History and Purpose of APDW Lectureships
APDW lectureships were established to honour distinguished figures in the field of gastroenterology and to disseminate state-of-the-art knowledge among professionals. These lectureships serve as platforms for recognising significant contributions to the field and for inspiring ongoing research and clinical excellence.
Notable Lectureships:
JGHFoundation-APDWF Okuda State-of-the-Art Lectureship
Named in honour of the late Dr. Kunio Okuda, a pioneer in hepatology, this lectureship features presentations by leading experts on advancements in liver disease research.
Dr Vincent Wong
Vincent Wong holds the position of Mok Hing Yiu Professor of Medicine and serves as the head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research primarily revolves around viral hepatitis and steatotic liver disease, with a particular focus on the development and application of non-invasive tests for screening, diagnosis and prognostication. Notably, he contributed to the writing committee responsible for formulating the guidelines of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver, American Gastroenterological Association and the European Association for the Study of the Liver. He has authored more than 650 publications in international medical journals. His h-index by Google Scholar is 135 as of March 2025. He holds the position of associate editor for the Journal of Hepatology and serves as an editorial board member for renowned publications such as Gastroenterology, JHEP Reports, and Clinical and Molecular Hepatology.
JGHFoundation-APDWF Marshall & Warren Luminal Gastroenterology Lectureship
This lectureship honors Professors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, Nobel Laureates who discovered the link between Helicobacter pylori and peptic ulcer disease. It focuses on groundbreaking contributions to luminal gastroenterology.
Prof Khay-Guan Yeoh
Khay Guan Yeoh is the Kishore Mahbubani Professor in Medicine and Health Policy at the National University of Singapore and Senior Consultant at the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital. He is concurrently Chief Executive of the National University Health System.
Dr Yeoh’s research interest is in enhancing the early detection of gastric and colorectal cancers. He is the Lead Principal Investigator of the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium, a national flagship research group, which aims to improve the outcomes for gastric cancer by early detection, improving treatment and advancing the understanding of gastric carcinogenesis. He has published over 220 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and has an H-index of 65 with over 13,300 citations. He was awarded the National Medical Excellence Award as Outstanding Clinician Scientist by the Ministry of Health, Singapore in 2013, and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2022.
APAGE-WGO Global Distinguished Lectureship
Prof Varocha Mahachai
Prof.Varocha Mahachai is a Past-President of the Gastroenterological Association Thailand. She is currently an academic advisor at Center of Excellence in Digestive Diseases, Thammasat University and Science Research and Innovation. She now serves a Council member, Chair APAGE/JGH Foundation Award Committee, Asian-Pacific Gastroenterological Association (APAGE). Dr.Mahachai is also a member of WGO Governing Council, Chair on promotion of education in the Asia-Pacific region and appointed a nominations committee (2024 – 2025) World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO). In addition, she is a corresponding fellow in Asia for the European Helicobacter Study Group and a member (President) of the Asean Stomach and Microbiota Study Group. Her major interests include all areas of digestive systems in GI, Hepatology, Endoscopy with special interests on UGI disorders, Helicobacter pylori, GERD, Esophageal cancer, Colon cancer, IBS, constipation, IBD and digestive health and microbiota research.
APAGE-WGO Global Distinguished Lectureship
The World Gastroenterological Organisation (WGO)’ s aim of the WGO Distinguished
Global Lecture is to contribute to the education and training in Asian Pacific region
among other regions through the annual APDW Congress co-organized by the Asian
Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE).
Prof Varocha Mahachai
Prof.Varocha Mahachai is a Past-President of the Gastroenterological Association Thailand. She is currently an academic advisor at Center of Excellence in Digestive Diseases, Thammasat University and Science Research and Innovation. She now serves a Council member, Chair APAGE/JGH Foundation Award Committee, Asian-Pacific Gastroenterological Association (APAGE). Dr.Mahachai is also a member of WGO Governing Council, Chair on promotion of education in the Asia-Pacific region and appointed a nominations committee (2024 – 2025) World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO). In addition, she is a corresponding fellow in Asia for the European Helicobacter Study Group and a member (President) of the Asean Stomach and Microbiota Study Group. Her major interests include all areas of digestive systems in GI, Hepatology, Endoscopy with special interests on UGI disorders, Helicobacter pylori, GERD, Esophageal cancer, Colon cancer, IBS, constipation, IBD and digestive health and microbiota research.
APDWF – JGHF Emerging Leaders Lectureship
This initiative recognises outstanding early-career researchers and clinicians making significant contributions to gastroenterology and hepatology, providing them with a platform to share their research with the global medical community. Click here for more information on lectureship, manuscript requirements and past award recipients.
Impact of APDW Lectureships
These lectureships have significantly contributed to the advancement of gastroenterology and hepatology by:
- Highlighting cutting-edge research and clinical practices.
- Fostering international collaboration among professionals.
- Inspiring emerging leaders in the field.
These lectureships recognise and celebrate significant contributions to the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology, providing a platform for experts to share their knowledge and inspire ongoing advancements in digestive health.
