Collaboration News 2025
ColCom Updates April 2025
The Collaboration Committee is pleased to provide an update on recent progress and share several exciting developments within IBUS.
At ECCO, the committee bid farewell to long-term member David Rubin, who will now take on significant responsibilities as Chair of the IOIBD. In his place, ColCom welcomed two new members: Partha Pal, who brings valuable experience in expanding training in India and Southeast Asia, and Michael Dolinger, Steering Committee Chair of IUSCAN and a former member of the Pediatric Committee (PedCom). Their expertise will be instrumental as ColCom continues to address regional challenges and develop a long-term strategy, particularly within Asia.
Michael Dolinger
Partha Pal
ColCom is also exploring potential collaborations with continental societies such as GENIUS and IUSCAN to streamline certification processes and support local initiatives in Asia and North America. A major focus of the committee’s work is the development of sustainable income streams for IBUS while preserving the integrity and quality of the IBUS brand. To that end, ColCom has discussed strategies for using the IBUS logo at regional events and is exploring various pricing models for event endorsements.
Looking ahead, ColCom is prioritizing closer collaboration with patients and patient organizations. The committee is excited to announce that a call will soon open for a patient collaboration member to join its ranks. This is a key strategic focus, and ColCom is actively working with organizations such as EFCCA to ensure that the patient voice is central to IBUS initiatives.
Several upcoming opportunities for member engagement are on the horizon. ColCom invites all IUSCAN and IBUS members in good standing to attend the joint get-together at DDW on Monday, May 5th, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM PDT at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center (200 W Harbor Dr #120, San Diego, CA 92101, USA). Registration is required, and further details are available on the IBUS website. A second get-together will be held at UEGW, with more information to follow.
In collaboration with the Scientific Committee (SciCom), ColCom is launching a new initiative: Intestinal Ultrasound Unveiled – Industry Workshop. Scheduled for Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM CEST at the Faculty Club in Leuven, Belgium (Groot Begijnhof 14, 3000 Leuven), the event is designed for pharmaceutical industry professionals and ultrasound companies. It will explore the role of intestinal ultrasound in patient pathways and clinical trials, with a focus on standardizing assessments, optimizing site performance, and exploring AI-powered solutions. A preliminary program is available here.
Finally, in collaboration with the Education Committee (EduCom) and the Governing Board, ColCom is building on the valuable, ongoing work of the e-learning group to reimagine the IBUS certification process. This long-term initiative has the potential to significantly impact intestinal ultrasound training worldwide.
ColCom thanks all members for their continued dedication and looks forward to strong participation in the upcoming events and initiatives.
Collaboration News 2024
ColCom Updates December 2024
The Collaboration Committee has been diligently working to expand IBUS's reach and strategically enhance our educational offerings. We are excited to share some key updates and initiatives:
Expanding IBUS's Global Presence:
Workshops: For 2025, we are actively accepting hybrid workshops in various regions, including Taiwan, Belgium, and Tel Aviv. We focus on maximizing accessibility for local and regional participants and are exploring collaborations with other organizations, such as ESGAR and AOCC, to offer hands-on training opportunities. More information will be available soon on our website.
Symposia: We are endorsing symposia in regions where full workshops may not be feasible initially or when additional awareness is warranted, allowing us to introduce IBUS to new audiences and gauge interest in future workshops and our curriculum. However, the Endorsed symposium concept is being redefined, and the opportunity is on hold until it is finalised.
Asia Focus: We aim to develop a comprehensive three-year plan for Asia and are committed to providing accessible training opportunities in this region. Please contact the office if you are located in Asia, are IBUS certified, and would like to host a workshop in the next three years.
Strengthening Collaborations:
ESGAR Partnership: We are pursuing a collaboration with the European Society of Gastro Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) to develop a specialized IUS workshop for radiologists, reflecting the growing interest in bowel ultrasound among radiologists and the need for dedicated training programs.
Industry Engagement: An Industry board meeting is planned at ECCO to foster collaboration and innovation in bowel ultrasound. We are also exploring grant opportunities for low-income countries to access IBUS training programs.
Pfizer Partnership: We proudly announce our successful partnership with Pfizer to deliver three grants of $100,000 each for collaborative and need-driven research within IUS. The grant review, conducted by SciCom, will be announced soon.
Patient Inclusion: We are expanding our committee by including a patient representative to ensure the patient perspective is central to our initiatives, as well as exploring ways to integrate patients into IBUS committees and activities further. A call will open on our website soon. Please help share this with your local patient organizations.
Improving Committee Operations:
We currently have an open call for two additional members. To cover global representation, we highly encourage members from North America, South America, and Africa to apply for a 3-year collaboration committee membership. Please find the application link here.
Past Events:
Sounding IBUS OUT event at UEGW was a huge success. Thank you for participating, engaging, and making this a fantastic evening. See you at ECCO in Berlin in February 2025.
A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners: We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of our industry sponsors and partners. Your continued support is instrumental in advancing IUS education and research at the rapid pace we are currently experiencing. We deeply appreciate your commitment to our mission.
Donations:
If you would like to support IBUS in our mission of advancing intestinal ultrasound (IUS) research, education and clinical ability in the area of IBD around the world, you can make a donation on the IBUS website.
As a non-profit association, your support is beneficial in helping us expand access to IUS, train healthcare professionals, and enhance our research efforts to further advance this vital tool. By donating, you will be directly contributing to a global movement that aims to revolutionise IBD care and improve the quality of life for patients everywhere
We are committed to advancing bowel ultrasound education and practice globally. All individual members continued support and engagement are also crucial to our success. If you have ideas and suggestions, please reach out!
ColCom Updates October 2024
Hosting an IBUS Module 1 Workshop
One of the core missions of the International Bowel Ultrasound Group is to promote and support the education of healthcare professionals in intestinal ultrasound(IUS) for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on a global scale.
We strongly encourage IBUS members and particularly certified training centers interested in hosting an IBUS Module 1 Workshop (or Regional Hybrid) to review the workshop requirements and submit their interest via the application form here. For any questions, please contact the IBUS Office at education@bowel-ultrasound.org.
Sounding IBUS Out at UEGW
Don't forget to register for the upcoming Sounding IBUS Out get-together at UEGW. It's a fantastic opportunity to network and engage in friendly knowledge exchange with your international Peers.
New and Extended Collaborations
We are pleased to share that we have initiated efforts to establish formal collaborations and partnerships with several esteemed organizations, including iUSCAN, GENIUS, ESGAR, BSGAR, AOCC, and EFSUMB. Furthermore, we are actively exploring various options for patient collaborations.
We look forward to your continued engagement and contributions to the IBUS community!
ColCom Updates March 2024
We are excited to share several important developments within the Collaboration Committee (ColCom) and the growth of our network.
Welcoming Dr. Heba Al-Farhan
We extend a warm welcome to Heba Al-Farhan, our newest ColCom member from Kuwait. A distinguished GI leader in the Middle East and newly elected president of the Kuwait Society of Gastroenterology, Heba Al-Farhan brings a wealth of experience and regional perspective to our team. Her previous leadership in IBUS's Communication Committee further enhances our collaborative efforts.
ColCom Restructuring and Global Reach
This year we became five members, but already in 2025, we'll expand ColCom to six members, with a strong focus on LATAM representation to ensure we include all global regions. Our long-term vision is to establish country representatives with a direct contact to the regional representative within ColCom, creating better insights into how IUS implementation happens at national levels. This will help us identify growth patterns and address implementation challenges more effectively.
Industry Support and Expansion
We are grateful for the ongoing support of our corporate members and sponsors. The growing recognition of IBUS's impact is attracting new partnerships, including ultrasound vendors and potentially a broader range of corporate members soon to be announced. This support is vital for driving our projects forward.
iUSCAN and IBUS Joint Reception
iUSCAN and IBUS are delighted to come together for a joint reception during DDW on Sunday, May 19th in Washington DC from 6:30 pm at Hedy's Bar and Pool deck in Washington DC. This is an opportunity to further solidify the commitment to advancing the field of intestinal ultrasound and strengthen collaboration across both groups.
iUSCAN /IBUS members are welcome to join for an informal gathering with a drink and some nibbles. Registration is required for the event.
Strengthening Partnerships
We're actively seeking closer ties with national societies in gastroenterology and pediatrics. Additionally, we aim to forge partnerships with patient organizations to better understand the needs of those we ultimately serve—the patients with IBD.
Thank you for your involvement in IBUS. These positive developments will further strengthen our organization and enhance the use of IUS worldwide.
Collaboration with Alimentiv
Our collaboration with Alimentiv on pharma-sponsored research trials is gaining momentum. The inclusion of IUS as a secondary or exploratory endpoint in several trials demonstrates the industry's strong interest in this technology. Our successful central reading service is key, but globally we need more experienced centers to participate and provide high-quality IUS services to patients in these studies.