Vito Annese, born the 31 of May 1957 in Italy, achieved his medical degree in 1981,and the specialization in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine in 1985 and 1990, respectively. Since 1985 staff member of Gastroenterology at the Research Hospital of S. Giovanni Rotondo. In the 1989 spent one year fellowship at the University Hospital of Leuven, Belgium. From the 2000 chief of Endoscopy and IBD Unit, and from 2006 head of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy first in S. Giovanni Rotondo and then (2009) in Florence. His initial field of interest was physiopathology and G-I motility and is still actively working in research studies for esophageal achalasia. Since over 20 years the main interest is the field of IBD, with many pubblications and active research in medical therapy and especially genetics. He is active member of ECCO with active interest in the development of new guidelines.