News Release

Digestive Disease Week® 2006 highlights 'state of the art' research in GI health

Top international GI meeting examines the future of GI cancers, clinical studies, and lifestyle choices

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Gastroenterological Association

LOS ANGELES-- Today's global leaders in gastrointestinal medicine will gather to discuss the latest in scientific research in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal (GI) surgery during Digestive Disease Week® 2006 (DDW), May 20-25 in Los Angeles. DDW brings together more than 16,000 attendees each year from around the world and is the largest meeting of its kind.

From GI cancers and related diseases to analyses of best practices and innovative diagnostic approaches, this year's presentations will feature the best of breakthrough treatments and procedures. Research presented at DDW 2006 promises to address hot topics in GI health including:

  • Current trends, new risk factors, and other serious diseases linked to colon cancer
  • The latest advancements in GI drug therapies
  • An in-depth comparison of virtual vs. standard colonoscopy
  • Common lifestyle choices that impact GI health
  • Novel detection methods for hard-to-diagnose GI disorders

DDW is jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT).

DDW has scheduled a total of seven press conferences throughout the medical meeting to highlight timely issues and key areas facing the GI community:

Sunday, May 21

  • 10:30 a.m. PT: From Pipeline to Patient: New Therapies in Treating Hepatitis
  • 1:00 p.m. PT: Analyzing Efficacy of GI Diagnostics and Procedures

Monday, May 22

  • 8:30 a.m. PT: The Treatment Horizon in Breakthrough Therapies for IBD and IBS
  • 10:30 a.m. PT: Managing the GI Tract Through Lifestyle Choices

Tuesday, May 23

  • 8:30 a.m. PT: Explore, Expand and Evaluate: A Closer Look at Digestive Cancers
  • 10:30 a.m. PT: Standard vs. Virtual: An In-Depth Comparison of Colon Cancer Screening Options

Wednesday, May 24

  • 8:30 a.m. PT: Mind and Body Effects on GI Health

DDW is hosting teleconferences, which are open to members of the media only, to coincide with the scheduled press briefings for reporters covering the meeting offsite. To join, please call (866) 814-1915.

Additional meeting highlights include symposia and fora exploring a variety of current topics in the GI arena. Some of the many issues that will be covered include current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to digestive cancers, liver disease, hepatitis treatments, bowel disease, capsule endoscopy, controversies surrounding colorectal cancer, and advances in surgical gastroenterology.

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Press releases from the meeting will be available at www.eurekalert.org. Or, please contact Kellie Hotz (khotz@spectrumscience.com) to receive releases via e-mail or fax. Interviews can be arranged with presenting researchers. The newsroom is open May 20 from noon to 5:00 p.m. and May 21-25 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT. For more information during the meeting, please call the DDW Newsroom at (213) 743-6219.

Digestive Disease Week® (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 (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), DDW takes place May 20-25, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology.


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