Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit 2026

About the summit

Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit is a high-level international platform hosted by Latvia, designed to strengthen cooperation across Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and selected Mediterranean partners in healthcare, innovation, education and economic dialogue.

The Summit positions Latvia as a neutral European hub for health diplomacy, professional exchange and regional cooperation — a cross-ministerial initiative aligning healthcare priorities with foreign policy and economic development objectives.

Initial discussions with regional experts and institutions are actively underway.

The initiative is designed with long-term continuity in mind.

The Summit is structured around three core pillars:

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Pillar 1

Regional Health & NCD Cooperation

Digestive and metabolic diseases
Capacity building
Screening and prevention
Cross-border epidemiology and disease surveillance
Harmonisation of clinical guidelines across the region
Integration of traditional and evidence-based medicine

02

Pillar 2

Silk Road Microbiome & Innovation Platform

Microbiome research across Central Asia, Caucasus and Mediterranean
Traditional diets and fermented food heritage
Biotech development — probiotics, postbiotics, diagnostics
Translational medicine and digital health applications
Joint research and innovation consortia

03

Pillar 3

Health Diplomacy & Economic Dialogue

Education export
Investment in health technologies
Innovation ecosystems
Institutional cooperation
Medical tourism and patient mobility frameworks
Regulatory harmonisation and mutual recognition
Joint grant applications and funding mechanisms

Why attend

Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit is a carefully curated, high-level gathering — designed for meaningful exchange, not mass attendance. Every session, every dinner conversation, every region encounter is an opportunity to build lasting professional and institutional connections.

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For clinicians

Access the latest evidence in IBD, GI oncology, and microbiome medicine. Bring back practical tools and updated guidelines directly applicable to your practice.

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For researchers

Connect with international colleagues across the Eurasian region. Explore joint research opportunities, innovation consortia and cross-border study design.

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For policymakers

Engage with a cross-ministerial dialogue on health diplomacy, NCD cooperation and regional healthcare integration across Europe, Central Asia and the Mediterranean.

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For industry

Meet key decision-makers and thought leaders from different Eurasia countries. A focused, senior audience — no noise, direct access to markets across the Eurasian region.

Welcome messages

"It is encouraging to see Riga become a meeting point for gastroenterology expertise from Europe, Central Asia and beyond. We wish the organisers and participants a productive and inspiring summit."

Hosam Abu Meri

Minister of Health, Republic of Latvia

Summit Chair Message

"Gastroenterology in our region has a strong foundation — Latvia's biannual congress has brought together clinicians and researchers for many years. Yet the broader Eurasian conversation — spanning Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Mediterranean — has lacked a dedicated home.

I believe the time for this conversation is now. The Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit is not simply a scientific meeting — it is an attempt to build something more lasting: a network, a dialogue, and a shared commitment to better digestive health across our region.

I would be pleased to welcome you in Riga this December."

Assoc. Prof. Aleksejs Derovs

Chair, Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit Scientific Committee

Keynote speakers

Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze

Keynote Speaker

Public Health Institute of Georgia, Georgia

✦

Keynote speakers —
confirmations in progress

Preliminary programme

Preliminary programme. The final scientific programme is being developed in collaboration with the Scientific Committee and invited partners.

Day 1

Friday, 4 December 2026

Theme From Disease Burden to Better Decisions: Policy, Diagnostics and Regional Priorities

13:00–14:00Registration and networking

14:00–14:15Opening remarks

14:15–14:45Opening Keynote
Digestive Health as a Regional Public Health and Innovation Priority
Hosam Abu Meri

14:45–16:15Block I. From Disease Burden to Policy: Why Digestive Health Belongs on the Regional Agenda

14:45–15:05From National Priorities to Regional Action: Closing Gaps in Digestive Health Prevention and Care
Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, Georgia

15:05–15:25Health Diplomacy and Economic Dialogue: Building Institutional Cooperation Across Regions
Vugar Mamedov, Azerbaijan

15:25–15:45Integrating Digestive Health into Broader NCD and Public Health Strategies: The WHO Perspective
WHO Country Office in Latvia — speaker to be confirmed

15:45–16:15Moderated discussion: From National Priorities to Regional Cooperation

16:15–16:45Coffee break

16:45–18:30Block II. Beyond Routine Diagnostics: Biomarkers, Microbiome and Precision Digestive Medicine

16:45–17:10The Changing Face of Laboratory Medicine: From Conventional Testing to Molecular Biomarkers, Biobanking and Multi-Omics
Representative of Central Laboratory, Latvia — speaker to be confirmed

17:10–17:35Beyond the Microbiome Hype: Can Microbial Signatures Guide Prevention, Diagnosis and Precision Digestive Care?
Assoc. Prof. Aleksejs Derovs, Latvia

17:35–18:00Functional Bloating in the Rome V Era: Which Tests and Biomarkers Really Help?
Prof. Venera Rakhmetova, Kazakhstan

18:00–18:30Moderated discussion: From New Biomarkers to Better Clinical Decisions

18:30–19:30Networking reception and sponsor–partner interaction

Day 2

Saturday, 5 December 2026

Theme From Data to Decisions: Digital Innovation, Human Cognition and Regional Capacity

09:30–09:45Key Conclusions from Day 1

09:45–11:15Block III. Digital Health, AI and Human–Machine Decision-Making in Digestive Care

09:45–10:05Artificial Intelligence in Gastroenterology: Clinical Opportunity, Organisational Challenge or Both?

10:05–10:25Some General Reflections on Human Perception, Visual Cognition and AI in Digestive Diagnostics
Prof. Jurģis Šķilters, University of Latvia

10:25–10:45From Complex Data to Clinical Decisions: Mathematical Modelling and Data Science in Digestive Health
Representative of the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Latvia — speaker to be confirmed

10:45–11:15Discussion: When Should Clinicians Trust Data, Algorithms and Their Own Eyes?

11:15–11:45Coffee break

11:45–12:45Block IV. From Innovation to Implementation: Industry, Academia and the Public Sector

11:45–12:05MASLD/MASH as a Model for Integrated Digestive Care: Early Detection, Non-Invasive Risk Stratification and Prevention

12:05–12:25What Makes a Public–Private–Academic Partnership Credible and Sustainable?

12:25–12:45Moderated Discussion
Can Industry, Universities and Health Systems Build Shared Digestive Health Projects?

12:45–13:45Lunch and networking

13:45–15:00Block V. Preparing the Region for Tomorrow: Medical Education and Capacity Building

13:45–14:10What Should a Gastroenterologist Know in 2030? New Competencies for a Changing Specialty

14:10–14:35From Lectures to Competence: Simulation, Train-the-Trainer Models and Modern Clinical Education
Prof. A. Sedat Boyacıoğlu, Türkiye

14:35–15:00Discussion: Building Sustainable Regional Networks in Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Education, Research and Professional Mobility

15:00–15:30Coffee break

15:30–16:45Final Roundtable
From Summit to Action: Can Riga Become a Platform for Regional Digestive Health and Innovation Cooperation?

16:45–17:15Closing Conclusions
Key messages from the Summit; proposed next steps; potential working groups and pilot initiatives; future development of the Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit.

17:15–18:00Optional networking

Scientific committee ▼ show

Scientific Committee — in formation. International members currently being invited and confirmed.

Assoc. Prof. Aleksejs Derovs

Chair, Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit

Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia

Prof. Juris Pokrotnieks

Member

Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia

Prof. Venera S. Rakhmetova

Member

Astana Medical University, Kazakhstan

Prof. A. Sedat Boyacıoğlu

Member

Başkent University Medical School, Turkey

AE

Prof. Aigars Ekers

Member

University of Latvia, Latvia

GB

Prof. Gocha Barbakadze

Member

V. Iverieli Endocrinology Metabology Dietology Center, Georgia

Prof. Jurģis Šķilters

Member

University of Latvia, Latvia

Dr. med. Manik Gemilyan

Member

Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Armenia

Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze

Member

Public Health Institute of Georgia, Georgia

Prof. Ehab Abufarhaneh

Member

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mohammed Khan

Member

Makkah Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia

GS

Dr. med. Goda Sadauskaitė

Member

Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Lithuania

AN

Prof. Alexander V. Nersesov

Member

Kazakh National Medical University, Kazakhstan

Additional international members (Central Asia, Caucasus, Middle East) — to be announced

Participating countries

Engaging clinicians, researchers and institutions from across the Mediterranean, Caucasus, Middle East and Central Asia to build a trusted platform for cross-regional collaboration.

Initial focus regions include:

Latvia

Lithuania

Estonia

Kazakhstan

Turkey

Georgia

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Egypt

Lebanon

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Arabia

Partners & sponsors

Organiser

Digestive Disease Society (Latvia)

Institutional support

Ministry of Health
Republic of Latvia

Additional institutional partners — in discussion

Scientific & academic partners

Academic and institutional collaborations — in development

Event management

Event management partner

Media partners

Media partnerships — in development

Sponsors

Additional sponsors — in discussion

Media & press

Press & media enquiries

We welcome media coverage of the Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit. Press accreditation, interview requests and access to programme materials are available upon request. A press kit will be published ahead of the event.

Contact press office →

Venue

Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel, Riga

24, Kugu str., Riga, LV-1048, Latvia
Congress Hall — Ground Floor

Frequently asked questions

The official working language of the Riga–Eurasia Gut Summit is English. All sessions, presentations, and official communications will be conducted in English. Simultaneous translation may be considered upon request for an additional fee.

Participants from many countries outside the EU/Schengen area will require a visa to enter Latvia. Upon completing your registration, you may request an official invitation letter to support your visa application. Please contact us at info.gsbinvest@gmail.com with your full name, passport details, and institutional affiliation. We recommend applying for your visa at least 6–8 weeks before the event.

Registration fees can be paid by bank transfer (invoice available upon request) or by credit/debit card via our secure payment gateway. If your institution requires a formal invoice prior to payment, please contact us at info.gsbinvest@gmail.com and we will arrange this promptly.

Yes. All registered participants will receive a certificate of attendance following the event.

Yes. Groups of 5 or more participants from the same institution are eligible for a preferential rate. Please contact us directly at info.gsbinvest@gmail.com to arrange group registration and receive a tailored invoice.

Cancellations made before 1 October 2026 are eligible for a full refund minus a €25 administrative fee. Cancellations between 1 October and 1 November 2026 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be issued after 1 November 2026. Registered participants may transfer their registration to a colleague at no additional charge.

Accommodation and travel are not included in the registration fee. Registered participants will receive a link to a preferential room rate at the Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel — the venue of the Summit — as well as information on alternative accommodation nearby. Riga is well connected by air from most European and Central Asian cities.

We welcome pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, diagnostic providers, academic institutions and professional associations as partners. A sponsorship prospectus is available upon request. Please contact us at info.gsbinvest@gmail.com to discuss partnership opportunities tailored to your organisation's objectives.

Further questions can be addressed individually upon request.

In-person with limited online access	€100	€160	€230
Limited online live access	€70	€100	€140

Participation & Registration