At DDW 2025, results from the CDI-SCOPE trial showed that 95% of adults with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection achieved treatment success 8 weeks after receiving Rebyota (fecal microbiota, live-jslm) via colonoscopy. The trial confirmed Rebyota’s safety profile, with only mild GI-related side effects reported. Physicians also found the administration process efficient and positive. These findings support colonoscopy as a viable and effective delivery method for microbiota restoration therapy in rCDI patients.
Author: Abhay Panchal
IKS Health has partnered with GI Alliance—the largest independent GI services group in the U.S.—to create a next-generation revenue cycle management (RCM) and clinical optimization system specifically for gastroenterology. The partnership will combine AI-enabled automation with human expertise to streamline financial workflows and reduce administrative burdens for clinicians. This integration is expected to enhance operational sustainability and patient care quality across GI Alliance’s extensive network.
AI Outperformed Doctors in Cancer Communication:A study comparing ChatGPT with real physicians’ responses to patient questions on Reddit found that AI responses scored significantly higher in both quality (4.2 vs 3.0) and empathy (4.2 vs 2.0). However, physician responses were easier to read and written at a lower grade level.Stigma in Liver Disease Media Coverage: An analysis of 341 U.S. media articles from 2010–2023 found that 37% used stigmatizing terms when reporting on cirrhosis, often linking it to alcohol abuse or addiction. Researchers called for more responsible language to reduce public bias and improve health behaviors.
Elaine Bredehoft, a Collier County attorney, has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Scott Wiesen and Premier Endoscopy Center after a routine colonoscopy in 2023 allegedly led to a life-threatening injury. She claims her colon was punctured and her ovary and fallopian tube were mistakenly removed, causing severe complications and multiple surgeries. Bredehoft says she later learned the doctor may have been suffering from dementia, though his license remains active. Despite her trauma, she urges others not to fear colonoscopies, emphasizing their critical role in preventing colorectal cancer.
In a groundbreaking move, researchers in the UK have trained a generative AI model called Foresight on anonymized health records from 57 million patients within England’s NHS — the largest dataset of its kind ever used. Built to predict hospitalizations and various health conditions, the model is currently restricted to COVID-19-related research within a secure NHS environment. While early versions of Foresight showed high accuracy, the latest iteration draws on 10 billion clinical events from 2018 to 2022. Experts say this could significantly advance predictive health AI, though privacy concerns remain.
On May 6, 2025, Nerva, a leading digital therapeutic for IBS, announced the acquisition of key assets from Mahana Therapeutics, a pioneer in digital therapies for chronic conditions. This move solidifies Nerva’s leadership in app-based brain-gut therapies, aiming to improve access to evidence-based care like gut-directed hypnotherapy and CBT for IBS. Nerva will integrate Mahana’s proven CBT programs into its own platform, expanding reach and effectiveness. The acquisition follows growing support from organizations like AGA and ACG for digital therapeutics in IBS care.
Guardant Health today shared results from a 778-sample, blinded case-control study demonstrating that its methylation-based Shield™ Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD) blood test achieves:
Sheldon Taub, MD, a gastroenterologist at Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center with 45 years of experience, joined Becker’s to discuss the rewarding yet increasingly complex path of pursuing a medical career. Editor’s note: This response has been edited lightly for clarity and length. Question: If a student asked you today whether they should pursue a career in medicine, how would you advise them — and what experiences have shaped that perspective?
UCLA has received a $25 million commitment from alumna and former UCLA Foundation chair Shirley Wang and her husband, Walter, to establish the UCLA Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health, one of the nation’s first programs to offer truly holistic gastrointestinal care. Opening later this year, the center will bring together gastroenterologists, GI psychologists, specialized dietitians and integrative health practitioners—using evidence-based approaches such as diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness and self-compassion training—alongside nutrition and psychology services, all coordinated by dedicated care managers.
Geneoscopy co-founders Andrew Barnell, MBA, and Erica Barnell, M.D., Ph.D., have been named finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2025 Heartland Award, which honors leaders of high-growth, innovative companies in the Midwest. Under their leadership, St. Louis–based Geneoscopy has developed ColoSense®, an FDA-approved, non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test based on stool-derived RNA biomarkers, and is expanding its pipeline into inflammatory bowel disease diagnostics.