In this premiere episode, we break down the most relevant and practice-changing research articles in inflammatory bowel disease from January through March 2025.
With hundreds of studies published each month across major international journals, members of the Building Research in IBD Globally (BRIDGe) group distill the essential findings every practicing gastroenterologist, APP, and IBD professional needs to know right now.
The BRIDGe group — founded in 2006 — is a collaboration of 14 global IBD experts across three continents and four countries. With a shared goal of improving patient-centered care, the group collectively follows more than 10,000 patients with IBD and leads collaborative research shaping the future of treatment.
What You’ll Learn from This Episode:
- The five key IBD studies from early 2025 that may immediately impact clinical decision-making
- How global collaboration helps clinicians stay ahead of emerging data
- Insights into the literature selection process led by BRIDGe fellows
- Quick, clinically relevant perspective on practice-changing research
Featured Contributors:
- Dr. Laura Raffals – Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN)
- Dr. Peter Irving – Guy’s and St. Thomas’ (London, UK)
- Dr. Gil Melmed – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
- Dr. Corey Siegel – Dartmouth Health (Lebanon, NH)
BRIDGe Fellows Who Curated the Articles:
- Mayo Clinic: Dr. Siri Urquhart and Dr. Katie Dunleavy
- Guy’s and St. Thomas’: Dr. Xin Yi Choon and Dr. Yvonne Abbey
- Cedars-Sinai: Dr. Felix Zhou and Dr. Rajsavi Anand
- Dartmouth: Dr. Hannah Systrom and Dr. Jamie Horrigan
Articles Reviewed:
- Shehab M, Alrashed F, Alsayegh A, Aldallal U, Ma C, Narula N, Jairath V, Singh S, Bessissow T. Comparative Efficacy of Biologics and Small Molecule in Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Feb;23(2):250-262. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.07.033. Epub 2024 Sep 5. PMID: 39182898.
- Gao L, Fang K, Dong X, Bai J, Liu K, Wang Y, Wang M, Han Y, Liu Z. Additional Yield of Random Biopsy in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Mar;23(4):542-554.e21. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.05.045. Epub 2024 Jul 5. PMID: 38972436.
- Gisbert JP, Chaparro M. Janus kinase inhibitors in the management of acute severe ulcerative colitis: a comprehensive review. J Crohns Colitis. 2025 Feb 4;19(2):jjaf021. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaf021. PMID: 39886994.
- Lowell JA, Sharma G, Swaminath A, Sultan K. Pharmacologic Anticoagulation Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolic Events During Janus Kinase Inhibitor Use for Patients With a Prior Thrombosis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2025 Mar 3;31(3):725-732. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izae100. PMID: 38704439.
- Systrom HK, Rai V, Singh S, Baidoo L, Cheifetz AS, Devlin SM, Gecse KB, Irving PM, Kaplan GG, Kozuch PL, Ullman T, Sparrow MP, Melmed GY, Siegel CA. When Perfect Is the Enemy of Good: Results of a RAND Appropriateness Panel on Treat to Target in Asymptomatic Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2025 Feb 1;120(2):420-430. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002964. Epub 2024 Jul 15. PMID: 39008539.
Other Article Discussed:
Awais D, Siegel CA, Higgins PD. Modelling dysplasia detection in ulcerative colitis: clinical implications of surveillance intensity. Gut. 2009 Nov;58(11):1498-503. doi: 10.1136/gut.2008.169714. Epub 2009 Aug 2. PMID: 19651634.
Episode Credits:
This episode of DIGESTING was produced by David Boyer, who not only was patient enough to teach us how to make a podcast but skilled enough to allow us to sound somewhat professional. Additional thanks to Jennifer Greene as the BRIDGe program manager for keeping us in a straight line to get this done.
Follow DIGESTING wherever you get your podcasts and check out more about BRIDGe at www.BRIDGeIBD.com. We look forward to bringing you our next episode soon.