The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) is thrilled to announce Marcel Schneider from the Department of Surgery at University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, as the winner of the 2nd Annual Young ISDE Dragon’s Den competition. Marcel presented his proposal on “Revisional Surgery for Functional Syndromes after Esophagectomy,” a topic that addresses a critical aspect of patient care for those undergoing complex esophageal surgeries. The winning proposal received complimentary 1-year membership, registration to the 21st ISDE World Congress in Brisbane, Australia and a travel grant of $2500 to support their travel to Australia.
The Young ISDE Dragon’s Den competition took place at the 20th ISDE World Congress, held in Edinburgh on September 22, 2024. Five young researchers and clinicians took the stage to present their projects to a live audience and a panel of experts in the field of esophageal diseases. The panel, also known as the "dragons," evaluated each proposal, questioning participants on their approach, methodology, and potential impact.
2024 Panel of Dragons:
1. Professor Magnus Nilsson – Professor of Surgery and Head of the Division of Surgery and Oncology at CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2. Professor Daniela Molena – Director of the Esophageal Program, Thoracic Surgery Division, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States
3. Associate Professor Joy Chang – Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, United States
4. Professor Ewen Griffiths – Consultant Upper GI and General Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
5. Associate Professor Sarah Thompson – Academic Surgeon, Flinders University, Australia
Innovation at the Forefront: An Impressive Lineup of Proposals
In addition to Marcel’s winning presentation, other proposals captivated the dragons and audience alike including:
- Optimizing Gastro-Esophageal Cancer Detection – A multicenter discrete-choice experiment presented by Stijn Vanstraelen from Belgium
- Assessing HER2 Status in Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma and Its Impact on Patient Clinicopathological Outcomes (HERA) presented by Nicola Raftery from Ireland
- Complication Prediction by Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing After Esophagectomy for Cancer: A Machine Learning Analysis (COMPETE) presented by Ward Seurs from Belgium
- A Novel Integrated Approach to Describe Patients Along a Spectrum of Esophageal Dysmotility presented by Ashton Ellison from the United States
Each of these promising projects showcased innovative approaches to the challenges faced in esophageal disease treatment and diagnosis.
Looking Ahead: Building on Success
The session concluded with an update from Dr. Xuefeng Leng, the 2023 Young ISDE Dragon’s Den winner, who shared progress on his project, “Development of a Predictive Model for Prognostic and Recurrent Risk Factors in Esophageal Cancer: Integrating Modern Treatment Approaches.” Dr. Leng’s insights underscored the ongoing impact of the Young ISDE Dragon's Den, as each year’s winning projects continue to advance research and understanding within the field.
Congratulations to Marcel Schneider and all participants for their inspiring contributions! The ISDE eagerly anticipates seeing how these young leaders will drive progress in esophageal health and patient care in the coming years.
Shark Tank 2025 (aka, the new Dragon’s Den)
The Young ISDE committee eagerly look forward to seeing you all in Brisbane 2025 for another display of high calibre research being conducted on the international stage. Next year, there is a twist. Whilst dragons are abound in the northern hemisphere, sharks lurk awaiting on the shores of Australia. We will see you for Shark Tank 2025 down under!
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