Congress Reviews

“INGEST the best” was the catchphrase coined at the 29th Annual Meeting of United European Gastroenterology (UEG), hosted in the Austrian city of Vienna, the second congress of this speciality with a fully virtual attendance. Often called the ‘City of Music’ due to the influences of Mozart and Beethoven, UEG were able to orchestrate a sophisticated scientific programme over 3 days from a purpose-built TV studio alongside their global headquarters.

RECENT breakthrough research was shared and debated on Day 2 of the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week Virtual Congress 2021 in the symposium session discussing the progress towards, and barriers to, the elimination of chronic viral hepatitis (HCV). The session featured experts in the field, including Sabela Lens, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, UK, and Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, National Reference Centre for Viral Hepatitis B, C and Delta, Department of Virology & INSERM U955, Henri Mondor Hospital, University of Paris-Est Créteil, France, who came together to share knowledge, challenge findings, and contribute to the fundamental goal of HCV elimination. The symposium looked at all aspects of eliminating HCV, from profiling the disease in the clinic to large-scale epidemiological characteristics of HCV within global populations.

I considered, at the time, and still consider, that gastroenterology is a very interesting and diverse specialty. In fact, it has a practical component (endoscopic techniques) and a clinical more reflexive component, mostly in the hepatology area. Altogether, it gives a myriad of opportunities and varied activities. Furthermore, it is in constant development, what represents a challenge, and makes it even more exciting. Regarding persons, several persons shaped my progression. My first mentor, Pinto Correia, was an outstanding scientist and educator in gastroenterology and was certainly my role model.

As a medical student I had keen interest in internal medicine and the challenge that comes with solving cases. That is why I really wanted to do a MD-PhD programme and I have been fortunate to do so. My PhD targeted hyper-IgD syndrome, which was, at that time, an ill-recognised inflammatory disorder, and it took me from phenotyping to assessing cytokine profiles to therapeutic trials.

THE EUROPEAN Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2021 Virtual Congress successfully brought together influential clinicians and academics from across the globe, working to achieve the EADV’s aims of “improving the quality of patient care, furthering knowledge and education of dermatologists and venereologists globally through innovation, and advocating on behalf of the speciality and patients.” Rather than viewing the online conference as an obligation, born out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the EADV instead transformed it into an opportunity. This was underscored by Alexander Stratigos, President of the EADV, during the welcome address: “As we move toward a post-pandemic era, our Academy is emerging ever stronger, with a vibrant day-to-day education programme that exploits the unique opportunities presented by digital learning.” Stratigos added: “Through our evolving digital learning ecosystem, we are able to deliver a multitude of online experiences, including webinars, enhanced digital communications, e-learning, and web-based tools to support continuous medical education and allow a broader diffusion of knowledge.”

THE ANNIVERSARY edition of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology’s (EADV) 30th Congress was held between 29th September and 2nd October 2021. As COVID-19 remains a barrier to global travel, the EADV’s 30th Anniversary Congress was staged virtually, providing access to the latest research, breakthroughs, and scientific advances to dermato-venereology professionals.

Melanoma is a prominent type of skin cancer and treatment varies depending on the mutation and malignancy of the disease. The overall survival (OS) rate of metastatic melanoma is 35–50%. Pablo Fernandez-Peñas, Westmead Hospital, Sydney Medical School, Australia, opened the session by stating the discussion was based on BRAF-mutated melanoma. Fernandez-Peñas attested that targeted therapies are not beneficial for BRAF wild-type melanoma.

When I was a medical student at the University of Oxford in England, UK, I enjoyed most clinical specialties but then I encountered dermatology and, for some reason, seeing diseases on the skin was something I enjoyed very much, as well as the complexity of it. I had always been drawn to clinical pictures in medical books of unusual syndromes. I am someone who wants to know why, so being able to conduct research was appealing as well as, initially, daunting. Furthermore, there were two very inspiring female academics at Oxford then, Fenella Wojnarowska and Sue Burge, who were great role models for me.