The Enrichment Program provides critical mechanisms to support the overall goals of the Texas Medical Center Digestive Disease Center via the following specific aims:
- To share and disseminate knowledge gained from the presence of the DDC and in the larger field of digestive diseases
- To promote and increase interaction and collaboration among investigators and clinicians interested in digestive diseases
- To foster the scientific and career development of DDC members.
Annual Frontiers in Digestive Diseases Symposium
The 17th Annual Frontiers in Digestive Disease Symposium will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center located at 7200 Cambridge, Houston, Texas. This year’s event focused on “Nutrition, Metabolism & the Microbiome” will include a poster competition with cash prizes, breakout sessions with select speakers, and presentations by J. Thomas Brenna, Ph.D. of The University of Texas at Austin, Karen Edelblum, Ph.D., of Mount Sinai, and Lawrence David, Ph.D. of Duke University, among others.
Register by noon on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, to be included in the printed symposium directory. Questions can be directed to DDC Coordinator, Dionysia Briscoe at Dionysia.Briscoe@bcm.edu or DDC Administrator, Sara Tristan, at escamill@bcm.edu.
Click here to register now.
Poster Competition
The DDC is currently accepting digestive diseases related abstracts and posters for our 17th Annual Frontiers in Digestive Diseases Symposium. The deadline to submit an abstract is 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2026.
Please note to participate in the poster competition, you must submit a PDF of your poster by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 26. If you do not plan on competing, you can bring your printed poster with you to the symposium on Feb. 28, 2026.
Click here to submit an abstract.
DDC Research Forum
Our DDC research forum is a weekly seminar held on Thursdays at 4 pm during the spring and fall academic months. These hybrid seminars are usually delivered by a national leader in GI research outside the Texas Medical Center (TMC) or a DDC member. Occasional seminar slots are used to advertise the latest services offered by one of the DDC Cores or for career development opportunities for trainees across the TMC. Attendees can come in person to M112 in the DeBakey Building at Baylor College of Medicine or join us via Zoom. Please note, in-person attendees can confirm their attendance by scanning a QR code. This also registers in-person attendees for a drawing for a $1,000 credit in core services. Restrictions apply.
Questions regarding the DDC Research Forum or suggestions for potential topics and speakers can be directed to Geoffrey Preidis, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the DDC Enrichment Program, at geoffrey.preidis@bcm.edu or Sara Tristan, DDC Administrator at escamill@bcm.edu.
Early Investigator Luncheons with Select Speakers
In conjunction with our DDC Research Forum, the DDC offers luncheons with national leaders in GI research outside of Texas. These select speakers participate in an open discussion on career development, research, and general knowledge exchange over a private lunch. RSVP to these luncheons is required and seating is provided on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Dionysia Briscoe, DDC Coordinator, at dionysia.briscoe@bcm.edu to join the DDC mailing list for all upcoming luncheons and enrichment activities.
GI Focus Group Meetings for Junior Investigators
The TMC Digestive Disease Center sponsors semi-monthly meetings between junior investigators to present research projects and collaborate on advancements in digestive disease-related research. These meetings are organized by Gregory Guthrie, Ph.D. To join the mailing list or attend an upcoming focus group meeting, contact Dr. Guthrie at gregory.guthrie@bcm.edu.
DDC Informatics User Group
The DDC informatics user group promotes discussions, knowledge exchange, and shared learning. Everyone is welcome to participate.
Topics will include tools and pipelines, pathway analyses, visualizations in form of plots, graphs, networks, machine learning application and more.
The group is spearheaded by Dr. Numan Oezguen. If you would like to join the mailing list, contact DDC administrator Sara Tristan at escamill@bcm.edu.
Early Career Mixers & Events
The DDC offers a mixer in conjunction with our annual symposium and poster competition. This exclusive event allows early career investigators and clinicians to meet with the DDC External Advisors and Executive Leadership. In addition, the DDC holds career development and networking opportunities through out the year. Contact Dionysia Briscoe, DDC Coordinator, at dionysia.briscoe@bcm.edu to join the DDC mailing list for all upcoming enrichment activities.