News + Events
Nature Magazine's Outlook Section on Autoimmune Disease Sponsored by GAI
July 14, 2021
Learn more about the Global Autoimmune Institute as we explain our work, autoimmune risk factors, and research advances in the July 2021 Autoimmune Disease issue of Nature Outlook! Other articles in this issue include:
- Research round-up: autoimmune disease
- How pandemics strengthen links between viruses and autoimmunity
- Why autoimmunity is most common in women
- Gut feeling yields evidence of microbial involvement in autoimmunity
- Alopecia areata: why the battle isn’t over
- Cracking the genetic code of autoimmune disease
- Creating T cells to guard against autoimmune disease
- Bioelectronic devices could treat autoimmune disease
- How stem cells could fix type 1 diabetes
GAI Executive Director Quoted in U.S. News Health Article
May 24, 2021
Sandra Boek Werness, Executive Director of the Global Autoimmune Institute weighs in on the COVID-19 vaccine discussion.
Check out the U.S. News article “COVID-19, Vaccines and Autoimmune Diseases” to learn whether the vaccine is safe and effective for people living with autoimmune disease, and points to consider when getting the vaccine if you’re being treated for autoimmune disease!
Autoimmune Chat: Stress & Inflammation
Wednesday July 7, 2021
3:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm ET
Instagram Live
Join GAI for a conversation with Shannon Sims from Aila Health! In this chat, we discussed stress and inflammation through the chronic illness lens. We also talked about the science behind stress and mind-body medicine, as well as some practical tips for coping with stress while managing a chronic condition.
Shannon Sims holds a PhD in mind-body medicine, with personal and professional experience that emphasizes chronic illness.
The Social Impact of Celiac Disease
Tuesday, June 8th 2021
3:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm ET
Online event
Jessica Lebovits, RD, CDN, CNSC discusses the unique obstacles, attitudes, and behaviors related to dating with celiac disease and the importance of addressing these concerns.
This educational talk is approved for 1.0 CEU by the Committee on Dietetic Registration. Hosted by Dr. Schar Institute and Epicured.
Autoimmune Chat: Understanding Long COVID
Friday May 14, 2021
12:30 pm PST / 3:30 pm EST
Instagram Live
Join GAI for a conversation with Emily Taylor from Solve ME/CFS Initiative and the Long COVID Alliance! In this chat, Emily will share the latest understandings and insights relating to long COVID, symptoms, research, and more.
Telehealth Webinar
Saturday, August 29th 2020
11:00 am ET
Online event
One of the most practical applications of Telehealth is that it allows for a contact-free approach to healthcare – perfect for protecting patients and providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as Dr. Benny Kerzner and many others believe, Telehealth also has the potential to improve access to healthcare, especially for disadvantaged patients.
Dr. Kerzner is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and the Clinical Director of the Celiac Disease Clinic at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Autoimmune Researcher Dr. Noel Rose Dies
August 10, 2020
The esteemed “father of autoimmunity” has passed, but his gifts to science and research live on. Read more about his life and legacy in The Scientist.
Gluten Free Education Day 2020
Sunday, June 14th 2020
9:30 am – 3:30 pm ET
Online event
Our 2020 Washington D.C. Gluten-Free Education Day looked a little bit different this year! The Celiac Program at Children’s National Hospital and the Global Autoimmune Institute hosted a virtual education experience featuring speakers from around the United States sharing the latest research and knowledge about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.
Biennial Celiac Disease Symposium
EVENT CANCELLED!
March 6-7th, 2020
7:00 am – 5:30 pm
Faculty House
Columbia University
New York City, NY
Celiac disease, now and the future, is an international symposium hosted by the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. This is a scientific program designed for those interested in the development of non-dietary therapies for celiac disease, including physicians, scientists, industry (pharmaceutical, diagnostic, biotechnology and food & agriculture) and investor/venture capitalists.
Congressional Briefing on Celiac Disease!
Tuesday January 14th, 2020
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center – Congressional Meeting Room North (CVC 268)
Panelists, including the Celiac Group from Children’s National, spoke up about the serious need for federal funding to fuel medical research.
The session was recorded and is now available to watch!
Microbiome: Therapeutic Implications
Killarney, Ireland
October 2019 Conference
The gut microbiome is integral to our mental and physical health. Certain autoimmune diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and type 1 diabetes, exhibit microbiomes that differ from those of healthy individuals.
As microbiome research steadily increases, a massive amount of data on the communities of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that inhabit our bodies is being collected. And not surprisingly, what we’re learning as we move forward is just how much we don’t know about these organisms and the complex ecosystems they’re a part of.
How do we harness what we do know to design successful therapies that prevent and manage disease, optimizing the health of our population?
Gluten-Free Education Day and Expo
Washington, DC
Sunday October 6, 2019
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bethesda
8120 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
The annual EXPO is back! 60+ gluten-free food manufacturers and restaurants sampling the best foods on the market!
Full-day of educational sessions with forums for children and adults that focus on cooking, health and nutrition, as well as research/science concerning gluten-related conditions.
Cooking stage with gluten-free cooking lessons!
International Celiac Disease Symposium
Paris, France
September 2019 Conference
At the 2019 ICDS Conference in Paris, France, many of the foremost experts in celiac disease presented their work on various topics to rooms full of gastroenterologists, pediatricians, dieticians, and celiac-related organizations and programs. It was a packed few days, illuminating a number of controversies in the realm of celiac disease, IBS, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Celiac disease may be the most widely known autoimmune condition, but there are still many questions to be answered about genetics, microbiota, diagnostics, the gluten-free diet, and other potential treatments.
Read More
Digestive Disease Week
San Diego, CA
May 2019 Conference
The 2019 DDW Conference in San Diego, California supported the largest international gathering of top physicians, researchers, and industry leaders in the fields of gastroenterology, endoscopy, hepatology, and gastrointestinal surgery. They discussed advancements in autoimmune and other diseases related to the gastrointestinal system, as well as what the future holds for diagnosis and treatment of these types of conditions.
Digestive diseases are acute or chronic conditions involving the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. They range from autoimmune diseases like celiac and Crohn’s to pancreatic and liver cancers, Barrett’s esophagus, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Read More
Controversies in Rheumatology & Autoimmunity
Florence, Italy
March 2019 Conference
As the root cause of autoimmunity is still being explored, we are constantly examining the way this category of diseases is diagnosed, managed, and treated. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and as such, there is ample room for debates on topics like pharmaceutical drugs, diagnostic tests, and disease risk factors.
Microbes within the Host at Salk Institute
San Diego, CA
January 2019 Conference
Our understanding of the human body and the way it interacts with the environment has undergone a massive transformation in recent years. The discovery that microbes – including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites – were responsible for terrible disease, led us to wage war on pathogens and greatly improve human health. But we are now realizing that most microorganisms are not harmful and in fact, are completely essential to human life. The blooming field of microbiome science is shifting perspectives on the way we live and the way we view the natural world.