My illustration was selected for the April 2026 cover of Gastroenterology, one of the world’s leading medical journals for digestive diseases, amongst other talented illustrators from around the world.
The illustration translates a research study on genetic risk and disease severity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) into a visual story. The higher the genetic risk, the greater the chance of a severe disease course — with hospitalizations, medication and surgery becoming part of the journey.
I visualized this as a DNA strand growing out from an intestine, rising higher and higher. Between its twists, pills, medication bags and surgical instruments appear as symbols of the treatments and challenges that can accompany a more severe disease course.
Gastroenterology, Volume 170, Issue 4, April 2026.
Client
PREDICT - Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Idea & illustration
Sabrina Hjort
Year
2026
