Research with
International Bowel Ultrasound Group
Treatment targets for IBD have evolved beyond clinical symptoms and remission. The recognition of the importance of healing seen on cross-sectional imaging modalities, including ultrasound is growing, leading to improved outcomes for patients. IUS is cost-effective, well tolerated by patients and thus easily repeatable. This creates a perfect monitoring tool. Despite this, access to this important innovation is limited in many parts of the world. To increase the acceptance of IUS, it is essential to improve the scientific basis to support the use of IUS.
Guideline
Intestinal Ultrasound Standardized
Topics & Key Questions
The aim of this guideline is to provide standardized guidance to expert clinicians on IUS image acquisition for Central Reading. A good IUS image acquisition is important for consistency in interpretation and the Central Reading process itself.
- Image Acquisition Guidelines
- Bowel wall thickness
- Mesenteric, inflammatory fat
- Echostratification
- Color Doppler Imaging
How we work
Services
Study centres
We offer research consulting and collaboration within the field of inflammatory bowel diseases, mainly Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. We have great expertise in designing studies, defining endpoints and have a large professional network.
We need you!
We are looking for new study centers. Be a part of the IBUS association!
Requirement:
Qualitified staff,
minimum number of Sonography,
Email: [email protected]
ECCO-IBUS RESEARCH GRANT
2026
The International Bowel Ultrasound Group (IBUS) and the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) invite all interested member investigators to submit clinical research proposals on intestinal ultrasound to be considered for funding support.
The grant aims to support research on the utility of intestinal ultrasound in the assessment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Awardees will be selected based on scientific merit, feasibility and importance of the scientific contribution.
The total research grant award is 40.000 EUR. To be considered, applicants must be established within clinical units with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease and in the performance of intestinal ultrasound. Additionally, applicants must be IBUS and ECCO members at the time of submission and have routine access to an ultrasound machine.
KEY DATES
March 1st, 2026 |
Submissions open. Please submit your application via the form below
|
October 31st, 2026 |
Application deadline |
Early 2027 |
Successful grant funding announcement, notification will be sent to all applicants |
March 2027 |
Official announcement of awardee during the IBUS Members’ Meeting and the ECCO Award Ceremony at the ECCO congress in Copenhagen, Denmark |
Application Requirements
1. You must submit a recent CV and a protocol of maximum 5 pages which includes:
- Project title
- Name, address, affiliation of the applicant
- Summary of the proposal
- Scientific Aim: clear description of the objectives of the project
- Background/Significance: justification of the importance of the project
- Methods/Research Plan: a detailed account of timeline, methodology and outputs
- Significance and impact
- Background of the research group
- Budget: accounting of funds
- Ethics Approval: The project must have been submitted for IRB approval or already have received IRB approval (proof of submission required)
- References
2. You must be an ECCO and IBUS member at the time of application. Non-members will not be considered.
3. Your institution must not hold a current ECCO-IBUS Research Grant (awarded in the last two years). For previous award winners, see below
4. You must not have been awarded a recent ECCO-IBUS Research Grant (awarded in the last three years).
2025 IBUS-ECCO Research Grant Winner
#1 - awarded 20,000 euros
Pradeep K Ramaswamy
PULSE Study - Predicting Outcomes Using Intestinal and Trans-perineal Ultrasound IntestinaL Ultrasound vs Trans-perineal Ultrasound in Acute SeverE Ulcerative Colitis
#2 - awarded 20,000 euros
Johanna M.B.W. Vos (Hannah)
Transperineal ultrasound for proctitis and perianal disease in pediatric IBD: a prospective multicenter study
2024 IBUS-ECCO Research Grant Winner
#1 - awarded 40,000 euros
- Dr. Polychronis Pavlidis
Intestinal ultrasound for the monitoring of bowel inflammation in PSC-IBD, a multicentre study
2023 IBUS-ECCO Research Grant Winner
#1 - awarded 20,000 euros
- Dr. Gabriele Dragoni
Ultrasound radiomics to assess intestinal inflammation and fibrosis in stricturing Crohn's disease: a pilot study
2022 IBUS-ECCO Research Grant Winners
#1 - awarded 20,000 euros
- Dr. Shintaro Sagami and team at Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Is advanced transperineal ultrasonography in ulcerative colitis useful for predicting the response to induction therapy?
2021 IBUS-ECCO Research Grant Winners
#1 - awarded 20,000 euros
- Dr. Jennifer DeBruyn and team from Canada
Intestinal ultrasound monitoring of response to biologics in pediatric Crohn's disease
#2 and #3 – each award 10,000 euros
- Dr. Maarten Pruijt and team from the Netherlands
PredIctioN and cloSe monItorinG of postoperative recurrence by intestinal ultrasound after ileocecal resection in CroHn's disease patienTs: the INSIGHT study
- Dr. Bram Verstockt and team from Belgium
Intestinal bowel ultrasound in acute severe ulcerative colitis, the TABASCO study
2020 IBUS-ECCO Research Grant Winners
#1 - awarded 20,000 euros
- Dr. Kunal Thacker and team from Australia
Diagnostic accuracy of point of care intestinal ultrasound compared to MRE and/or colonoscopy in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease
#2 and #3 – each award 10,000 euros
- Dr. Cathy Lu and team from Canada
Development of an expert consensus to standardize intestinal ultrasound definitions and reporting for Crohn’s disease non-perianal complications
- Dr. Terracciano Fulvia and team from Italy
Transperineal US in the follow up of patients with perianal Crohn’s disease: compared with MRI
2019 IBUS-ECCO Research Grant Winner
awarded 20,000 euros
- Dr. Krisztina Gecse and team from the Netherlands
A new ultrasonographic scoring model for stricturing
complications in Crohn’s disease: elastography,
contrast-enhanced and small intestinal contrast
ultrasonography combined (STRICTURE)