Bonfiglio F, et al. - This research was carried out in order to exploit the existing genetic (genotype) and epidemiological (questionnaire) data from a series of population-based cohorts for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and their meta-analysis. Experts selected 1,335 IBS cases and 9,768 asymptomatic individuals from 5 independent European genotyped cohorts. The feasibility of population-based studies for gene-discovery efforts in IBS was affirmed. Findings detected the risk genes and loci to be prioritized in independent follow-ups and pinpointed ion channels as vital players and potential therapeutic targets.