Enrichment Program

Summary The San Diego Digestive Diseases Research Center (SDDRC) has the overall mission to foster basic, translational and clinical research for improving the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal and liver diseases. The Enrichment Program supports this mission by promoting scientific exchange among investigators with research interests within the field and enhancing their interactions with investigators from other fields. Over the past four years since its inception, the SDDRC has witnessed substantial enthusiasm for the events organized by the Enrichment Core, demonstrated by the consistently high turnout of attendees and the positive feedback received. The Program will continue in its efforts to initiate and coordinate a range of educational activities, including monthly research seminars and an annual Center symposium to provide state- of-the-art overviews in key research areas, catalyze interdisciplinary interactions, showcase early-stage investigators, and inform the Center membership about Core services and opportunities. The Program helps to integrate trainees into the activities of the Center and promotes the development of the next generation of digestive diseases researchers through organizing workshops and career development events. Moreover, the Program aims to engage and educate the public on issues of digestive health and to generate the awareness and support needed to sustain research funding in digestive diseases. Importantly, most of the educational events are entirely initiated and coordinated by the Center, so they would not exist without the efforts of the Enrichment Program.