The International Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (ISSCD) is a non-profit organisation of professionals working in the field of celiac disease and gluten-mediated human disease. The ISSCD’s flagship biennial event is the International Celiac Disease Symposium (ICDS) held globally every 2 years. The International Coeliac Disease Symposium is unique in bringing together so many clinicians and researchers from a wide array of disciplines. Medics, scientists, dietitians and agricultural experts to name just a few.

In 2024 this elite symposium was helf in Sheffield in the UK and our research team had the honour of presenting three pieces of research at the symposium. Laura Burrowes and Sarah Keogh presented two papers on Oat Sensitivity in People with Coeliac Disease in Ireland and one on the Symptom Prevalence in Newly Diagnosed Coeliac Society Members. All papers were very well received, generating great engagement from delegates at the conference. Our research team is highly regarded in international coeliac disease research circles, which is high praise indeed!

We took home several key learnings from the conference:

• Genetic Understanding and Therapies: Enormous steps have been made in understanding the genetic basis of coeliac disease particularly with respect to the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes, which are linked to the disease. Research is now progressing into gene therapies, which could potentia ly offer new avenues of treatment.
• Pharmaceutical Treatments for Gluten Exposure: Several large pharmaceutical companies are currently developing treatments aimed at aleviating symptoms when a person with coeliac disease is accidenta ly exposed to gluten. These treatments could offer significant relief and improve quality of life.
• Need for National Screening Programs: Many clinical presentations highlighted the importance of implementing national screening programmes for coeliac disease, emphasising early diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. The cal for national screening programs for coeliac disease has been strongly emphasised in recent conferences. Early screening is crucial for improving diagnosis rates, given that many individuals remain undiagnosed. Several countries are considering or have implemented screening programs, for example Finland, Italy & Spain. The Coeliac Society recently made a submission to the National Screen Advisory Committee caling for a paediatric screening programme in Ireland. This call was rejected, but we are in the process of preparing an appeal to this decision.
• Increasing Awareness Among Health Professionals and the Public: A strong emphasis was placed on raising awareness among GPs, practice nurses, and the wider public about coeliac disease as greater knowledge in primary care can lead to faster diagnosis and better patient outcomes .
• Transition from Paediatric to Adult Care: The transition from paediatric to adult care remains a key area of concern. The symposium highlighted best practices to ensure that young coeliac patients continue to receive proper management as they move into adulthood. Establishing clear care pathways during this critical period is essential to prevent gaps in care and ensure ongoing adherence to the gluten-free diet . If this is an area of concern to you as a parent, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and our team to help.

As a flagship event in the field of coeliac disease, the ICDS serves as a vital meeting place for those dedicated to improving the quality of care and advancing research on gluten-mediated conditions. This year’s symposium in Sheffield was a special occasion, with the next event set to take place in Melbourne, Australia, in 2026.