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FDA Approves First Blood Test for Colorectal Cancer
In late July, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first use of a liquid biopsy (blood test) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The test, called Shield, launched commercially the first week of August and is the first blood test to be approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC that meets requirements for Medicare reimbursement.
While the convenience of a blood test could potentially encourage more people to get screened, expert consensus is that blood tests can’t prevent CRC and should not be considered a replacement for a colonoscopy. Modeling studies and expert consensus published earlier this year in Gastroenterology and in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology shed light on the perils of liquid biopsy.
“Based on their current characteristics, blood tests should not be recommended to replace established colorectal cancer screening tests, since blood tests are neither as effective nor as cost-effective, and would worsen outcomes,” said David Lieberman, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA CRC Workshop chair and lead author of an expert commentary on liquid biopsy for CRC screening.
Five Key Takeaways
- A blood test for CRC that meets minimal CMS criteria for sensitivity and performed every 3 years would likely result in better outcomes than no screening.
- A blood test for CRC offers a simple process that could encourage more people to participate in screening. Patients who may have declined colonoscopy should understand the need for a colonoscopy if findings are abnormal.
- Because blood tests for CRC are predicted to be less effective and more costly than currently established screening programs, they cannot be recommended to replace established effective screening methods.
- Although blood tests would improve outcomes in currently unscreened people, substituting blood tests for a currently effective test would worsen patient outcomes and increase cost.
- Potential benchmarks that industry might use to assess an effective blood test for CRC going forward would be sensitivity for stage I-III CRC of > 90%, with sensitivity for advanced adenomas of > 40%-50%.
“Unless we have the expectation of high sensitivity and specificity, blood-based colorectal cancer tests could lead to false positive and false negative results, which are both bad for patient outcomes,” said John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF, AGA past president and vice chancellor for health sciences at the University of California San Diego.
In late July, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first use of a liquid biopsy (blood test) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The test, called Shield, launched commercially the first week of August and is the first blood test to be approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC that meets requirements for Medicare reimbursement.
While the convenience of a blood test could potentially encourage more people to get screened, expert consensus is that blood tests can’t prevent CRC and should not be considered a replacement for a colonoscopy. Modeling studies and expert consensus published earlier this year in Gastroenterology and in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology shed light on the perils of liquid biopsy.
“Based on their current characteristics, blood tests should not be recommended to replace established colorectal cancer screening tests, since blood tests are neither as effective nor as cost-effective, and would worsen outcomes,” said David Lieberman, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA CRC Workshop chair and lead author of an expert commentary on liquid biopsy for CRC screening.
Five Key Takeaways
- A blood test for CRC that meets minimal CMS criteria for sensitivity and performed every 3 years would likely result in better outcomes than no screening.
- A blood test for CRC offers a simple process that could encourage more people to participate in screening. Patients who may have declined colonoscopy should understand the need for a colonoscopy if findings are abnormal.
- Because blood tests for CRC are predicted to be less effective and more costly than currently established screening programs, they cannot be recommended to replace established effective screening methods.
- Although blood tests would improve outcomes in currently unscreened people, substituting blood tests for a currently effective test would worsen patient outcomes and increase cost.
- Potential benchmarks that industry might use to assess an effective blood test for CRC going forward would be sensitivity for stage I-III CRC of > 90%, with sensitivity for advanced adenomas of > 40%-50%.
“Unless we have the expectation of high sensitivity and specificity, blood-based colorectal cancer tests could lead to false positive and false negative results, which are both bad for patient outcomes,” said John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF, AGA past president and vice chancellor for health sciences at the University of California San Diego.
In late July, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first use of a liquid biopsy (blood test) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The test, called Shield, launched commercially the first week of August and is the first blood test to be approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC that meets requirements for Medicare reimbursement.
While the convenience of a blood test could potentially encourage more people to get screened, expert consensus is that blood tests can’t prevent CRC and should not be considered a replacement for a colonoscopy. Modeling studies and expert consensus published earlier this year in Gastroenterology and in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology shed light on the perils of liquid biopsy.
“Based on their current characteristics, blood tests should not be recommended to replace established colorectal cancer screening tests, since blood tests are neither as effective nor as cost-effective, and would worsen outcomes,” said David Lieberman, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA CRC Workshop chair and lead author of an expert commentary on liquid biopsy for CRC screening.
Five Key Takeaways
- A blood test for CRC that meets minimal CMS criteria for sensitivity and performed every 3 years would likely result in better outcomes than no screening.
- A blood test for CRC offers a simple process that could encourage more people to participate in screening. Patients who may have declined colonoscopy should understand the need for a colonoscopy if findings are abnormal.
- Because blood tests for CRC are predicted to be less effective and more costly than currently established screening programs, they cannot be recommended to replace established effective screening methods.
- Although blood tests would improve outcomes in currently unscreened people, substituting blood tests for a currently effective test would worsen patient outcomes and increase cost.
- Potential benchmarks that industry might use to assess an effective blood test for CRC going forward would be sensitivity for stage I-III CRC of > 90%, with sensitivity for advanced adenomas of > 40%-50%.
“Unless we have the expectation of high sensitivity and specificity, blood-based colorectal cancer tests could lead to false positive and false negative results, which are both bad for patient outcomes,” said John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF, AGA past president and vice chancellor for health sciences at the University of California San Diego.
Check Out Our New Irritable Bowel Syndrome Clinician Toolkit
AGA’s new irritable bowel syndrome toolkit gathers all our clinical guidance, continuing education materials, patient education resources, and FAQs in one convenient place. Be sure to check it out and bookmark it for easy access!
Curious about our other toolkits? Visit gastro.org/clinical-guidance to explore our toolkits on ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Keep an eye out for more coming soon!
The toolkit includes clinical guidance on:
- Pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D)
- Pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)
For more resources for ulcerative colitis patients, visit the Patient Center on the AGA website. The AGA Patient Center has a variety of information that can be shared with your patients, including tips on diet, vaccine recommendations, and information on biosimilars.
AGA’s new irritable bowel syndrome toolkit gathers all our clinical guidance, continuing education materials, patient education resources, and FAQs in one convenient place. Be sure to check it out and bookmark it for easy access!
Curious about our other toolkits? Visit gastro.org/clinical-guidance to explore our toolkits on ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Keep an eye out for more coming soon!
The toolkit includes clinical guidance on:
- Pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D)
- Pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)
For more resources for ulcerative colitis patients, visit the Patient Center on the AGA website. The AGA Patient Center has a variety of information that can be shared with your patients, including tips on diet, vaccine recommendations, and information on biosimilars.
AGA’s new irritable bowel syndrome toolkit gathers all our clinical guidance, continuing education materials, patient education resources, and FAQs in one convenient place. Be sure to check it out and bookmark it for easy access!
Curious about our other toolkits? Visit gastro.org/clinical-guidance to explore our toolkits on ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Keep an eye out for more coming soon!
The toolkit includes clinical guidance on:
- Pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D)
- Pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)
For more resources for ulcerative colitis patients, visit the Patient Center on the AGA website. The AGA Patient Center has a variety of information that can be shared with your patients, including tips on diet, vaccine recommendations, and information on biosimilars.
Elevate Your Career: AGA Women in GI Regional Workshops Await
As a woman in a dynamic and ever-changing profession, balancing life as a powerhouse physician or scientist is no easy feat. AGA recognizes the challenges you face and is committed to addressing them directly at the AGA Women in GI Regional Workshops. The program has been expanded to six workshops in 2024.
. Participate in candid discussions regarding the challenges you face as a woman navigating the 21st century healthcare environment. Derive inspiration from your community and cultivate meaningful connections that will carry you beyond the workshop.
You may choose to join us in person or virtually, whatever fits into your busy schedule. We are also pleased to offer grants of $300 to support travel and registration fees for trainee and early career women. Additional details for the Maria Leo-Lieber Travel Award may be found in your confirmation email.
Register today for the final three workshops.
Rocky Mountain West
Saturday, Sept. 8
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Aug. 23
Deadline to register: Aug. 30
Southwest
Saturday, Sept. 14
Houston, Texas
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Aug. 30
Deadline to register: Sept. 6
Southeast
Saturday, Nov. 2
Coral Gables, Florida
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Oct. 8
Deadline to register: Oct. 25
This program is supported by Janssen.
As a woman in a dynamic and ever-changing profession, balancing life as a powerhouse physician or scientist is no easy feat. AGA recognizes the challenges you face and is committed to addressing them directly at the AGA Women in GI Regional Workshops. The program has been expanded to six workshops in 2024.
. Participate in candid discussions regarding the challenges you face as a woman navigating the 21st century healthcare environment. Derive inspiration from your community and cultivate meaningful connections that will carry you beyond the workshop.
You may choose to join us in person or virtually, whatever fits into your busy schedule. We are also pleased to offer grants of $300 to support travel and registration fees for trainee and early career women. Additional details for the Maria Leo-Lieber Travel Award may be found in your confirmation email.
Register today for the final three workshops.
Rocky Mountain West
Saturday, Sept. 8
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Aug. 23
Deadline to register: Aug. 30
Southwest
Saturday, Sept. 14
Houston, Texas
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Aug. 30
Deadline to register: Sept. 6
Southeast
Saturday, Nov. 2
Coral Gables, Florida
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Oct. 8
Deadline to register: Oct. 25
This program is supported by Janssen.
As a woman in a dynamic and ever-changing profession, balancing life as a powerhouse physician or scientist is no easy feat. AGA recognizes the challenges you face and is committed to addressing them directly at the AGA Women in GI Regional Workshops. The program has been expanded to six workshops in 2024.
. Participate in candid discussions regarding the challenges you face as a woman navigating the 21st century healthcare environment. Derive inspiration from your community and cultivate meaningful connections that will carry you beyond the workshop.
You may choose to join us in person or virtually, whatever fits into your busy schedule. We are also pleased to offer grants of $300 to support travel and registration fees for trainee and early career women. Additional details for the Maria Leo-Lieber Travel Award may be found in your confirmation email.
Register today for the final three workshops.
Rocky Mountain West
Saturday, Sept. 8
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Aug. 23
Deadline to register: Aug. 30
Southwest
Saturday, Sept. 14
Houston, Texas
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Aug. 30
Deadline to register: Sept. 6
Southeast
Saturday, Nov. 2
Coral Gables, Florida
Deadline to apply for a travel grant: Oct. 8
Deadline to register: Oct. 25
This program is supported by Janssen.
How To Navigate Your First Job
In a special episode live from Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2024, host Dr. Matthew Whitson talks with returning guest Dr. Janice Jou. Dr. Jou is a transplant hematologist at the Portland VA and currently serves as professor of medicine and fellowship program director at Oregon Health & Science University. Don’t miss her insight as she shares advice all about what she wishes she knew when going into her first job in gastroenterology. Dr. Jou also answers questions from the audience on topics including “when to say no” and the importance of encouraging emotional transparency with fellows and faculty.
Catch up with past episodes and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen by clicking on the episode name below.
- Episode 5: Janice Jou: Live from #DDW2024 with tips for your first job
- Episode 4: Loren Rabinowitz and Rachel Issaka: Building research collaborations
- Episode 3: Andy Tau: How to treat GI emergencies
- Episode 2: Laurel Fisher and Asma Khapra: Advancing and advocating for women in GI
- Episode 1: Barbara Jung: Unpacking mentorship with AGA’s president
In a special episode live from Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2024, host Dr. Matthew Whitson talks with returning guest Dr. Janice Jou. Dr. Jou is a transplant hematologist at the Portland VA and currently serves as professor of medicine and fellowship program director at Oregon Health & Science University. Don’t miss her insight as she shares advice all about what she wishes she knew when going into her first job in gastroenterology. Dr. Jou also answers questions from the audience on topics including “when to say no” and the importance of encouraging emotional transparency with fellows and faculty.
Catch up with past episodes and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen by clicking on the episode name below.
- Episode 5: Janice Jou: Live from #DDW2024 with tips for your first job
- Episode 4: Loren Rabinowitz and Rachel Issaka: Building research collaborations
- Episode 3: Andy Tau: How to treat GI emergencies
- Episode 2: Laurel Fisher and Asma Khapra: Advancing and advocating for women in GI
- Episode 1: Barbara Jung: Unpacking mentorship with AGA’s president
In a special episode live from Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2024, host Dr. Matthew Whitson talks with returning guest Dr. Janice Jou. Dr. Jou is a transplant hematologist at the Portland VA and currently serves as professor of medicine and fellowship program director at Oregon Health & Science University. Don’t miss her insight as she shares advice all about what she wishes she knew when going into her first job in gastroenterology. Dr. Jou also answers questions from the audience on topics including “when to say no” and the importance of encouraging emotional transparency with fellows and faculty.
Catch up with past episodes and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen by clicking on the episode name below.
- Episode 5: Janice Jou: Live from #DDW2024 with tips for your first job
- Episode 4: Loren Rabinowitz and Rachel Issaka: Building research collaborations
- Episode 3: Andy Tau: How to treat GI emergencies
- Episode 2: Laurel Fisher and Asma Khapra: Advancing and advocating for women in GI
- Episode 1: Barbara Jung: Unpacking mentorship with AGA’s president
We’re Making Progress in the Fight Against GI Cancers
The House Appropriations Committee has included AGA-provided language on gastric and esophageal cancers in the FY25 Labor, Health, and Human Services report.
Gastric and esophageal cancers rates are rising and have a low 5-year survival rate and are highly fatal due to the lack of screening — despite both cancers typically being associated with reduced mortality. Delays in diagnosis lead to poor prognoses when the cancer is already at an advanced stage.
These cancers receive disproportionately low funding and have the lowest ratio of funding to lethality to any other cancer.
That’s why it’s crucial to close the gap and increase screening for GI cancers that are less commonly screened for.
AGA’s provided language encourages NIH to develop, test and implement screening strategies for gastric and esophageal cancers using non-endoscopic screening modalities, personalized clinical risk stratification for screenings and biomarker-based risk-stratification.
Why is this important?
This submission is the first time AGA language on gastric and esophageal cancer has been requested and included in the committee’s report. This illustrates the Committee’s recognition of the importance of GI cancer detection and the work being done by NIH.
What does this mean for GI?
This is an important first step to increasing access to cancer screenings! We look forward to working with our champions on Capitol Hill to increase patient access GI cancer screenings.
The House Appropriations Committee has included AGA-provided language on gastric and esophageal cancers in the FY25 Labor, Health, and Human Services report.
Gastric and esophageal cancers rates are rising and have a low 5-year survival rate and are highly fatal due to the lack of screening — despite both cancers typically being associated with reduced mortality. Delays in diagnosis lead to poor prognoses when the cancer is already at an advanced stage.
These cancers receive disproportionately low funding and have the lowest ratio of funding to lethality to any other cancer.
That’s why it’s crucial to close the gap and increase screening for GI cancers that are less commonly screened for.
AGA’s provided language encourages NIH to develop, test and implement screening strategies for gastric and esophageal cancers using non-endoscopic screening modalities, personalized clinical risk stratification for screenings and biomarker-based risk-stratification.
Why is this important?
This submission is the first time AGA language on gastric and esophageal cancer has been requested and included in the committee’s report. This illustrates the Committee’s recognition of the importance of GI cancer detection and the work being done by NIH.
What does this mean for GI?
This is an important first step to increasing access to cancer screenings! We look forward to working with our champions on Capitol Hill to increase patient access GI cancer screenings.
The House Appropriations Committee has included AGA-provided language on gastric and esophageal cancers in the FY25 Labor, Health, and Human Services report.
Gastric and esophageal cancers rates are rising and have a low 5-year survival rate and are highly fatal due to the lack of screening — despite both cancers typically being associated with reduced mortality. Delays in diagnosis lead to poor prognoses when the cancer is already at an advanced stage.
These cancers receive disproportionately low funding and have the lowest ratio of funding to lethality to any other cancer.
That’s why it’s crucial to close the gap and increase screening for GI cancers that are less commonly screened for.
AGA’s provided language encourages NIH to develop, test and implement screening strategies for gastric and esophageal cancers using non-endoscopic screening modalities, personalized clinical risk stratification for screenings and biomarker-based risk-stratification.
Why is this important?
This submission is the first time AGA language on gastric and esophageal cancer has been requested and included in the committee’s report. This illustrates the Committee’s recognition of the importance of GI cancer detection and the work being done by NIH.
What does this mean for GI?
This is an important first step to increasing access to cancer screenings! We look forward to working with our champions on Capitol Hill to increase patient access GI cancer screenings.
Check Out Our New Ulcerative Colitis Clinician Toolkit
Check out and bookmark AGA’s new ulcerative colitis toolkit, which compiles all our ulcerative colitis clinical guidance, continuing education resources, patient education, and FAQs into one convenient toolkit.
Curious about our other toolkits? Check out our toolkit on Crohn’s disease.
The new UC toolkit includes clinical guidance on:
- Role of biomarkers for the management of ulcerative colitis
- Medical management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis
- Management of pouchitis and inflammatory pouch disorders
For more resources for ulcerative colitis patients, visit the Patient Center on the AGA website.
The AGA Patient Center has a variety of information that can be shared with your patients, including tips on diet, vaccine recommendations, and information on biosimilars.
Check out and bookmark AGA’s new ulcerative colitis toolkit, which compiles all our ulcerative colitis clinical guidance, continuing education resources, patient education, and FAQs into one convenient toolkit.
Curious about our other toolkits? Check out our toolkit on Crohn’s disease.
The new UC toolkit includes clinical guidance on:
- Role of biomarkers for the management of ulcerative colitis
- Medical management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis
- Management of pouchitis and inflammatory pouch disorders
For more resources for ulcerative colitis patients, visit the Patient Center on the AGA website.
The AGA Patient Center has a variety of information that can be shared with your patients, including tips on diet, vaccine recommendations, and information on biosimilars.
Check out and bookmark AGA’s new ulcerative colitis toolkit, which compiles all our ulcerative colitis clinical guidance, continuing education resources, patient education, and FAQs into one convenient toolkit.
Curious about our other toolkits? Check out our toolkit on Crohn’s disease.
The new UC toolkit includes clinical guidance on:
- Role of biomarkers for the management of ulcerative colitis
- Medical management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis
- Management of pouchitis and inflammatory pouch disorders
For more resources for ulcerative colitis patients, visit the Patient Center on the AGA website.
The AGA Patient Center has a variety of information that can be shared with your patients, including tips on diet, vaccine recommendations, and information on biosimilars.
Announcing Our 2024 AGA Council Chair and Section Leaders
Meet Our New Chair
Douglas J. Robertson, MD, MPH, AGAFAGA Institute Council Chair
VA Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
Dr. Robertson will serve as council chair for 3 years (May 2024-May 2027; DDW 2025, 2026 and 2027).
Section Leadership
, the driving force behind AGA’s programming at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). We welcome 8 members into their new roles as section vice chairs, joining the existing 17 Council members. Each new vice chair will serve a 2-year term that began immediately following this year’s DDW meeting and extends through DDW 2026. Following their term as vice chair, they will move into the role of section chair for an additional 2 years through DDW 2028. 
We are also pleased to announce the members joining nominating committees during the 2026 nomination/election cycle. The chairs of the nominating committee will be the immediate past section chairs, whom we also recognize and thank for their service and dedication to the section and the council.
Basic & Clinical Intestinal Disorders (BCID)
Uma Sundaram, MDVice chair
Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
Nominating committee members
- Colleen Renee Kelly, MD, AGAF, Chair
- Amy C. Engevik, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina
- Ravinder Gill, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Madhusudan Grover, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Lisa L. Strate, MD, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle
Clinical Practice (CP)
Linda Anh Nguyen, MDVice Chair
Stanford (Calif.) University School of Medicine
Nominating committee members
- Gary W. Falk, MD, MS, AGAF, Chair
- Megan Adams, MD, JD, MSc, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Endoscopy Unit
- Mohammad Bilal, MD, Minneapolis VA Health Care System
- Carolyn Newberry, MD, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York
- Adam Weizman, MD, MSc, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Endoscopy, Technology & Imaging (ETI)
Vivek Kaul, MD, AGAFVice Chair
University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center
Nominating committee members
- Irving Waxman, MD, Chair
- Sushovan Guha, MD, PhD, University of Texas at Houston
- Pichamol Jirapinyo, MD, MPH, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
- Vladimir Kushnir, MD, Washington University St. Louis Barnes–Jewish West County Hospital
- Andrew C. Storm, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Immunology, Microbiology & Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IMIBD)
Florian Rieder, MDVice Chair
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Nominating committee members
- Fernando S. Velayos, MD, AGAF, Chair
- Brigid S. Boland, MD, University of California, San Diego
- Karen L. Edelblum, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
- Michael Kattah, MD, PhD, UCSF Gastroenterology
- Andres J. Yarur, MD, Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Los Angeles
Liver & Biliary (LB)
Don Rockey, MDVice Chair
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Nominating committee members
- Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, AGAF, Chair
- Brett Fortune, MD, MSc, Montefiore Medical Center
- Ruben Hernaez, MD, MPH, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
- Cynthia Ann Moylan, MD, MHS, MS, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Douglas A. Simonetto, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Microbiome & Microbial Therapy (MMT)
Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPHVice Chair
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Nominating committee members
- Purna C. Kashyap, MBBS, AGAF, Chair
- Melinda Engevik, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina
- Christian Jobin, PhD, University of Florida
- Vanessa Leone, PhD, The University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Jun Yu, MD, PhD, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Obesity, Metabolism & Nutrition (OMN)
Berkeley M. Limketkai, MD, PhDVice Chair
University of California Los Angeles
Nominating committee members
- Andres Jose Acosta, MD, PhD, Chair
- Barham K. Abu Dayyeh, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Alan L. Buchman, MD, MSPH, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Octavia Pickett-Blakely, MD, MHS, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Robert Shulman, MD, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine
Pediatric Gastroenterology & Developmental Biology (PGDB)
Kelli L. VanDussen, PhDVice Chair
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Meet Our New Chair
Douglas J. Robertson, MD, MPH, AGAFAGA Institute Council Chair
VA Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
Dr. Robertson will serve as council chair for 3 years (May 2024-May 2027; DDW 2025, 2026 and 2027).
Section Leadership
, the driving force behind AGA’s programming at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). We welcome 8 members into their new roles as section vice chairs, joining the existing 17 Council members. Each new vice chair will serve a 2-year term that began immediately following this year’s DDW meeting and extends through DDW 2026. Following their term as vice chair, they will move into the role of section chair for an additional 2 years through DDW 2028.
We are also pleased to announce the members joining nominating committees during the 2026 nomination/election cycle. The chairs of the nominating committee will be the immediate past section chairs, whom we also recognize and thank for their service and dedication to the section and the council.
Basic & Clinical Intestinal Disorders (BCID)
Uma Sundaram, MDVice chair
Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
Nominating committee members
- Colleen Renee Kelly, MD, AGAF, Chair
- Amy C. Engevik, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina
- Ravinder Gill, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Madhusudan Grover, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Lisa L. Strate, MD, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle
Clinical Practice (CP)
Linda Anh Nguyen, MDVice Chair
Stanford (Calif.) University School of Medicine
Nominating committee members
- Gary W. Falk, MD, MS, AGAF, Chair
- Megan Adams, MD, JD, MSc, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Endoscopy Unit
- Mohammad Bilal, MD, Minneapolis VA Health Care System
- Carolyn Newberry, MD, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York
- Adam Weizman, MD, MSc, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Endoscopy, Technology & Imaging (ETI)
Vivek Kaul, MD, AGAFVice Chair
University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center
Nominating committee members
- Irving Waxman, MD, Chair
- Sushovan Guha, MD, PhD, University of Texas at Houston
- Pichamol Jirapinyo, MD, MPH, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
- Vladimir Kushnir, MD, Washington University St. Louis Barnes–Jewish West County Hospital
- Andrew C. Storm, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Immunology, Microbiology & Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IMIBD)
Florian Rieder, MDVice Chair
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Nominating committee members
- Fernando S. Velayos, MD, AGAF, Chair
- Brigid S. Boland, MD, University of California, San Diego
- Karen L. Edelblum, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
- Michael Kattah, MD, PhD, UCSF Gastroenterology
- Andres J. Yarur, MD, Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Los Angeles
Liver & Biliary (LB)
Don Rockey, MDVice Chair
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Nominating committee members
- Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, AGAF, Chair
- Brett Fortune, MD, MSc, Montefiore Medical Center
- Ruben Hernaez, MD, MPH, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
- Cynthia Ann Moylan, MD, MHS, MS, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Douglas A. Simonetto, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Microbiome & Microbial Therapy (MMT)
Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPHVice Chair
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Nominating committee members
- Purna C. Kashyap, MBBS, AGAF, Chair
- Melinda Engevik, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina
- Christian Jobin, PhD, University of Florida
- Vanessa Leone, PhD, The University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Jun Yu, MD, PhD, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Obesity, Metabolism & Nutrition (OMN)
Berkeley M. Limketkai, MD, PhDVice Chair
University of California Los Angeles
Nominating committee members
- Andres Jose Acosta, MD, PhD, Chair
- Barham K. Abu Dayyeh, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Alan L. Buchman, MD, MSPH, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Octavia Pickett-Blakely, MD, MHS, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Robert Shulman, MD, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine
Pediatric Gastroenterology & Developmental Biology (PGDB)
Kelli L. VanDussen, PhDVice Chair
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Meet Our New Chair
Douglas J. Robertson, MD, MPH, AGAFAGA Institute Council Chair
VA Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
Dr. Robertson will serve as council chair for 3 years (May 2024-May 2027; DDW 2025, 2026 and 2027).
Section Leadership
, the driving force behind AGA’s programming at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). We welcome 8 members into their new roles as section vice chairs, joining the existing 17 Council members. Each new vice chair will serve a 2-year term that began immediately following this year’s DDW meeting and extends through DDW 2026. Following their term as vice chair, they will move into the role of section chair for an additional 2 years through DDW 2028.
We are also pleased to announce the members joining nominating committees during the 2026 nomination/election cycle. The chairs of the nominating committee will be the immediate past section chairs, whom we also recognize and thank for their service and dedication to the section and the council.
Basic & Clinical Intestinal Disorders (BCID)
Uma Sundaram, MDVice chair
Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
Nominating committee members
- Colleen Renee Kelly, MD, AGAF, Chair
- Amy C. Engevik, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina
- Ravinder Gill, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Madhusudan Grover, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Lisa L. Strate, MD, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle
Clinical Practice (CP)
Linda Anh Nguyen, MDVice Chair
Stanford (Calif.) University School of Medicine
Nominating committee members
- Gary W. Falk, MD, MS, AGAF, Chair
- Megan Adams, MD, JD, MSc, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Endoscopy Unit
- Mohammad Bilal, MD, Minneapolis VA Health Care System
- Carolyn Newberry, MD, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York
- Adam Weizman, MD, MSc, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Endoscopy, Technology & Imaging (ETI)
Vivek Kaul, MD, AGAFVice Chair
University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center
Nominating committee members
- Irving Waxman, MD, Chair
- Sushovan Guha, MD, PhD, University of Texas at Houston
- Pichamol Jirapinyo, MD, MPH, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
- Vladimir Kushnir, MD, Washington University St. Louis Barnes–Jewish West County Hospital
- Andrew C. Storm, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Immunology, Microbiology & Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IMIBD)
Florian Rieder, MDVice Chair
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Nominating committee members
- Fernando S. Velayos, MD, AGAF, Chair
- Brigid S. Boland, MD, University of California, San Diego
- Karen L. Edelblum, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
- Michael Kattah, MD, PhD, UCSF Gastroenterology
- Andres J. Yarur, MD, Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Los Angeles
Liver & Biliary (LB)
Don Rockey, MDVice Chair
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Nominating committee members
- Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, AGAF, Chair
- Brett Fortune, MD, MSc, Montefiore Medical Center
- Ruben Hernaez, MD, MPH, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
- Cynthia Ann Moylan, MD, MHS, MS, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Douglas A. Simonetto, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Microbiome & Microbial Therapy (MMT)
Jessica Allegretti, MD, MPHVice Chair
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Nominating committee members
- Purna C. Kashyap, MBBS, AGAF, Chair
- Melinda Engevik, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina
- Christian Jobin, PhD, University of Florida
- Vanessa Leone, PhD, The University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Jun Yu, MD, PhD, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Obesity, Metabolism & Nutrition (OMN)
Berkeley M. Limketkai, MD, PhDVice Chair
University of California Los Angeles
Nominating committee members
- Andres Jose Acosta, MD, PhD, Chair
- Barham K. Abu Dayyeh, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Alan L. Buchman, MD, MSPH, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Octavia Pickett-Blakely, MD, MHS, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Robert Shulman, MD, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine
Pediatric Gastroenterology & Developmental Biology (PGDB)
Kelli L. VanDussen, PhDVice Chair
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
AGA Research Scholar Awards Advance the GI Field
The AGA Research Foundation plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to talented scientists at a critical time in their career.
“The AGA Research Scholar Award will have a significant impact on my career,” said Dr. Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, 2024 AGA Research Scholar Award grant recipient, and a gastroenterologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. “I aspire to lead a laboratory studying the impact of the microbiome on human gastroenterological diseases. Our lab will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying how microbes activate gut signaling. The AGA Research Foundation grant will support my transition to independence and build key capacities that will be the foundation of my future lab.”
Funded by the generosity of donors, the AGA Research Foundation’s research award program ensures that AGA is building a community of researchers whose work serves the greater community and benefits all our patients.
By joining other AGA members in supporting the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that young researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work. Your tax-deductible contribution supports the foundation’s research award program, including the RSA, which ensures that studies are funded, discoveries are made and patients are treated.
Learn more or make a contribution at www.foundation.gastro.org.
The AGA Research Foundation plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to talented scientists at a critical time in their career.
“The AGA Research Scholar Award will have a significant impact on my career,” said Dr. Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, 2024 AGA Research Scholar Award grant recipient, and a gastroenterologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. “I aspire to lead a laboratory studying the impact of the microbiome on human gastroenterological diseases. Our lab will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying how microbes activate gut signaling. The AGA Research Foundation grant will support my transition to independence and build key capacities that will be the foundation of my future lab.”
Funded by the generosity of donors, the AGA Research Foundation’s research award program ensures that AGA is building a community of researchers whose work serves the greater community and benefits all our patients.
By joining other AGA members in supporting the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that young researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work. Your tax-deductible contribution supports the foundation’s research award program, including the RSA, which ensures that studies are funded, discoveries are made and patients are treated.
Learn more or make a contribution at www.foundation.gastro.org.
The AGA Research Foundation plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to talented scientists at a critical time in their career.
“The AGA Research Scholar Award will have a significant impact on my career,” said Dr. Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, 2024 AGA Research Scholar Award grant recipient, and a gastroenterologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. “I aspire to lead a laboratory studying the impact of the microbiome on human gastroenterological diseases. Our lab will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying how microbes activate gut signaling. The AGA Research Foundation grant will support my transition to independence and build key capacities that will be the foundation of my future lab.”
Funded by the generosity of donors, the AGA Research Foundation’s research award program ensures that AGA is building a community of researchers whose work serves the greater community and benefits all our patients.
By joining other AGA members in supporting the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that young researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work. Your tax-deductible contribution supports the foundation’s research award program, including the RSA, which ensures that studies are funded, discoveries are made and patients are treated.
Learn more or make a contribution at www.foundation.gastro.org.
Congratulations to the 2024 AGA Research Foundation awardees!
The program serves as a catalyst for discovery and career growth among the most promising researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology.
“This year’s awardees are an exceptional group of investigators who are committed to furthering patient care through research,” said Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA Research Foundation. “The AGA Research Foundation is proud to fund these investigators and their ongoing efforts to advance GI research at a critical time in their careers. We believe the Foundation’s investment will ultimately enable new discoveries in gastroenterology and hepatology that will benefit patients.”
Treatment options for digestive diseases begin with vigorous research. The AGA Research Foundation supports medical investigators as they advance our understanding of gastrointestinal and liver conditions. Here are this year’s award recipients:
RESEARCH SCHOLAR AWARDS
AGA Research Scholar Award
- Karen Jane Dunbar, PhD, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Aaron Hecht, MD, PhD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sarah Maxwell, MD, University of California, San Francisco
- Chung Sang Tse, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, MD, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts
AGA-Bristol Myers Squibb Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Joseph R. Burclaff, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SPECIALTY AWARDS
AGA-Caroline Craig Augustyn & Damian Augustyn Award in Digestive Cancer
- Swathi Eluri, MD, MSCR, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
AGA-R. Robert & Sally Funderburg Research Award in Gastric Cancer
- Jianwen Que, MD, PhD, Columbia University, New York, New York
AGA-Pfizer Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award
- Lianna Wood, MD, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts
AGA-Ironwood Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award
- ZeNan Li Chang, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
PILOT AWARDS
AGA Pilot Research Award
- Linda C. Cummings, MD, MS, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
- Pooja Mehta, MD, MSCS, University of Colorado Denver
- Guilherme Piovezani Ramos, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Simon Schwoerer, PhD, University of Chicago, Illinois
- Yankai Wen, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
AGA-Pfizer Pilot Research Award in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Alice Cheng, PhD, Stanford University, California
- Petra Hirsova, PhD, PharmD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Sarah Maxwell, MD, University of California, San Francisco
AGA-Pfizer Pilot Research Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- David Boone, PhD, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Sara Chloe Di Rienzi, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Jared Andrew Sninsky, MD, MSCR, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS
AGA-Aman Armaan Ahmed Family Surf for Success Program
- Eli Burstein, Yeshiva University, New York, New York
- Chloe Carlisle, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Adna Hassan, University of Minnesota Rochester
- Nicole Rodriguez Hilario, Barry University, Miami, Florida
- Maryam Jimoh, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio
- Viktoriya Kalinina, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts
AGA-Dr. Harvey Young Education & Development Foundation’s Young Guts Scholar Program
- Rafaella Lavalle Lacerda de Almeida, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- Lara Cheesman, John’s Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Cass Condray, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- Daniel Juarez, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Jason Lin, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Riya Malhotra, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Brian Nguyen, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Mahmoud (Moudy) Salem, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
ABSTRACT AWARDS
AGA Fellow Abstract of the Year Award
- Andrea Tou, MD Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
AGA Fellow Abstract Awards
- Manik Aggarwal, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Kole Buckley, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jane Ha, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Brent Hiramoto, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Md Obaidul Islam, PhD, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Kanak Kennedy, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Hanseul Kim, PhD, MS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Chiraag Kulkarni, MD, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Su-Hyung Lee, PhD, DVM, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Caroline Muiler, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Sarah Najjar, PhD, New York University, New York, New York
- Ronaldo Panganiban, MD, PhD Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Perseus Patel, MD, Stanford University, California
- Hassan Sinan, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Patricia Snarski, PhD, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Fernando Vicentini, PhD, MS, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Remington Winter, MD, University of Manitoba – Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Tiaosi Xing, PhD, MBBS, MS, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
AGA Student Abstract of the Year Award
- Jazmyne Jackson, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
AGA Student Abstract Award
- Valentina Alvarez, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
- Yasaman Bahojb Habibyan, MS, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Tessa Herman, MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Jason Jin, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Frederikke Larsen, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Kara McNamara, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Julia Sessions, MD, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Scott Silvey, MS, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Vijaya Sundaram, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
- Kafayat Yusuf, MS, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
AGA–Eric Esrailian Student Abstract Prize
- Brent Gawey, MD, MS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Fei Li, MBBS, MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Emily Wong, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Jordan Woodard, MD, Prisma Health – Upstate, Greenville, South Carolina
AGA–Radhika Srinivasan Student Abstract Prize
- Raz Abdulqadir, MS, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Rebecca Ekeanyanwu, MHS, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee
- Jared Morris, MD, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg City, Manitoba, Canada
- Rachel Stubler, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
AGA Abstract Award for Health Disparities Research
- Saqr Alsakarneh, MD University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Marco Noriega, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Temitope Olasehinde, MD, University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Gabrielle Waclawik, MD, MPH, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
AGA-Moti L. & Kamla Rustgi International Travel Award
- W. Keith Tan, MBChB, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
- Elsa van Liere, MD Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The program serves as a catalyst for discovery and career growth among the most promising researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology.
“This year’s awardees are an exceptional group of investigators who are committed to furthering patient care through research,” said Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA Research Foundation. “The AGA Research Foundation is proud to fund these investigators and their ongoing efforts to advance GI research at a critical time in their careers. We believe the Foundation’s investment will ultimately enable new discoveries in gastroenterology and hepatology that will benefit patients.”
Treatment options for digestive diseases begin with vigorous research. The AGA Research Foundation supports medical investigators as they advance our understanding of gastrointestinal and liver conditions. Here are this year’s award recipients:
RESEARCH SCHOLAR AWARDS
AGA Research Scholar Award
- Karen Jane Dunbar, PhD, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Aaron Hecht, MD, PhD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sarah Maxwell, MD, University of California, San Francisco
- Chung Sang Tse, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, MD, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts
AGA-Bristol Myers Squibb Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Joseph R. Burclaff, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SPECIALTY AWARDS
AGA-Caroline Craig Augustyn & Damian Augustyn Award in Digestive Cancer
- Swathi Eluri, MD, MSCR, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
AGA-R. Robert & Sally Funderburg Research Award in Gastric Cancer
- Jianwen Que, MD, PhD, Columbia University, New York, New York
AGA-Pfizer Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award
- Lianna Wood, MD, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts
AGA-Ironwood Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award
- ZeNan Li Chang, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
PILOT AWARDS
AGA Pilot Research Award
- Linda C. Cummings, MD, MS, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
- Pooja Mehta, MD, MSCS, University of Colorado Denver
- Guilherme Piovezani Ramos, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Simon Schwoerer, PhD, University of Chicago, Illinois
- Yankai Wen, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
AGA-Pfizer Pilot Research Award in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Alice Cheng, PhD, Stanford University, California
- Petra Hirsova, PhD, PharmD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Sarah Maxwell, MD, University of California, San Francisco
AGA-Pfizer Pilot Research Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- David Boone, PhD, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Sara Chloe Di Rienzi, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Jared Andrew Sninsky, MD, MSCR, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS
AGA-Aman Armaan Ahmed Family Surf for Success Program
- Eli Burstein, Yeshiva University, New York, New York
- Chloe Carlisle, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Adna Hassan, University of Minnesota Rochester
- Nicole Rodriguez Hilario, Barry University, Miami, Florida
- Maryam Jimoh, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio
- Viktoriya Kalinina, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts
AGA-Dr. Harvey Young Education & Development Foundation’s Young Guts Scholar Program
- Rafaella Lavalle Lacerda de Almeida, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- Lara Cheesman, John’s Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Cass Condray, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- Daniel Juarez, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Jason Lin, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Riya Malhotra, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Brian Nguyen, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Mahmoud (Moudy) Salem, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
ABSTRACT AWARDS
AGA Fellow Abstract of the Year Award
- Andrea Tou, MD Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
AGA Fellow Abstract Awards
- Manik Aggarwal, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Kole Buckley, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jane Ha, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Brent Hiramoto, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Md Obaidul Islam, PhD, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Kanak Kennedy, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Hanseul Kim, PhD, MS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Chiraag Kulkarni, MD, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Su-Hyung Lee, PhD, DVM, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Caroline Muiler, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Sarah Najjar, PhD, New York University, New York, New York
- Ronaldo Panganiban, MD, PhD Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Perseus Patel, MD, Stanford University, California
- Hassan Sinan, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Patricia Snarski, PhD, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Fernando Vicentini, PhD, MS, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Remington Winter, MD, University of Manitoba – Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Tiaosi Xing, PhD, MBBS, MS, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
AGA Student Abstract of the Year Award
- Jazmyne Jackson, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
AGA Student Abstract Award
- Valentina Alvarez, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
- Yasaman Bahojb Habibyan, MS, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Tessa Herman, MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Jason Jin, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Frederikke Larsen, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Kara McNamara, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Julia Sessions, MD, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Scott Silvey, MS, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Vijaya Sundaram, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
- Kafayat Yusuf, MS, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
AGA–Eric Esrailian Student Abstract Prize
- Brent Gawey, MD, MS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Fei Li, MBBS, MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Emily Wong, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Jordan Woodard, MD, Prisma Health – Upstate, Greenville, South Carolina
AGA–Radhika Srinivasan Student Abstract Prize
- Raz Abdulqadir, MS, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Rebecca Ekeanyanwu, MHS, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee
- Jared Morris, MD, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg City, Manitoba, Canada
- Rachel Stubler, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
AGA Abstract Award for Health Disparities Research
- Saqr Alsakarneh, MD University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Marco Noriega, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Temitope Olasehinde, MD, University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Gabrielle Waclawik, MD, MPH, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
AGA-Moti L. & Kamla Rustgi International Travel Award
- W. Keith Tan, MBChB, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
- Elsa van Liere, MD Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The program serves as a catalyst for discovery and career growth among the most promising researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology.
“This year’s awardees are an exceptional group of investigators who are committed to furthering patient care through research,” said Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA Research Foundation. “The AGA Research Foundation is proud to fund these investigators and their ongoing efforts to advance GI research at a critical time in their careers. We believe the Foundation’s investment will ultimately enable new discoveries in gastroenterology and hepatology that will benefit patients.”
Treatment options for digestive diseases begin with vigorous research. The AGA Research Foundation supports medical investigators as they advance our understanding of gastrointestinal and liver conditions. Here are this year’s award recipients:
RESEARCH SCHOLAR AWARDS
AGA Research Scholar Award
- Karen Jane Dunbar, PhD, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Aaron Hecht, MD, PhD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sarah Maxwell, MD, University of California, San Francisco
- Chung Sang Tse, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, MD, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts
AGA-Bristol Myers Squibb Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Joseph R. Burclaff, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SPECIALTY AWARDS
AGA-Caroline Craig Augustyn & Damian Augustyn Award in Digestive Cancer
- Swathi Eluri, MD, MSCR, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
AGA-R. Robert & Sally Funderburg Research Award in Gastric Cancer
- Jianwen Que, MD, PhD, Columbia University, New York, New York
AGA-Pfizer Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award
- Lianna Wood, MD, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts
AGA-Ironwood Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award
- ZeNan Li Chang, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
PILOT AWARDS
AGA Pilot Research Award
- Linda C. Cummings, MD, MS, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
- Pooja Mehta, MD, MSCS, University of Colorado Denver
- Guilherme Piovezani Ramos, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Simon Schwoerer, PhD, University of Chicago, Illinois
- Yankai Wen, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
AGA-Pfizer Pilot Research Award in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Alice Cheng, PhD, Stanford University, California
- Petra Hirsova, PhD, PharmD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Sarah Maxwell, MD, University of California, San Francisco
AGA-Pfizer Pilot Research Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- David Boone, PhD, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Sara Chloe Di Rienzi, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Jared Andrew Sninsky, MD, MSCR, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS
AGA-Aman Armaan Ahmed Family Surf for Success Program
- Eli Burstein, Yeshiva University, New York, New York
- Chloe Carlisle, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Adna Hassan, University of Minnesota Rochester
- Nicole Rodriguez Hilario, Barry University, Miami, Florida
- Maryam Jimoh, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio
- Viktoriya Kalinina, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts
AGA-Dr. Harvey Young Education & Development Foundation’s Young Guts Scholar Program
- Rafaella Lavalle Lacerda de Almeida, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- Lara Cheesman, John’s Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Cass Condray, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- Daniel Juarez, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Jason Lin, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Riya Malhotra, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Brian Nguyen, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Mahmoud (Moudy) Salem, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
ABSTRACT AWARDS
AGA Fellow Abstract of the Year Award
- Andrea Tou, MD Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
AGA Fellow Abstract Awards
- Manik Aggarwal, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Kole Buckley, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jane Ha, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Brent Hiramoto, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Md Obaidul Islam, PhD, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Kanak Kennedy, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Hanseul Kim, PhD, MS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Chiraag Kulkarni, MD, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Su-Hyung Lee, PhD, DVM, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Caroline Muiler, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Sarah Najjar, PhD, New York University, New York, New York
- Ronaldo Panganiban, MD, PhD Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Perseus Patel, MD, Stanford University, California
- Hassan Sinan, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Patricia Snarski, PhD, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Fernando Vicentini, PhD, MS, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Remington Winter, MD, University of Manitoba – Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Tiaosi Xing, PhD, MBBS, MS, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
AGA Student Abstract of the Year Award
- Jazmyne Jackson, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
AGA Student Abstract Award
- Valentina Alvarez, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
- Yasaman Bahojb Habibyan, MS, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Tessa Herman, MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Jason Jin, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Frederikke Larsen, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Kara McNamara, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Julia Sessions, MD, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Scott Silvey, MS, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Vijaya Sundaram, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
- Kafayat Yusuf, MS, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
AGA–Eric Esrailian Student Abstract Prize
- Brent Gawey, MD, MS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Fei Li, MBBS, MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Emily Wong, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Jordan Woodard, MD, Prisma Health – Upstate, Greenville, South Carolina
AGA–Radhika Srinivasan Student Abstract Prize
- Raz Abdulqadir, MS, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Rebecca Ekeanyanwu, MHS, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee
- Jared Morris, MD, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg City, Manitoba, Canada
- Rachel Stubler, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
AGA Abstract Award for Health Disparities Research
- Saqr Alsakarneh, MD University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Marco Noriega, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Temitope Olasehinde, MD, University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Gabrielle Waclawik, MD, MPH, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
AGA-Moti L. & Kamla Rustgi International Travel Award
- W. Keith Tan, MBChB, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
- Elsa van Liere, MD Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Introducing the 119th AGA President: Dr. Maria T. Abreu
She currently serves as the Martin Kalser Endowed Chair of Gastroenterology; professor of medicine, microbiology, and immunology; and director of the Crohn’s and Colitis Center at the University of Miami. Dr. Abreu is the fifth woman to lead AGA as president.
Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Abreu grew up surrounded by a strong, tight-knit Cuban community. Her family moved to Miami when she was in the ninth grade. She later entered the 6-year medical program at the University of Miami, which was the beginning of her unparalleled academic and professional excellence in medicine.
Dr. Abreu is a leader in inflammatory bowel disease patient care, and she was honored by the prestigious Sherman Prize in 2019. Her service to AGA is lengthy and begins when she took on the role of fellow representative for the research grant committee. She has since sat on both the government advocacy and diversity committees. She also served as the chair of the Immunology, Microbiology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Section of the AGA Council, and later as chair of the full AGA Council. While chair she developed a more streamlined in-person planning committee meeting to better organize DDW.
When asked about goals for her presidency, Dr. Abreu wants to make DDW a better experience for the modern gastroenterologist. This includes finding that perfect balance between digesting the latest education and science with networking and socializing. She plans to collaborate with the presidents of the other societies to make this come to fruition.
Perhaps the area that Dr. Abreu is most passionate about is welcoming and fostering the growth of women in gastroenterology. She wants to support women who want to succeed in academics and in practice, who want ergonomics to match their work needs, and who want to have families.
“Maria is the ultimate ‘triple threat’: master scientist, master clinician, and devoted mentor. She has not only been a major player advancing knowledge in IBD, but also motivating and pushing others to develop successful careers,” said Andres Yarur, MD, AGAF, associate professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “Her work, brilliance, passion, and charm inspire all of us and will continue to inspire many generations to come.”
She currently serves as the Martin Kalser Endowed Chair of Gastroenterology; professor of medicine, microbiology, and immunology; and director of the Crohn’s and Colitis Center at the University of Miami. Dr. Abreu is the fifth woman to lead AGA as president.
Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Abreu grew up surrounded by a strong, tight-knit Cuban community. Her family moved to Miami when she was in the ninth grade. She later entered the 6-year medical program at the University of Miami, which was the beginning of her unparalleled academic and professional excellence in medicine.
Dr. Abreu is a leader in inflammatory bowel disease patient care, and she was honored by the prestigious Sherman Prize in 2019. Her service to AGA is lengthy and begins when she took on the role of fellow representative for the research grant committee. She has since sat on both the government advocacy and diversity committees. She also served as the chair of the Immunology, Microbiology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Section of the AGA Council, and later as chair of the full AGA Council. While chair she developed a more streamlined in-person planning committee meeting to better organize DDW.
When asked about goals for her presidency, Dr. Abreu wants to make DDW a better experience for the modern gastroenterologist. This includes finding that perfect balance between digesting the latest education and science with networking and socializing. She plans to collaborate with the presidents of the other societies to make this come to fruition.
Perhaps the area that Dr. Abreu is most passionate about is welcoming and fostering the growth of women in gastroenterology. She wants to support women who want to succeed in academics and in practice, who want ergonomics to match their work needs, and who want to have families.
“Maria is the ultimate ‘triple threat’: master scientist, master clinician, and devoted mentor. She has not only been a major player advancing knowledge in IBD, but also motivating and pushing others to develop successful careers,” said Andres Yarur, MD, AGAF, associate professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “Her work, brilliance, passion, and charm inspire all of us and will continue to inspire many generations to come.”
She currently serves as the Martin Kalser Endowed Chair of Gastroenterology; professor of medicine, microbiology, and immunology; and director of the Crohn’s and Colitis Center at the University of Miami. Dr. Abreu is the fifth woman to lead AGA as president.
Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Abreu grew up surrounded by a strong, tight-knit Cuban community. Her family moved to Miami when she was in the ninth grade. She later entered the 6-year medical program at the University of Miami, which was the beginning of her unparalleled academic and professional excellence in medicine.
Dr. Abreu is a leader in inflammatory bowel disease patient care, and she was honored by the prestigious Sherman Prize in 2019. Her service to AGA is lengthy and begins when she took on the role of fellow representative for the research grant committee. She has since sat on both the government advocacy and diversity committees. She also served as the chair of the Immunology, Microbiology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Section of the AGA Council, and later as chair of the full AGA Council. While chair she developed a more streamlined in-person planning committee meeting to better organize DDW.
When asked about goals for her presidency, Dr. Abreu wants to make DDW a better experience for the modern gastroenterologist. This includes finding that perfect balance between digesting the latest education and science with networking and socializing. She plans to collaborate with the presidents of the other societies to make this come to fruition.
Perhaps the area that Dr. Abreu is most passionate about is welcoming and fostering the growth of women in gastroenterology. She wants to support women who want to succeed in academics and in practice, who want ergonomics to match their work needs, and who want to have families.
“Maria is the ultimate ‘triple threat’: master scientist, master clinician, and devoted mentor. She has not only been a major player advancing knowledge in IBD, but also motivating and pushing others to develop successful careers,” said Andres Yarur, MD, AGAF, associate professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “Her work, brilliance, passion, and charm inspire all of us and will continue to inspire many generations to come.”