A new analysis from Becker’s ASC Review captures a moment of quiet recalibration in weight management, as the explosive rise of GLP-1 medications reshapes volumes, patient pathways, and long-term strategy for ASCs and GI practices. On the surface, the data tells a stark story: surgical volumes are down while pharmacologic therapy surges. But look closer, and the relationship is far more entangled than a simple replacement narrative. Patients are increasingly moving between surgery and GLP-1s, not choosing one over the other — sometimes before surgery, sometimes after, and often when expected outcomes fall short. At the same time, policy signals…
Author: Abhay Panchal
32 Biosciences is set to debut a $40 million Series A raise at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, betting on a largely underexplored target in gastroenterology: the gut mucosal–immune interface. At the center of its strategy is a first-in-class mucosal-immune modulator designed not to suppress inflammation broadly, but to buffer and protect the gut barrier itself — an approach that reframes how surgical complications and chronic GI diseases might be prevented upstream. The initial focus is GI surgical site infections, but the implications stretch well beyond the operating room. What makes this raise notable isn’t just the asset entering the…
Daisy Genomics and New Day Diagnostics have announced a research collaboration that brings together two very different bets on early cancer detection: liquid biopsy and physics-based sequencing. The goal isn’t just better data — it’s removing long-standing bottlenecks that have limited how early, scalable, and affordable CRC screening can truly be. At the center of the effort is direct detection of epigenetic signals, including tumor-specific DNA methylation markers, without relying on traditional chemical amplification or sequencing workflows. If successful, this approach could reshape assumptions about what’s required to detect colorectal cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages. What makes this…
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and United Digestive have entered a new multi-year agreement that keeps United Digestive’s practices in-network for Anthem members across Georgia — but the implications go beyond network stability. Behind the announcement is a deeper alignment around how gastrointestinal care is delivered: integrated practice models, data-driven colorectal cancer prevention, and tighter digital connectivity aimed at reducing administrative friction. The partnership signals a shift from transactional contracting toward shared bets on access, outcomes, and operational efficiency at scale. What’s particularly notable is how United Digestive is positioning itself — not just as a provider group, but…
Researchers at Sinai Health have uncovered evidence that the immune system may signal Crohn’s disease long before diagnosis — quietly, invisibly, and well ahead of clinical symptoms. A simple blood test, they suggest, may be able to identify this risk in otherwise healthy individuals. The clue lies in how the immune system reacts to flagellin, a protein found on common gut bacteria. In a large, long-running cohort study of people with a family history of Crohn’s, elevated immune responses to this bacterial protein appeared years before disease onset. That timing challenges a long-held assumption: that immune dysfunction follows inflammation, rather…
In a deeply personal reflection spanning three generations of gastroenterologists, Dr. Sameer Berry argues that today’s GI practice bears little resemblance to what many physicians trained for. What once felt relational and manageable has evolved into a daily exercise in capacity constraints, reimbursement pressure, and administrative overload. Physician shortages are no longer a future risk — they are actively reshaping access, burnout, referral networks, and practice economics. Recruitment is slowing just as patient demand and clinical complexity accelerate, forcing practices into reactive modes that quietly erode growth and continuity of care. Technology alone, Berry suggests, won’t break this cycle. Instead,…
Watch this recap of The Scope Forward Show 2025 (Season 5) — a collection of the most in-depth conversations shaping the future of gastroenterology. To our guests: thank you for your honesty, generosity, and leadership. Your willingness to speak openly has helped make The Scope Forward Show a defining voice in GI over the last five years. Watch it here. Featured guests:Dr. Michael Dragutsky (Chairman, OneGI), Dr. Brennan Spiegel (Author, VRx), Bill Snyder (Founder and CEO, Cylinder), Asaf Kraus (Founder, Dieta Health), Dr. Casey Chapman (CMO, GI Alliance), Dr. Jonathan Ng (Founder, Iterative Health), Dr. Neil Parekh (CIO, GI Alliance), Matt Schwartz (Founder, Virgo), Leo Grady, PhD…
This edition of Sharma’s Endoscopy Insights highlights two key findings in colonoscopy practice. First, augmented reality (AR)–assisted endoscopy shows promise in improving procedural efficiency and reducing ergonomic injuries, as AR headsets can help endoscopists maintain a neutral posture during procedures. Second, a U.S. study found that patients with a positive stool-based screening test (FIT or multitarget stool DNA/Cologuard) have a higher prevalence of advanced adenomas throughout the colon, including a notably increased rate of right-sided advanced serrated polyps, reinforcing the importance of thorough colonoscopic evaluation after positive stool tests.
Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has transformed gastroenterology since the early 2000s by enabling noninvasive visualization of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the small intestine—an area traditionally difficult to examine with conventional endoscopy. Conceptualized in the 1980s by Gavriel Iddan and Eitan Scapa in Israel and advanced in parallel by Paul Swain in the UK, WCE brought Richard Feynman’s idea of “swallowing the surgeon” closer to reality. The first FDA-approved capsule, PillCam SB1 (2001), demonstrated the feasibility of complete small-bowel imaging and rapidly expanded clinical use beyond obscure GI bleeding to include Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, small-bowel tumors, and iron deficiency anemia.…
A single-center study suggests that a saline-immersion/irrigation technique (SITE) combined with the pocket-creation method (PCM) can significantly improve outcomes in colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Key findings: Why it matters:SITE-ESD improves visualization and procedural stability by replacing intraluminal gas with saline irrigation, enabling safer and more effective en bloc resection of complex lesions. The approach may reduce the need for general anesthesia and surgery while maintaining high curative outcomes. Limitations:Results are from a single center, follow-up was available for only 58.8% of patients, and resection speed was modest due to lesion complexity. Bottom line:SITE-ESD appears to be a safe, effective,…