting in HCC.

RAINFALL Meets Primary Endpoint, But Ramucirumab Will Not Be Pursued for a First-Line Indication in G-GEJ Cancer

Results of the global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III RAINFALL trial established the statistical benefit of ramucirumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGFR-2, added to standard chemotherapy for patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G-GEJ) adenocarcinoma. The findings revealed a significant 25% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death for the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). However, the reduction corresponded to only a 9-day improvement in median PFS, so the clinical benefit of frontline ramucirumab is debatable.

The Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is cosponsored by AGA, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).

More news from the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is available at gicasym.org/daily-news.

[email protected]

2017 was a busy year in the AGA Community, our member-only discussion forum. Some of our favorite discussions included challenging clinical cases you shared, remembering your colleague Dr. Marv Sleisenger and first-hand recaps of AGA’s Advocacy Day experiences.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the conversations in 2017, making the AGA Community a hub for collaboration to ever-expand the field of GI.

Tied for the title of top contributor in 2017 were Dmitriy Kedrin, MD, PhD, of Elliot Hospital in Manchester, N.H., and Sunanda Kane, MD, MSPH, AGAF, of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Both are key influencers in the forum, especially with helping colleagues manage challenging patient cases. Learn more about each contributor and why keeping up with the Community is an important part of their regular routines in this brief Q&A.

Thanks for being such an active member of the AGA Community! Why do you contribute?

Dr. Kane: “You are welcome! I contribute because I feel I have helpful suggestions and recommendations for managing difficult patient scenarios as well as for professional issues.”

Dr. Kedrin: “I think it is important for GI docs to be a part of a larger community, stay informed on latest guidelines, research publications and approaches to difficult cases, where more than one road can be taken. I feel that it is a great forum for someone like me, relatively junior gastroenterologist.”

Why do you enjoy being part of the AGA Community?

Kane: “I feel engaged with my colleagues who I otherwise do not see on a regular basis, and get to ‘meet’ new ones.”

Kedrin: “I find the case discussions informative. I learn a great deal about current trends and opinions on important topics in the GI world.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

Kane: “I enjoy cooking and binge-watching Netflix.”

Kedrin: “I bake bread and run a gastroenterology literature review podcast called ‘GI Pearls.’”

What’s your approach to handling a difficult patient case you come across in your practice?

Kane: “I reach out to as many of my colleagues as I think appropriate who may have some experience or thoughts about how to help a difficult patient.”

Kedrin: “I often seek advice of other clinicians, some with more expertise in a particular area. I also go to the literature and try to learn more that way, help expand my differential as well as figure out the best therapeutic approach.”

Was there a conversation in the AGA Community in 2017 that was your favorite?

Kane: “All conversations have merit, none stick out as a favorite.”

Kedrin: “Oh, there are several. I recall a patient case where there were several thought leaders in the field who had a disagreement about the best approach to treatment. The work-life balance conversation [Early Career Group members only] was also very good. I also enjoyed reading about different opinions regarding the values of randomized versus observational trials that happened a while back.”

View the top discussions and contributors from 2017 on the AGA Community homepage, for a limited time.

[email protected]

2017 was a busy year in the AGA Community, our member-only discussion forum. Some of our favorite discussions included challenging clinical cases you shared, remembering your colleague Dr. Marv Sleisenger and first-hand recaps of AGA’s Advocacy Day experiences.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the conversations in 2017, making the AGA Community a hub for collaboration to ever-expand the field of GI.

Tied for the title of top contributor in 2017 were Dmitriy Kedrin, MD, PhD, of Elliot Hospital in Manchester, N.H., and Sunanda Kane, MD, MSPH, AGAF, of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Both are key influencers in the forum, especially with helping colleagues manage challenging patient cases. Learn more about each contributor and why keeping up with the Community is an important part of their regular routines in this brief Q&A.

Thanks for being such an active member of the AGA Community! Why do you contribute?

Dr. Kane: “You are welcome! I contribute because I feel I have helpful suggestions and recommendations for managing difficult patient scenarios as well as for professional issues.”

Dr. Kedrin: “I think it is important for GI docs to be a part of a larger community, stay informed on latest guidelines, research publications and approaches to difficult cases, where more than one road can be taken. I feel that it is a great forum for someone like me, relatively junior gastroenterologist.”

Why do you enjoy being part of the AGA Community?

Kane: “I feel engaged with my colleagues who I otherwise do not see on a regular basis, and get to ‘meet’ new ones.”

Kedrin: “I find the case discussions informative. I learn a great deal about current trends and opinions on important topics in the GI world.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

Kane: “I enjoy cooking and binge-watching Netflix.”

Kedrin: “I bake bread and run a gastroenterology literature review podcast called ‘GI Pearls.’”

What’s your approach to handling a difficult patient case you come across in your practice?

Kane: “I reach out to as many of my colleagues as I think appropriate who may have some experience or thoughts about how to help a difficult patient.”

Kedrin: “I often seek advice of other clinicians, some with more expertise in a particular area. I also go to the literature and try to learn more that way, help expand my differential as well as figure out the best therapeutic approach.”

Was there a conversation in the AGA Community in 2017 that was your favorite?

Kane: “All conversations have merit, none stick out as a favorite.”

Kedrin: “Oh, there are several. I recall a patient case where there were several thought leaders in the field who had a disagreement about the best approach to treatment. The work-life balance conversation [Early Career Group members only] was also very good. I also enjoyed reading about different opinions regarding the values of randomized versus observational trials that happened a while back.”

View the top discussions and contributors from 2017 on the AGA Community homepage, for a limited time.

[email protected]

2017 was a busy year in the AGA Community, our member-only discussion forum. Some of our favorite discussions included challenging clinical cases you shared, remembering your colleague Dr. Marv Sleisenger and first-hand recaps of AGA’s Advocacy Day experiences.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the conversations in 2017, making the AGA Community a hub for collaboration to ever-expand the field of GI.

Tied for the title of top contributor in 2017 were Dmitriy Kedrin, MD, PhD, of Elliot Hospital in Manchester, N.H., and Sunanda Kane, MD, MSPH, AGAF, of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Both are key influencers in the forum, especially with helping colleagues manage challenging patient cases. Learn more about each contributor and why keeping up with the Community is an important part of their regular routines in this brief Q&A.

Thanks for being such an active member of the AGA Community! Why do you contribute?

Dr. Kane: “You are welcome! I contribute because I feel I have helpful suggestions and recommendations for managing difficult patient scenarios as well as for professional issues.”

Dr. Kedrin: “I think it is important for GI docs to be a part of a larger community, stay informed on latest guidelines, research publications and approaches to difficult cases, where more than one road can be taken. I feel that it is a great forum for someone like me, relatively junior gastroenterologist.”

Why do you enjoy being part of the AGA Community?

Kane: “I feel engaged with my colleagues who I otherwise do not see on a regular basis, and get to ‘meet’ new ones.”

Kedrin: “I find the case discussions informative. I learn a great deal about current trends and opinions on important topics in the GI world.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

Kane: “I enjoy cooking and binge-watching Netflix.”

Kedrin: “I bake bread and run a gastroenterology literature review podcast called ‘GI Pearls.’”

What’s your approach to handling a difficult patient case you come across in your practice?

Kane: “I reach out to as many of my colleagues as I think appropriate who may have some experience or thoughts about how to help a difficult patient.”

Kedrin: “I often seek advice of other clinicians, some with more expertise in a particular area. I also go to the literature and try to learn more that way, help expand my differential as well as figure out the best therapeutic approach.”

Was there a conversation in the AGA Community in 2017 that was your favorite?

Kane: “All conversations have merit, none stick out as a favorite.”

Kedrin: “Oh, there are several. I recall a patient case where there were several thought leaders in the field who had a disagreement about the best approach to treatment. The work-life balance conversation [Early Career Group members only] was also very good. I also enjoyed reading about different opinions regarding the values of randomized versus observational trials that happened a while back.”

View the top discussions and contributors from 2017 on the AGA Community homepage, for a limited time.

[email protected]

General registration and housing for Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2018 are now open. Registering during the early-bird period (until April 18) guarantees a savings of at least $80 on your registration.

Why DDW?

Just as monumental as this year’s host city, Washington, D.C., DDW is the premier meeting for GI professionals. Come to DDW 2018, taking place June 2-5, to:

• • Choose from an extensive program of high-quality education presented in a variety of learning formats.
• • Explore research unveiled in more than 4,000 poster presentations and over 1,000 abstract presentations.
• • Network and share capital ideas with more than 14,000 other attendees from around the world.
• • Browse an extensive Exhibit Hall featuring the latest products and services in gastroenterology and related fields.

Whether your area of expertise is in patient care, research, education, or administration, DDW has something for you. Register today

[email protected]

General registration and housing for Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2018 are now open. Registering during the early-bird period (until April 18) guarantees a savings of at least $80 on your registration.

Why DDW?

Just as monumental as this year’s host city, Washington, D.C., DDW is the premier meeting for GI professionals. Come to DDW 2018, taking place June 2-5, to:

• • Choose from an extensive program of high-quality education presented in a variety of learning formats.
• • Explore research unveiled in more than 4,000 poster presentations and over 1,000 abstract presentations.
• • Network and share capital ideas with more than 14,000 other attendees from around the world.
• • Browse an extensive Exhibit Hall featuring the latest products and services in gastroenterology and related fields.

Whether your area of expertise is in patient care, research, education, or administration, DDW has something for you. Register today

[email protected]

General registration and housing for Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) 2018 are now open. Registering during the early-bird period (until April 18) guarantees a savings of at least $80 on your registration.

Why DDW?

Just as monumental as this year’s host city, Washington, D.C., DDW is the premier meeting for GI professionals. Come to DDW 2018, taking place June 2-5, to:

• • Choose from an extensive program of high-quality education presented in a variety of learning formats.
• • Explore research unveiled in more than 4,000 poster presentations and over 1,000 abstract presentations.
• • Network and share capital ideas with more than 14,000 other attendees from around the world.
• • Browse an extensive Exhibit Hall featuring the latest products and services in gastroenterology and related fields.

Whether your area of expertise is in patient care, research, education, or administration, DDW has something for you. Register today

[email protected]

The AGA Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) National Registry is officially underway! The first patient enrolled in the FMT National Registry received a fecal transplant through the Gastroenterology Center of Connecticut/Medical Research Center of Connecticut by Paul Feuerstadt, MD. The patient being treated had experienced multiple recurrences of C. difficile infection. As part of the registry, Dr. Feuerstadt will follow up with the patient four times over the next 2 years and report back on the patient’s health post-FMT. The patient will also provide yearly reports for up to 10 years.

The AGA FMT National Registry, a program of the AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education, was established in August 2016 after receiving funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the NIH (award number R24AI118629). The registry aims to enroll 75 sites and track 4,000 patients for 5-10 years after their FMT procedure. The data collected from this registry will guide physicians in determining when to use FMT on their patients and will provide much-needed information on the potential risks associated with stool transplants.

If you’re interested in participating in the registry, email [email protected].
 

New registry collaborators

AGA will collaborate with the American Gut Project – an academic effort run by the laboratory of Rob Knight, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at the University of California, San Diego – to build a biobank of stool samples from participants in the FMT National Registry. American Gut will receive stool samples from registry participants before and after their FMT. The microbiota will be sequenced in each sample, and remaining material will be frozen to be made available for future research. Eventually, this information could help doctors screen and select the best donor samples for individual patients.

AGA will also collaborate with OpenBiome, a public stool bank and nonprofit research organization that provides clinicians with rigorously screened, ready-to-use stool preparations for fecal transplant procedures. As the only public stool bank in the country, OpenBiome serves as the source of stool preparations for nearly 1,000 clinical partners performing FMT across the U.S. For patients enrolled in the registry who receive OpenBiome FMT material, OpenBiome will provide screening information and samples to support the registry’s research analyses. Learn more at www.gastro.org/FMTRegistry.

[email protected]

The AGA Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) National Registry is officially underway! The first patient enrolled in the FMT National Registry received a fecal transplant through the Gastroenterology Center of Connecticut/Medical Research Center of Connecticut by Paul Feuerstadt, MD. The patient being treated had experienced multiple recurrences of C. difficile infection. As part of the registry, Dr. Feuerstadt will follow up with the patient four times over the next 2 years and report back on the patient’s health post-FMT. The patient will also provide yearly reports for up to 10 years.

The AGA FMT National Registry, a program of the AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education, was established in August 2016 after receiving funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the NIH (award number R24AI118629). The registry aims to enroll 75 sites and track 4,000 patients for 5-10 years after their FMT procedure. The data collected from this registry will guide physicians in determining when to use FMT on their patients and will provide much-needed information on the potential risks associated with stool transplants.

If you’re interested in participating in the registry, email [email protected].
 

New registry collaborators

AGA will collaborate with the American Gut Project – an academic effort run by the laboratory of Rob Knight, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at the University of California, San Diego – to build a biobank of stool samples from participants in the FMT National Registry. American Gut will receive stool samples from registry participants before and after their FMT. The microbiota will be sequenced in each sample, and remaining material will be frozen to be made available for future research. Eventually, this information could help doctors screen and select the best donor samples for individual patients.

AGA will also collaborate with OpenBiome, a public stool bank and nonprofit research organization that provides clinicians with rigorously screened, ready-to-use stool preparations for fecal transplant procedures. As the only public stool bank in the country, OpenBiome serves as the source of stool preparations for nearly 1,000 clinical partners performing FMT across the U.S. For patients enrolled in the registry who receive OpenBiome FMT material, OpenBiome will provide screening information and samples to support the registry’s research analyses. Learn more at www.gastro.org/FMTRegistry.

[email protected]

The AGA Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) National Registry is officially underway! The first patient enrolled in the FMT National Registry received a fecal transplant through the Gastroenterology Center of Connecticut/Medical Research Center of Connecticut by Paul Feuerstadt, MD. The patient being treated had experienced multiple recurrences of C. difficile infection. As part of the registry, Dr. Feuerstadt will follow up with the patient four times over the next 2 years and report back on the patient’s health post-FMT. The patient will also provide yearly reports for up to 10 years.

The AGA FMT National Registry, a program of the AGA Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education, was established in August 2016 after receiving funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the NIH (award number R24AI118629). The registry aims to enroll 75 sites and track 4,000 patients for 5-10 years after their FMT procedure. The data collected from this registry will guide physicians in determining when to use FMT on their patients and will provide much-needed information on the potential risks associated with stool transplants.

If you’re interested in participating in the registry, email [email protected].
 

New registry collaborators

AGA will collaborate with the American Gut Project – an academic effort run by the laboratory of Rob Knight, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at the University of California, San Diego – to build a biobank of stool samples from participants in the FMT National Registry. American Gut will receive stool samples from registry participants before and after their FMT. The microbiota will be sequenced in each sample, and remaining material will be frozen to be made available for future research. Eventually, this information could help doctors screen and select the best donor samples for individual patients.

AGA will also collaborate with OpenBiome, a public stool bank and nonprofit research organization that provides clinicians with rigorously screened, ready-to-use stool preparations for fecal transplant procedures. As the only public stool bank in the country, OpenBiome serves as the source of stool preparations for nearly 1,000 clinical partners performing FMT across the U.S. For patients enrolled in the registry who receive OpenBiome FMT material, OpenBiome will provide screening information and samples to support the registry’s research analyses. Learn more at www.gastro.org/FMTRegistry.

[email protected]

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education is offering fellowships in surgical ethics with the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, IL. The MacLean Center will prepare two surgeons for careers that combine clinical surgery with scholarly studies in surgical ethics, beginning with a five-week, full-time course in Chicago in July and August 2018. From September 2018 to June 2019, fellowship recipients will meet weekly for a structured ethics curriculum. In addition, fellows will participate in an ethics consultation service and complete a research project.

For additional information about this fellowship, contact Patrice Gabler Blair, MPH, Associate Director, ACS Division of Education, at [email protected]. Application materials are now due March 15.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education is offering fellowships in surgical ethics with the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, IL. The MacLean Center will prepare two surgeons for careers that combine clinical surgery with scholarly studies in surgical ethics, beginning with a five-week, full-time course in Chicago in July and August 2018. From September 2018 to June 2019, fellowship recipients will meet weekly for a structured ethics curriculum. In addition, fellows will participate in an ethics consultation service and complete a research project.

For additional information about this fellowship, contact Patrice Gabler Blair, MPH, Associate Director, ACS Division of Education, at [email protected]. Application materials are now due March 15.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education is offering fellowships in surgical ethics with the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, IL. The MacLean Center will prepare two surgeons for careers that combine clinical surgery with scholarly studies in surgical ethics, beginning with a five-week, full-time course in Chicago in July and August 2018. From September 2018 to June 2019, fellowship recipients will meet weekly for a structured ethics curriculum. In addition, fellows will participate in an ethics consultation service and complete a research project.

For additional information about this fellowship, contact Patrice Gabler Blair, MPH, Associate Director, ACS Division of Education, at [email protected]. Application materials are now due March 15.

Through the Leadership Development and Diversity Committee, the SVS continues its strong commitment to leadership development in women. The Women's Leadership Training Grant seeks to identify female surgeons who want to sharpen their leadership skills. A $5,000 award will defray costs for travel, hotel accommodations and registration expenses to attend relevant courses and/or other leadership training opportunities and activities. Application deadline is March 14.

Through the Leadership Development and Diversity Committee, the SVS continues its strong commitment to leadership development in women. The Women's Leadership Training Grant seeks to identify female surgeons who want to sharpen their leadership skills. A $5,000 award will defray costs for travel, hotel accommodations and registration expenses to attend relevant courses and/or other leadership training opportunities and activities. Application deadline is March 14.

Through the Leadership Development and Diversity Committee, the SVS continues its strong commitment to leadership development in women. The Women's Leadership Training Grant seeks to identify female surgeons who want to sharpen their leadership skills. A $5,000 award will defray costs for travel, hotel accommodations and registration expenses to attend relevant courses and/or other leadership training opportunities and activities. Application deadline is March 14.

The SVS and American Venous Forum seek to update their joint clinical practice guidelines on the care of patients with varicose veins and associated chronic venous diseases (pdf of full text here). This update will address new research and advances in care since the original guidelines were published in 2011.

The SVS Document Oversight Committee seeks current SVS members with significant relevant practice and research experience to participate. All interested members must complete a conflict of interest disclosure for 2018-2019 to be considered. The SVS requires each volunteer to disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests within the past 12 months. Please indicate your interest here by March 1.

The SVS and American Venous Forum seek to update their joint clinical practice guidelines on the care of patients with varicose veins and associated chronic venous diseases (pdf of full text here). This update will address new research and advances in care since the original guidelines were published in 2011.

The SVS Document Oversight Committee seeks current SVS members with significant relevant practice and research experience to participate. All interested members must complete a conflict of interest disclosure for 2018-2019 to be considered. The SVS requires each volunteer to disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests within the past 12 months. Please indicate your interest here by March 1.

The SVS and American Venous Forum seek to update their joint clinical practice guidelines on the care of patients with varicose veins and associated chronic venous diseases (pdf of full text here). This update will address new research and advances in care since the original guidelines were published in 2011.

The SVS Document Oversight Committee seeks current SVS members with significant relevant practice and research experience to participate. All interested members must complete a conflict of interest disclosure for 2018-2019 to be considered. The SVS requires each volunteer to disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests within the past 12 months. Please indicate your interest here by March 1.

The SVS Patient Safety Organization and the SVS Quality and Performance Measures Committee (QPMC) will hold a webinar at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, Feb. 15. It will help unravel the new Quality Payment Program (QPP) under Medicare, including what surgeons still can do for 2017 to avoid reimbursement penalties. Learn more here and register here.

The SVS Patient Safety Organization and the SVS Quality and Performance Measures Committee (QPMC) will hold a webinar at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, Feb. 15. It will help unravel the new Quality Payment Program (QPP) under Medicare, including what surgeons still can do for 2017 to avoid reimbursement penalties. Learn more here and register here.

The SVS Patient Safety Organization and the SVS Quality and Performance Measures Committee (QPMC) will hold a webinar at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, Feb. 15. It will help unravel the new Quality Payment Program (QPP) under Medicare, including what surgeons still can do for 2017 to avoid reimbursement penalties. Learn more here and register here.

Our CHEST Foundation grantees are doing amazing research and community service projects that are paving the way for change and improvements in chest medicine. How will you help champion lung health?

“This award carries great importance to me as a young clinician who is in the early phase of my career. I’m driven by my passion for researching this disease (PAH). This award helps establish me as a strong clinical researcher – where I see my career heading. It also helps us identify those clues that can lead to changing how this disease state is treated. Everything starts with an idea.”

Sandeep Sahay, MD, FCCP
Houston Methodist Hospital – Houston, Texas
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Title: Alterations of Estrogen Metabolism in the Development of Portopulmonary Hypertension

Utilizing Medical-Legal Partnership to Promote Asthma Health Equity

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center – Hartford, Connecticut
CHEST Foundation Community Service Grant Honoring D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP

Title: Haitian Pediatric Critical Care Collaborative Training Course

The CHEST Foundation is accepting grant applications now until March 31 in the following areas:



• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Lung Cancer – $50,000 - $100,000 2-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Asthma - $15,000 - $30,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - $25,000 - $50,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation and the Alpha-1 Foundation Research Grant in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency - $25,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Fibrosis – $50,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – $50,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Venous Thromboembolism - $15,000 – $30,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Disease - $30,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Women’s Lung Health - $10,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Cystic Fibrosis – $15,000 – $30,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Community Service Grant Honoring D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP - $2,500- $15,000 1-year grant



*Amount contingent on funding.



Go to chestfoundation.org/grants to apply now.

Our CHEST Foundation grantees are doing amazing research and community service projects that are paving the way for change and improvements in chest medicine. How will you help champion lung health?

“This award carries great importance to me as a young clinician who is in the early phase of my career. I’m driven by my passion for researching this disease (PAH). This award helps establish me as a strong clinical researcher – where I see my career heading. It also helps us identify those clues that can lead to changing how this disease state is treated. Everything starts with an idea.”

Sandeep Sahay, MD, FCCP
Houston Methodist Hospital – Houston, Texas
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Title: Alterations of Estrogen Metabolism in the Development of Portopulmonary Hypertension

Utilizing Medical-Legal Partnership to Promote Asthma Health Equity

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center – Hartford, Connecticut
CHEST Foundation Community Service Grant Honoring D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP

Title: Haitian Pediatric Critical Care Collaborative Training Course

The CHEST Foundation is accepting grant applications now until March 31 in the following areas:



• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Lung Cancer – $50,000 - $100,000 2-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Asthma - $15,000 - $30,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - $25,000 - $50,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation and the Alpha-1 Foundation Research Grant in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency - $25,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Fibrosis – $50,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – $50,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Venous Thromboembolism - $15,000 – $30,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Disease - $30,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Women’s Lung Health - $10,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Cystic Fibrosis – $15,000 – $30,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Community Service Grant Honoring D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP - $2,500- $15,000 1-year grant



*Amount contingent on funding.



Go to chestfoundation.org/grants to apply now.

Our CHEST Foundation grantees are doing amazing research and community service projects that are paving the way for change and improvements in chest medicine. How will you help champion lung health?

“This award carries great importance to me as a young clinician who is in the early phase of my career. I’m driven by my passion for researching this disease (PAH). This award helps establish me as a strong clinical researcher – where I see my career heading. It also helps us identify those clues that can lead to changing how this disease state is treated. Everything starts with an idea.”

Sandeep Sahay, MD, FCCP
Houston Methodist Hospital – Houston, Texas
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Title: Alterations of Estrogen Metabolism in the Development of Portopulmonary Hypertension

Utilizing Medical-Legal Partnership to Promote Asthma Health Equity

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center – Hartford, Connecticut
CHEST Foundation Community Service Grant Honoring D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP

Title: Haitian Pediatric Critical Care Collaborative Training Course

The CHEST Foundation is accepting grant applications now until March 31 in the following areas:



• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Lung Cancer – $50,000 - $100,000 2-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Asthma - $15,000 - $30,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - $25,000 - $50,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation and the Alpha-1 Foundation Research Grant in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency - $25,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Fibrosis – $50,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – $50,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Venous Thromboembolism - $15,000 – $30,000 1-year grant*

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Disease - $30,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Women’s Lung Health - $10,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Cystic Fibrosis – $15,000 – $30,000 1-year grant

• CHEST Foundation Community Service Grant Honoring D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP - $2,500- $15,000 1-year grant



*Amount contingent on funding.



Go to chestfoundation.org/grants to apply now.