2025 has been another busy but successful year for the BSG, packed full of exciting initiatives. As I reflect on this year, I want to list some of those activities – more details are available on our website, but I am listing some to indicate the breadth and depth of the work the BSG undertakes. I am aware I cannot list everything so here is a snapshot of some of the things we have done in 2025. We have:

• completed the ERCP QI project
• produced quality standard frameworks for several areas of practice
• awarded 72 education bursaries
• awarded 15 research bursaries
• delivered BSG LIVE with record breaking attendance – abstracts for BSG LIVE 2026 are now open for submissions until 23 January 2026
• achieved record levels of membership
• delivered 15 webinars
• delivered multiple speciality events for our sections as well as events for trainees and support for undergraduate events
• engaged extensively with decision makers around changes to how we deliver training
• awarded 5 research scholarships and 5 international grants
• delivered a mentoring programme
• grown our current journals and launched a new one (more details below)
• produced state of the art guidelines and guidance across a range of clinical areas
• endorsed multiple events and fellowships
• developed strong partnership meetings with industry
• delivered a workforce report
• delivered the initial phases of project 90 (more below)
• awarded bursaries to support our trainees with exam costs
• established fellowships and travel bursaries with AASLD and EASL including 3 EASL abstract travel bursaries
• provided a formal home and meeting for clinical endoscopists
• held a UEG exam event
• provided pathology support for QA
• delivered multiple reports to statutory bodies
• delivered endoscopy question time and multiple podcasts
• delivered EndoVillage and supported IUS training
• established a new consultants advisory group
• presented multiple prizes and awards – 2026 awards are now open for applications until 13 February 2026
• supported the green gastro challenge
• supported an IBD KPI project (OPTIMISE)
• delivered NGM learning modules and the upper GI bleed cart project
• worked extensively with NHSE and other stakeholders
• supported members with speaker coaching
• sought to modernise the BSG, working alongside our governance report including moving to the election of the BSG president

The extent of this work and so much more is testimony to the amazing people who volunteer and work for the BSG. I do not believe that the BSG has ever been more vibrant, delivering such a diverse range of impactful work and my thanks go to all of you who give your time to this amazing organisation as we support our members in delivering the best possible GI and hepatology care for our patients. I also want to thank our amazing office team and in particular our priceless Chief Executive, Sarah Linnington.

If you would like to serve the BSG, I would encourage you to consider applying for the hugely fulfilling role of BSG president, and to take part in the election. Details around the President’s election are available here.

Highlights as we move into 2026

Professor Emad El-Omar

After 15  years, Professor Emad El-Omar steps down as editor in chief of  Gut journal. Emad has done the most incredible job in establishing Gut at the forefront of international GI journals. He has overseen 16 volumes and 192 issues of the journal receiving 39000 submissions and publishing 5000 articles in this period. During this time, Emad has led the journal as its impact factor has risen from 10.6 to 26.2. Alongside the success of Gut, Emad has mentored and supported the other journals within the Gut portfolio – Frontline Gastroenterology and BMJ Open Gastroenterology. He has also supported the launch of the new Gut Science Journal. Millions of patients internationally have benefited from the work of Gut journal in publishing research and guidelines over this period. The BSG are so grateful to Emad for his incredible work in advancing and disseminating understanding of GI diseases.  We were delighted to award Emad the BSG Lifetime Achievement Award at BSG LIVE’25 in June as a small recognition of his immense contribution to our speciality.

New Editors at Gut

Emad is unique, but we have appointed three co-editors in chief to replace him. They are Matías A. Avila who is Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. He has more than 35 years of experience in basic and translational research in hepatology, with a focus on identifying mechanisms and therapeutic targets involved in liver injury and carcinogenesis. William Grady, who is the Roger Haggitt Professor of Medicine at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (FHCC) and University of Washington Division of Gastroenterology (Seattle, Washington, US).  He is a physician-scientist with an active research programme studying the molecular and cellular pathophysiology of gastrointestinal neoplasia and its translation into clinical care.  He is also the Medical Director of the FHCC GI Cancer Prevention Programme and has been a Deputy Editor at Gut since 2011. Lastly, Thomas Rösch who is Professor and Head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Endoscopy at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany. He has more than 35 years of experience in diagnostic and therapeutic GI endoscopy, as well as in both publishing and editing of clinical research in this area, and with a current focus on diagnosing and treating early GI cancer. Matías, Bill and Thomas have all worked with Gut for many years and we are delighted to welcome them as the new co-editors of Gut. We look forward to continuing to develop the strong partnership between Gut and the BSG.

Gur portfolio Journals

We are delighted that alongside Gut we have three other strong GI journals. Frontline Gastroenterology, edited by Dr Phil Smith which is a journal publishing evidence-based research impacting clinical practice; BMJ Open Gastroenterology, edited by Dr Christian Selinger which publishes evidence-based research in clinical and more translational areas of practice, and our new Gut Science journal edited by Dr Upkar Gill which publishes basic science in gastroenterology and hepatology. Moving forwards, the group of journals will be working together under the Gut portfolio umbrella.

Project 90

Project 90, our celebration leading up to the BSG’s 90^th birthday in 2027, is progressing well under the leadership of Bev Oates and Nikki Husbands. Project 90 has delivered several regional meetings, partnering with Gut clubs and devolved nation societies with a strong programme of meetings lined up for 2026. A number of Project 90 travelling fellowships have been completed with many more to come in the next two years – I encourage people to apply for these. The first cohort undertaking the Project 90 leadership programme are now well into their programme again, please apply for subsequent rounds of this programme. A programme of teaching for GI nurses and career support for those working in gastroenterology will be delivered in 2026. Please look out for details of the Project 90 programme and get involved.

EndoBridge 2026

Lastly, as we look into 2026, we will kick off the new year with the exiting new EndoBridge live endoscopy event which will be run from 26^th - 27^th January at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. This event will focus on live endoscopy cases delivered from the UK and India and also cover a broad range of endoscopy presentations. We have a range of outstanding speakers from the UK and abroad and we encourage you to register for this event.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and fulfilling 2026.

Colin Rees, BSG President