On October 5–7, 2025, the annual United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week in Berlin hosted the inaugural Digestive Disease Mechanisms (DDM) Summit, organized by Francisco X. Real, Mathias Heikenwälder, and Maria Sibilia. The DDM Summit marked the first basic research–focused program within UEG Week, which has traditionally been recognized for its clinical orientation. This new initiative aims to bridge the gap between clinicians and scientists, fostering translational collaboration across the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, and pancreatic research.
The ALIPANC consortium was represented in Berlin by Francisco X. Real, Núria Malats, Chengsi Wu, and Mikhail Chesnokov. Chengsi Wu delivered an oral presentation on how gut microbiome dynamics shape pancreatic health in the context of Nr5a2 gene haploinsufficiency, presenting new evidence that microbiome-targeted strategies could offer preventive opportunities for pancreatic disease. Mikhail Chesnokov presented a poster revealing a novel role of the transcription factor NR5A2 in the regulation of intestinal epithelial cell fate and colon homeostasis. In recognition of their contributions, both researchers received travel grants to attend the summit, and Chengsi Wu was appointed as chair of the “Immune Mechanisms in Gastrointestinal Diseases” session.
The DDM Summit brought together leading experts in pancreatic disease research, including Grainne O’Kane, Dieter Saur, Laura Machesky, Andreas Trumpp, and Tuomas Tammela. Other Spanish scientists, including Eduard Batlle (IRB Barcelona), Nabil Djouder (CNIO), and Guadalupe Sabio (CNIO) delivered invited talks on colorectal and liver cancer.
The event fostered a productive exchange between clinicians and basic researchers, highlighting the growing integration of scientific discovery and medical practice within the UEG community.
Through its active participation, ALIPANC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting early-career scientists and promoting excellence in basic and translational research on the mechanisms underlying pancreatic disease. Following its successful debut, the DDM Summit is expected to become a regular feature of future UEG Week meetings.
