Talia Malik and Dr. Dua Win Mel Schapiro Award and VideoGIE Best of the Best at DDW 2026

Talia Malik, MD, a gastroenterology fellow and WIRE Mentee working under the mentorship of WIRE Faculty Investigator Dr. Kulwinder Dua, has won the Mel Schapiro Award and the VideoGIE Best of the Best award at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 in Chicago. The Mel Schapiro Award recognizes the top video submission to DDW, and their presentation — "Regrowing the Human Esophagus In Vivo with Endoscopic Bioengineering" — was selected from more than 800 abstract submissions. The abstract was simultaneously recognized as a VideoGIE Best of the Best selection.

The case presented represents only the second published case of regeneration of the human esophagus. The first was published by Dr. Dua in The Lancet in 2016, using a hybrid endoscopic and surgical approach. This case marks a significant advance — the first time esophageal regeneration has been achieved solely via endoscopic technique, without any surgical component.

These awards are among the most competitive honors at DDW, and this recognition reflects the strength of the collaboration between WIRE's faculty and trainees. It also underscores the institute's commitment to mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists — ensuring that trainees are not just participants in research, but leaders of nationally recognized work.

WIRE congratulates Dr. Malik and Dr. Dua on this outstanding achievement.