Chicago, IL (May 29, 2009) – Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week ® 2009 (DDW ® ), the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 30 to June 4, 2009, at the McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL. DDW is the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the largest and oldest GI society in the world. AGA Institute researchers will present exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat GI disorders.
Please note that all data presented during DDW is embargoed until the beginning of the presentation or an official DDW press conference, whichever occurs first. Go to www.ddw.org for a list of press conferences.
Late-Breaking Session
On Tuesday, June 2 from 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. CDT, Room E451B, the AGA Institute will feature its late-breaking clinical abstracts, which include exciting data on:
* This study is being highlighted during a DDW press conference on Tuesday, June 2 at 9 a.m. CDT. Press conferences will be held in room N427A of the McCormick Place Convention Center.
Noting the importance of the studies in the late-breaking session, co-moderator Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD, MSEd, MSc (Epi), said, "These treatments will become the standard of care for their patients in the near future."
One abstract will present the results of a trial that re-treated hepatitis C patients who had previously failed treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (patients received treatment with telaprevir combined with pegylated interferon and ribavirin).
Another abstract will present the results of the SONIC trial, which assessed whether adding azathioprine to infliximab in the treatment of Crohn's disease improved outcomes. "This is a very important study because people did not know if we should be combining azathioprine with infliximab. Now, we have data to guide this decision," Dr. Schoenfeld added.
Plenary Session
During the AGA Institute Presidential Plenary Session, AGA Institute President, Robert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAF, will focus on critical questions for gastroenterology. Two concurrent plenary sessions feature noteworthy clinical and basic science research presented at DDW.
The Presidential Plenary session presentations (Monday, June 1, 10 a.m. - noon CDT, Room B1) include:
The Clinical Plenary session presentations (Monday, June 1, 8 - 10 a.m. CDT, Room B1) include:
The Basic Science Plenary session presentations (Monday, June 1, 8 - 10 a.m. CDT, Room S406A) include:
Other exciting data will be presented during DDW, including 34 clinical symposia, 16 translational symposia, 12 research symposia and five state-of-the-art lectures on a range of GI topics. Additionally, the AGA Institute will sponsor six focused research roundtables and 13 focused clinical updates — breakfast sessions designed to help participants choose the must-see basic science and clinical research abstracts presented during DDW — throughout the meeting.
ROME Foundation AGA Institute Lectureship
Juan R. Malagelada, MD, president of United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF) — the premier gastroenterology congress in Europe — will address functional GI disorders during Tuesday's second-annual Rome Foundation-AGA Institute Lecture (10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Room E450B). His talk, Motility Assessments for Functional GI Disorders: How Far Does It Get Us?, will focus on whether functional disorders truly represent disturbed gut function and whether gut motility assessment by current technologies is potentially useful in a clinical setting.
"Dr. Malagelada has a robust global expertise in functional GI, having been an editor for Gastroenterology, a member of the Rome Committees and president of UEGF. We expect his insights will prove valuable to both the U.S. and international attendees at DDW," said Rome Foundation President, Douglas Drossman, MD.
About the AGA Institute
The AGA is dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology. Founded in 1897, the AGA is one of the oldest medical-specialty societies in the U.S. The AGA's more than 17,000 members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. For more information, visit www.gastro.org .
About DDW
DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the AGA Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 30 - June 4, 2009, at the McCormick Place Convention Center. The meeting showcases approximately 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. For more information, visit www.ddw.org .