GETECCU: a comprehensive national strategy for excellence in inflammatory bowel disease

The Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU) was founded in 1990 to improve the clinical care and scientific knowledge of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain. From its origins as a clinician-driven collaborative network, GETECCU has developed into a nationally and internationally recognised platform, supporting multicentre research, quality assurance and medical education in IBD. A key achievement has been the development of ENEIDA (Estudio Nacional en Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal sobre Determinantes Genéticos y Ambientales), a nationwide prospective registry that now includes data from over 100 centres and more than 85,000 patients. ENEIDA has supported a wide range of observational studies and translational projects and has become a cornerstone of Spanish IBD research. Complementing this scientific foundation, the Certification of Units of Excellence programme for certifying IBD units - launched in 2017 - has promoted equity, quality and benchmarking of care. More than 80 units across the country are currently accredited under this system. GETECCU has also prioritised generational renewal through the GETECCU Young Group, which fosters early-career leadership in research and education. In parallel, the society has expanded its international presence, participating in ECCO and Pan-American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation, and co-leading the Five Nations initiative together with peer groups in France, Italy, Israel and Portugal. This article presents an overview of GETECCU's structure, current status and strategic directions. Looking ahead, GETECCU aims to promote research of excellence, continuous education through the translation of scientific knowledge into clinical practice, equitable access to specialised care across regions and the advancement of integrated multidisciplinary care models. GETECCU represents a well-established example of how a national academic group can evolve into a driver of innovation and quality in IBD.