Report from the GRG President

As the not so newly elected President of the Gastroenterology Research Group (GRG), I would like to take this opportunity to update the readership of Digestive Diseases and Sciences (DDS), including members of the GRG, on recent events. For the past year, the GRG Steering Committee and I have been focusing on exciting new changes in the administration and operations of the GRG Symposium, the GRG Young Investigator Awards, and the GRG Travel Awards. In fact, by now, members of the GRG have likely received a letter from me outlining these new administration and operational changes and have voted to accept the resolution presented to the membership. For those of you who have not seen my earlier letter, let me update you on what has taken place recently. As you know, the GRG was established in 1955 by Drs. Basil I. Hirschowitz, E.C. Texter, and Joseph B. Kirsner with the goal of ‘‘providing a forum where ideas could be freely exchanged and new research stimulated’’. The formation of the GRG was a response to AGA President Dwight Wilber’s 1954 Presidential address that highlighted the need to encourage more research in digestive diseases. Thus, from its inception, the goals of the GRG have been closely intertwined with those of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). To date, the GRG Symposium continues to provide such a scientific forum for discussion and the generation of new research ideas during Digestive Disease Week. Moreover, the central mission of today’s GRG is to foster, support, and promote young investigators (physicians-scientists and doctoral scientists). This is exemplified by the numerous GRG-sponsored activities including the Young Investigator Awards (Basic and Clinical Science), GRG Travel Awards, and the Methodologies in Health Outcomes in Gastroenterology course. Young investigators, one of our most important resources, represent the future of research in gastroenterology and hepatology. Unfortunately, the past few years have seen a steady decline in the operating budget of the GRG. One element of this decrease in budget is a decline in membership dues that does not appear to be due to waning interest in the GRG, since a large number of AGA investigators take pride in identifying themselves as GRG members, but rather due to increasing financial constraints on discretionary funds available to investigators. Furthermore, a substantial decline in industry support has also eliminated a source of revenue for the GRG operating budget. Thus, the operating budget of the GRG has steadily declined due to a lack of revenue and the increased expenses associated with maintaining the organization’s dues-based membership. In order for the GRG to maintain solvency so that it can promote its missions and goals, the AGA has accepted a proposal from the GRG to take over the administrative functions of the organization, which necessitated our restructuring. As part of this restructuring, the GRG will retain our name, our brand, our relationship with DDS, and our continued existence as an organization, but without a duesbased membership. The Steering Committee will continue to organize (topic and speaker selection) the GRG Spring Symposium, and the organization will continue to provide financial support for the GRG Spring Symposium. We will continue to select and support the Young Investigator Awards and the Fellow Travel Awards. Through the R. F. Souza (&) Gastroenterology Research Group, VA North Texas Health Care System-Dallas and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA e-mail: rhonda.souza@verizon.net