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Young Investigator Award (YIA)

The Award that Brings You onto an International Stage

One key feature of IDDF is the Young Investigator Award, which provides a platform specifically for young investigators to share their research and thus gain recognition. Authors of the abstracts with the highest scores in both gastroenterology and hepatology present their work at the Young Investigator Award session. A panel of adjudicators composed of eminent international experts provides critical feedback to the participants.

The presentations are assessed according to the importance of the research question, the strength of the research methodology, the quality of the results, the clarity of the presentation, and the scientific impact of the research. Over the past five years, abstract submission numbers have risen from 68 in 2014 to 425 in 2019, an increase of 625 per cent. The continuous growth of the entry submissions in the past years is significant and fast-paced and responds to one of the most critical missions of IDDF: to nurture young investigators by providing them international exchange opportunities.

Message from our past Winners

To be honoured with the GUT-IDDF Young Investigator Award twice—in 2024 and again in 2026—is beyond my expectations. I am profoundly grateful to my mentors for their guidance, my peers for their collaboration, and the committee for this incredible recognition. This award is not merely a personal achievement but a call to give back, to inspire others, and to push the boundaries of gastroenterology.

Winner
Yi Hu (China),
IDDF 2026

Attending IDDF 2026 was truly unforgettable. Presenting my work and exchanging ideas with leading experts was inspiring. I am deeply honored to receive the GUT-IDDF Young Investigator Award. This recognition is a tremendous encouragement for our research. The warm conversations at IDDF 2026 made me motivated to pursue innovative research and strengthen connections within the IDDF community.

First Runner-up
Zhi-Qiang Hu (China),
IDDF 2026

It is an honor that my basic research on gastrointestinal tumors was shortlisted for the YIA. My sincere thanks to the organizers for this prestigious platform for young GI researchers. This award is both a personal milestone and strong motivation to advance digestive disease research. I hope my experience encourages fellow young investigators to pursue scientific curiosity with determination.

Second Runner-up
Dayi Liang (China),
IDDF 2026

List of Past Winners

Years
Winner
Runners-up
2026
Yi HU (China)
Zhiqiang HU (China)
Dayi LIANG (China)
2025
Ying ZHANG (China)
Xiao DING (China)
Cheng-Hao KUO (Taiwan)
2024
Yinghong LU (China)
Yi HU (China)
Natsumi MAEDA (Japan)
Xiangyu ZHAO (China)
2023
Sj Sijie SHEN (Australia)
Danyu CHEN (Hong Kong)
Jiang LIU (Hong Kong)
Heng-Min XU (China)
2022
Sj Sijie SHEN (Australia)
Hai-ning LIU (China)
Qian SONG (Hong Kong)
Terry Cheuk-fung YIP (Hong Kong)
2021
Hye-won LEE (Korea)
Olabisi Oluwabukola COKER (Hong Kong)
Xiaoyu LIU (Hong Kong)
Terry Cheuk-fung YIP (Hong Kong)
2020
Nurulamin NOOR (United Kingdom)
Ken LIU (Australia)
Tsz Tung KWONG (Hong Kong)
2019
Chieh-chang CHEN (Taiwan)
Jeanine ARKENBOSCH (The Netherlands)
Vinay SASTRY (Australia)
2018
Lixia XU (China)
Jing LIU (China)
Jonathan SEGAL (United Kingdom)
2017
Po-yuen CHEN (Taiwan)
Seung-hwa LEE (Korea)
Yanna LIU (China)
2016
Ritesh PRAJAPATI (India)
Mohsin ASLAM (India)
Po-yueh CHEN (Taiwan)
2015
Nir SALOMON (Israel)
Jyh-ming LIOU (Taiwan)
Tung-hung SU (Taiwan)
2014
Wonseok KANG (Korea)
Yao-Chun HSU (Taiwan)
Nir SALOMON (Israel)
2013
Xiaolong QI (China)
Seung Up KIM (Korea)
Yanna KO (Australia)
2012
Chung-feng HUANG (Taiwan)
Lucy LIM (Australia)
Chieh-chang CHEN (Taiwan)
2026
Winner
Yi HU (China)
Runners-up
Zhiqiang HU (China)
Dayi LIANG (China)
2025
Winner
Ying ZHANG (China)
Runners-up
Xiao DING (China)
Cheng-Hao KUO (Taiwan)
2024
Winner
Yinghong LU (China)
Runners-up
Yi HU (China)
Natsumi MAEDA (Japan)
Xiangyu ZHAO (China)
2023
Winner
Sj Sijie SHEN (Australia)
Runners-up
Danyu CHEN (Hong Kong)
Jiang LIU (Hong Kong)
Heng-Min XU (China)
2022
Winner
Sj Sijie SHEN (Australia)
Runners-up
Hai-ning LIU (China)
Qian SONG (Hong Kong)
Terry Cheuk-fung YIP (Hong Kong)
2021
Winner
Hye-won LEE (Korea)
Runners-up
Olabisi Oluwabukola COKER (Hong Kong)
Xiaoyu LIU (Hong Kong)
Terry Cheuk-fung YIP (Hong Kong)
2020
Winner
Nurulamin NOOR (United Kingdom)
Runners-up
Ken LIU (Australia)
Tsz Tung KWONG (Hong Kong)
2019
Winner
Chieh-chang CHEN (Taiwan)
Runners-up
Jeanine ARKENBOSCH (The Netherlands)
Vinay SASTRY (Australia)
2018
Winner
Lixia XU (China)
Runners-up
Jing LIU (China)
Jonathan SEGAL (United Kingdom)
2017
Winner
Po-yuen CHEN (Taiwan)
Runners-up
Seung-hwa LEE (Korea)
Yanna LIU (China)
2016
Winner
Ritesh PRAJAPATI (India)
Runners-up
Mohsin ASLAM (India)
Po-yueh CHEN (Taiwan)
2015
Winner
Nir SALOMON (Israel)
Runners-up
Jyh-ming LIOU (Taiwan)
Tung-hung SU (Taiwan)
2014
Winner
Wonseok KANG (Korea)
Runners-up
Yao-Chun HSU (Taiwan)
Nir SALOMON (Israel)
2013
Winner
Xiaolong QI (China)
Runners-up
Seung Up KIM (Korea)
Yanna KO (Australia)
2012
Winner
Chung-feng HUANG (Taiwan)
Runners-up
Lucy LIM (Australia)
Chieh-chang CHEN (Taiwan)