The Global Autoimmune Institute facilitates conversations with leading experts and researchers to share insights, updates, and real-world perspectives on autoimmune disease.
The Decision Makers
In this short film, Dr. Sam Myers shares his work on immune cell decision-making and how GAI’s support has fueled his career and discoveries in autoimmune disease.
Live from the Lab: The Autoimmune Framework
In partnership with La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), GAI funded this Live from the Lab webinar to bring cutting-edge autoimmune research directly to the community.
Autoimmunity Research That’s Reshaping Lives
At LEAD Day 2025, Dr. Georg Schett joined Dr. Sam Myers, Dr. Monica Guma, and Sandy Boek Werness for a lay-friendly panel discussion moderated by Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire. This conversation explored the real-world implications of autoimmune research and highlighted patient perspectives.
Outsmarting Autoimmune Disease
GAI extends a virtual welcome to the Life Without Disease Event Series at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI). In this talk, LJI Global Autoimmune Institute Assistant Professor Sam Myers, Ph.D. explains how his lab uses mass spectrometry and proteomics to uncover how immune cells “think” and make decisions, and what goes wrong in autoimmune, inflammatory, and other diseases.
The Importance of Clinical Trials for Autoimmunity
GAI’s Executive Director, Sandy Boek Werness speaks during Aila Health‘s Autoimmune Warrior Conference Check out highlights from the talk here!
Telehealth: A Silver Lining in Healthcare
Dr. Benny Kerzner is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and the Clinical Director of the Celiac Disease Clinic at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. 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. Kerzner and many others believe, the benefits of Telehealth could go even further. Telehealth has the potential to improve access to healthcare, especially for disadvantaged patients.
Inside Our Guts! A Look Inside the Small Intestine and Q&A with Your Favorite Docs!
Go inside the Operating Room and learn about what happens during an endoscopy. What do villi look like? How do doctors know you have celiac? What do the slides look like that pathologists review? What happens to your gut as you stick to the gluten-free diet? What does the future of celiac diagnosis look like?
Advocating on Capitol Hill and In Your Child’s School
Every disease needs funding for research and a voice in Washington, D.C. Join Celiac Disease Foundation CEO Marilyn Geller for a session to learn how patients and families can become advocates for celiac disease in their hometowns and nationally. Then we’ll talk about advocating for your gluten-free diet needs at school.
Creating a Cure for Celiac Disease
Learn about the latest drug developments and the future of treatments for celiac disease. You’ll hear from Dr. Ciaran Kelly (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center), Dr. Dan Leffler (Takeda Pharmaceuticals), and Dr. Francisco Leon (Provention Bio) about multiple medications being tested as a treatment for celiac disease. Then, Dr. Jocelyn Silvester from Boston Children’s Hospital will discuss getting involved in clinical trials and how these medications may change the daily lives of celiac patients.
Contaminate This! Inside a Lab that Tests for Gluten Contamination
Take a look inside a lab that tests food for gluten contamination and learn how much gluten it really takes to cross the 20ppm threshold. Luke Emerson and Thomas Grace from Bia Diagnostics in Vermont join us to demonstrate the food testing process from start to finish. This is a rare opportunity to see a real, live lab testing for gluten in food.
