Last month, St Mark’s consultants, IBD nurses, and research fellows went to Sweden to attend the 21st Congress of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.

This year, the conference focused on holistic patient care.

In the opening session, St Mark’s own Professor Ailsa Hart took the stage to discuss ‘Approaching Diversity in IBD’. She emphasized the wide range of symptoms present in inflammatory bowel disease and the way diverse patient backgrounds can impact personal experiences of IBD and the need for individualized care.

As a global leader in bowel disease research and treatment, St Mark’s was heavily represented at the conference.

Our consultants presented the following talks:

Omar Faiz – Surgery Workshop titled ‘Defining the Holistic Approach in IBD Surgery’
Phil Tozer – Talk titled ‘Treat-to-(Which) Target in Perianal Disease’
Ailsa Hart – Talk titled ‘Approaching Diversity in IBD’

Our research fellows presented the following talks and posters:

Luke Hanna:

• Talk titled ‘OP27 Integrative single-cell, spatial, and clinical analysis supports JAK1 inhibition as a compelling therapeutic strategy in perianal Crohn’s disease’
• Poster titled ‘P0500 Outcome Heterogeneity in Perianal Fistulising Crohn’s Disease: A Systematic Review for the TOpClass Treat-to-Target Initiative’

Easan Anand:

• Poster titled ‘Pavfcoms – an international Delphi consensus study to develop a core outcome measurement set for pouch anal and vaginal fistulae’
• Poster titled ‘Validate – Perianal. An international multi-centre study to validate the TOpClass definition of a radiologically healed fistula in Perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease.’

Theo Pelly:

• Poster titled ‘The novel TOpClass system for non fistulising Crohn’s disease – systematic review and expert consensus.’
• Poster titled ‘What are the top 10 research questions in Perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease. A priority setting partnership.’

Shivani Joshi:

• Poster titled ‘Content validation of a sexual function Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (sex-PROM) for benign pelvic and perineal colorectal surgery’
• Poster titled ‘Development of a Core Outcome Measurement Set for Crohn’s anal fistulas (CAFCOMS)’

Yaa Danso:

• Poster titled ‘Development of a Core Outcome Measurement Set for fistulising perianal Crohn’s disease (CAFCOMS): An international TOpClass Delphi consensus study’

Adam Fadra:

• Poster titled ‘Surgery and Advanced Therapy Patterns in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Preliminary Findings from a Retrospective Population-based Study in Northwest London’

Jennifer Fisher:

• Poster titled ‘Copy number alterations in histologically normal resection margins forecast advanced neoplasia in ulcerative colitis’

Jennifer Murray:

• Poster titled ‘Patient perspectives on colonoscopic surveillance for colitis-associated dysplasia and colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: A mixed-method systematic review’

Itai Ghersin:

• Poster titled ‘Exploring the Concept of Disease Clearance in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Pouch Conditions: A Multinational Retrospective Study’

Eathar Shakweh:

• Digital Oral Presentation titled ‘HLA-DRB1*01:03 is associated with perianal Crohn’s disease phenotype and severity’
• Poster titled ‘ECCO Global Grant 2025: determining transethnic, transcontinental differences in perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease’

Orestis Argyriou:

• Oral Presentation titled ‘Study progress update presentation, at the ClinCom and National Study Groups meeting – on the ongoing international mutlicentre study named FROG’
• Poster titled ‘How are work-related outcomes reported, after surgery for UC? A systemic review & development of a longlist of reported outcomes’
• Poster titled ‘A qualitative exploration of work-related lived experiences, after surgery for UC; Preliminary results, following ileo-anal pouch (IPAA) surgery’
• Poster titled ‘Social media usage amongst patients living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A systematic review’
• Poster titled ‘Crohn’s Disease Surgery Experiences on TikTok: A thematic analysis of patient-generated content, as an indicator of priorities and concerns’

We want to say a massive congratulations to everyone involved!