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Being the first woman to serve as the president of the World Gastroenterology Organisation gives me the opportunity to reflect on the place of women in gastroenterology and enables me to assess both how far we have come and the scale of the tasks still facing us.
Progress towards hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination targets remains slow, despite efforts to support enhanced prevention, diagnosis and treatment. On the basis of insights from interventions against HIV, we argue for the wider use of antiviral therapy for HBV, highlighting the potential public health benefits in preventing liver disease and reducing transmission.
Case reports and retrospective cohort studies have reported an association between acute pancreatitis and COVID-19. As SARS-CoV-2 (the causative agent of COVID-19) receptors are expressed in the pancreas and endothelial damage can occur, this association is plausible. However, this hypothesis has many biases and needs further investigation.
To therapeutically modulate gut microbial ecosystems, a better understanding of gut ecology is key. High-throughput in vitro ecology provides a tool with the necessary power to address these needs and interpersonal treatment response variation.
The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic go far beyond the disease itself, and cannot be overlooked. The gastroenterology and hepatology community has adapted quickly, but resilience and collaboration will be key to address future uncertainty.