The Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology, Second Edition, provides a comprehensive and concise reference exploring all aspects of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, including the different organs comprising the gastrointestinal system, their functions in health and disease, and strategies or procedures to resolve or prevent problems and disease.

The gastrointestinal system processes ingested food and liquid and plays a major role in regulating whether food is used as fuel or stored as fat. Few, if any, individuals will go through life without episodes of gastrointestinal (GI) disease or discomfort and globally, gastrointestinal disease is a leading cause of death. Gastrointestinal physiology and function encompass multiple organs and a huge range of diseases. This work will serve as a complete and invaluable reference for students, faculty, and medical professionals.

The fundamental concept of the Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology is to provide concise, accurate and up to date information, on all aspects of normal gastrointestinal and liver function and specific diseases, including attention to the impact of nutrition, gastrointestinal Microbiota, lifestyle, commonly used drugs and surgical procedures on health and disease.

Since the first edition, attention to the roles of nutrition and gastrointestinal microorganisms (microbiota, formerly Microbiota) in health and disease has skyrocketed. This area is expanded under a new section, "Microbiota and Parasites." Obesity and associated metabolic complications are at epidemic proportions and subject to new interventions including surgery, prebiotics and probiotics. An entire new section is added on obesity and diabetes.

The four-volume Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology will serve as an invaluable foundational reference for the broadest range of readers with and without in-depth medical training. It will be the "go to, first stop" book for any question related to Gastroenterology or Hepatology.

Ernst Kuipers (MD, PhD) trained in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology in The Netherlands. He worked as postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States. He became Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2000), Internal Medicine (2006), and Surgery (2012) of Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. His clinical and research interests include early neoplastic gastrointestinal conditions, with focus among others on colorectal cancer screening. He is fellow of the American Gastroenterology Association and a former member of the Clinical Practice Committee of this Association. He is Honorary Member of the European Helicobacter & Microbiota Study Group and is Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Society of Gastroenterology. He served as the World Endoscopy Organization’s Regional Lead on colorectal cancer screening for Europe and the Middle East.

He co-organized and contributed to various international guidelines on gastrointestinal neoplasia. He has been a member of the editorial boards of various journals including Gastroenterology, Gut, American Journal of Gastroenterology, APT, Cancer Prevention Research, and the Cochrane group for upper GI and pancreatic disorders, as well as associate editor of Gut, and Editor-in-Chief of Best Practice and Research in Clinical Gastroenterology.

He was a member of the WHO committee on H. pylori and gastric cancer, member of the European Committee on Quality Assurance in Colorectal Cancer Screening, president of the European Helicobacter Study Group, and member of a research audit committee of the Australian Commonwealth for Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSIRO. He was a member of the Advisory Council of the European Society of Digestive Oncology, and member of the General Council of the European Gastroenterology Federation. He was President of the European Helicobacter & Microbiota Study Group. In the Netherlands, he was president of the Dutch Society of Gastroenterologists, and member of the Dutch National Health Council. He served from 2013 till 2022 as CEO of Erasmus MC, a university medical institute that includes a medical school, research facilities and hospitals. As CEO, he led the transformation to a new ‘smart’ hospital that, with other leading centers, forms the European University Hospital Alliance. In addition, he chaired the board of the Dutch Federation of University Medical Centers. He also chaired the Dutch national emergency medicine network coordinating care during the covid pandemic. He also chaired the Dutch national oncology taskforce. He received various awards including the Dutch Ministry of Health Pearl award (2013), the Ismar Boas Medal of the German Society of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease (2015), the United European Gastroenterology Research Prize (2016), the Innovation Award of the German Felix Burda Society (2017), a Clinical Mentorship award by the American Gastroenterology Association (2017), the Dutch Hospital Manager of the Year award (2017), and the Rotterdam city medal (2022).

From 2022 till 2024, he served for two years as Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport of The Netherlands, focusing on an integrated care agenda facilitated by health technology. Since May 2024, Ernst Kuipers (MD, PhD) is Vice President (Research) and Distinguished University Professor at Nanyang Technology University (NTU) in Singapore.