Message from the re-elected President of ISSCD, Bob Anderson

25 September 2024 | News

20th International Celiac Disease Symposium, Sheffield

The biennial ICDS is the largest celiac disease focused meeting and attendance provides a unique opportunity for global networking as well re-focusing priorities shaped by updated research and expert opinion. ICDS held in Sheffield this September was a great success drawing together the community of clinicians, scientists, advocacy groups and industry, focused on advancing the understanding and management of celiac disease.

The ISSCD Board congratulate the Sheffield ICDS local organising team including:

David Sanders

Nigel Hoggard

Marios Hadjivassiliou

Nick Trott

Research highlights shared at ICDS Sheffield included new approaches using organoids and single cell gene and protein profiling to study cellular events linking the immune response to gluten with injury in the gut. Oral presentations describing the use of interleukin-2 in blood induced by gluten ingestion showed this new approach may in the future be applied to reassessing gluten standards in food and in diagnosis. Data from the Norwegian HUNT Study reminded us that still three quarters of individuals affected by celiac disease remain undiagnosed even in countries with “high” awareness.

The ICDS also provided the venue for many significant satellite meetings including the newly formed ISSCD committees:

Directions

The role of the Committee is to advance the ISSCD’s Objectives in relation to promoting scientific knowledge, education and quality of care of patients with non-responsive celiac disease and ongoing symptoms.

ICDS

The first ICDS Committee has been established under the Chair of Riccardo Troncone and comprises of experts in clinical and scientific knowledge of celiac disease and patient association representatives with the objective of supporting all relevant aspects of the organisation of the International Celiac Disease Symposium.

LASSCD

The mission of LASSCD is to enhance knowledge and understanding of celiac disease within Latin America, by promoting the establishment of specialized diagnostic and treatment centres, facilitating research endeavours, and informing on the best clinical care for celiac disease patients. LASSCD serves as a bridge between the medical and scientific communities in Latin America and ISSCD, striving to advance collaboration and exchange of expertise for the benefit of celiac disease patients across the region.

The “Global Celiac Disease” satellite symposium hosted by the ISSCD, SSCD and ESSCD, and launching of B4CeD as a specialist ISSCD Committee to address early events in childhood leading to the development of celiac disease.

The ISSCD Board shared its vision with members during a dedicated hour long session. ISSCD has become more active and engaging while doubling its global membership to more than 700 since the Sorrento ICDS in 2022. A highlight of ICDS for me was to hear directly from members their positive feedback on the new developments at ISSCD.

We celebrated the founding members of ISSCD:

Nadine Cerf-Bensussan

Stefano Guandalini

Frits Koning

Knut Lundin

Markku Maki

Chris Mulder

Ludvig Sollid

Inaugural ISSCD – Celiac Disease Foundation Fellowship

Marilyn Geller and Dr Fleur du Pre on stage.

Marilyn Geller, CEO of the Celiac Disease Foundation, USA, awarded the inaugural ISSCD-CDF Fellowship to Dr Fleur du Pre, Norwegian Coeliac Disease Research Centre, University of Oslo and Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. Dr du Pre will be carrying out a project exploring B-cell T-cell cross talk in celiac disease. Together we congratulate Dr du Pre and look forward to sharing updates on her research in the coming months and years.

The successful awardees for the second ISSCD Mentees-in-Mentorship (M-in-M) program supported by an educational grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals were also announced. You can read more about this on the website.

Results of the ISSCD Board elections held a week earlier at the General Assembly were also announced: Iris Jonkers as the President-Elect, myself as President, and we welcomed new Board Members Govind Makharia (India) and Jernej Dolinsek (Slovenia); Edwin Liu, Ludvig Sollid, and Heidi Urwin (Executive Director) will continue as Board Members. The Board confirmed Fabiana Zingone as Treasurer and Elena Verdu as Secretary.

I left ICDS Sheffield convinced that high quality research led by members of ISSCD and our partners in patient groups and industry will soon markedly reshape the management of celiac disease. I also reflected the speed of this change is dependent on how well we can effectively advocate for change together! Don’t forget to save the date for ICDS Melbourne, 2026.

Bob Dr Robert P Anderson
President (Queensland, Australia)