Bangkok, Thailand – Members of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) represented Indonesia as official delegates at the 5ᵗʰ ASEAN Gastroenterology International Conference (ASEAN Gastro 2025), themed “Advancing Gastroenterology and Microbiota: Precision Medicine for a Global Future”. The prestigious scientific conference was held from October 31 to November 2, 2025, at Pullman Bangkok King Power, Thailand, serving as an essential platform for gastroenterology experts across Southeast Asia to exchange knowledge, present recent research findings, and strengthen regional scientific collaboration.

During the meeting, Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, MD, MMB, PhD, FACP, FACG, as President of the Indonesian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG), delivered a lecture in the Gastroenterology Session titled “Gastroenterology in Transition: From Acid Control to Microbiome in Medicine”. In his presentation, Prof. Ari discussed recent advancements in the management of gastrointestinal diseases in Indonesia and the direction of gastroenterology toward the era of precision medicine grounded in microbiome-based understanding.

Furthermore, Prof. Muhammad Miftahussurur, MD, PhD, MPH, actively participated in two major scientific sessions, namely:

• Meet the Professor Tables on “Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults: What is Really Going On,” together with Andrew Chan (USA) and Ratha-korn Vilaichone (Thailand); and
• ASMG and HSI Joint Meeting: Global Shifts in H. pylori and Gastric Cancer Management, where Prof. Miftahussurur served as moderator alongside Prof. Varocha Mahachai (Thailand).

Both sessions highlighted global issues surrounding the growing antibiotic resistance of H. pylori, evidence-based management strategies, and updated international consensus on H. pylori eradication as a preventive measure against gastric cancer.

One of the important events during the conference was the ASEAN Gastro Network (AGN) Founding Session, a forum established to strengthen collaboration among young gastroenterologists across the ASEAN region. Representing Indonesia and ISG, Dr. Muhammad Firhat Idrus, participated in the forum, not only contributing to the establishment of the network but also delivering a scientific presentation highlighting the current landscape, challenges, and opportunities for gastroenterology collaboration in Indonesia.

The active participation of ISG members in this international scientific forum underscores ISG’s commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s role in the global gastroenterology community, empowering the younger generation to contribute at the international academic level, and advancing collaborative research toward the development of sustainable precision medicine in the future.