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Congress

BIRD 2026 Fifth Annual Congress

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  • Program
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    • Program

    This is the preliminary program for the 2026 edition of the BIRD Annual Congress.  

    The general language of the Congress is English.

    All Educational Training sessions, sessions of the General Program and workshops are equally open to all healthcare professionals. We encourage each attendee to choose the program that best suits their interests.

    Educational Training Friday
    Congress Day 1 Friday
    Congress Day 2 Saturday
    The Educational Training sessions are possible thanks to the support the following sponsors: Abbvie, Alfasigma, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly and Takeda.
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Crash course in GCP: get certified!

    This GCP course will focus on the new ICH-GCP E6(R3); update your certificate based on the most recent guidelines!
    10:00 AM - 10:40 AM
    Educational Training Registration & Welcome Coffee
    Educational Training A
    10:40 AM - 1:00 PM
    Educational Training A: Appendectomy for active ulcerative colitis: Unravelling the COSTA Trial from A to Z

    An in-depth exploration of the COSTA trial, covering its design, statistical insights, and clinical implications for appendectomy in active ulcerative colitis.
    Target audience: clinicians
    10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
    An introduction to the COSTA trial
    11:10 AM - 11:40 AM
    Unravelling COSTA from a statistical perspective
    11:40 AM - 12:00 PM
    Coffee break
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
    Clinical impact of COSTA: practical and ethical considerations
    12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
    Panel Discussion
    Educational Training B
    10:40 AM - 1:00 PM
    Educational Training B: In remission, but exhausted: understanding and treating fatigue

    An overview of fatigue in patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease, focusing on its causes, impact, and relevance in clinical care. The session aims to support a better understanding and management of this disruptive symptom.
    Target audience: all HCPs
    10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
    Scientific foundations in IBD-related fatigue
    11:10 AM - 11:40 AM
    Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for fatigue in IBD
    11:40 AM - 12:00 PM
    Coffee break
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
    Deep dive: psychological and behavioral approaches to managing fatigue
    12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
    Panel Discussion
    Educational Training C
    10:40 AM - 1:00 PM
    Educational Training C: Biosimilars in IBD: rethinking the evidence, questioning the decisions

    A focused look at the role of biosimilars in inflammatory bowel disease, addressing current evidence, regulatory perspectives, and clinical decision-making. The session aims to clarify key considerations regulatory approval process, pathways to market access and their use in practice.
    Target audience: all HCPs
    10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
    Less trials, more trust? Understanding the new EMA biosimilar framework
    11:10 AM - 11:25 AM
    Integrating Biosimilars and Innovation: opportunities for patients and health systems: The viewpoint of the biosimilar companies
    11:25 AM - 11:40 AM
    Integrating Biosimilars and Innovation: opportunities for patients and health systems: The viewpoint of the originator companies
    11:40 AM - 12:00 PM
    Coffee break
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
    Biosimilars: clinical perspectives vs. policy expectations
    12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
    Panel Discussion
    Educational Training D
    10:40 AM - 1:00 PM
    Educational Training D: Understanding IBD diagnostics for non-clinicians: what IBD specialists really look for

    A practical introduction to IBD diagnostics for nurses and other non-clinicians, focused on building a clear understanding of how specialists evaluate and manage patients. The session aims to support confidence in interpreting and applying diagnostic information in clinical practice.
    Target audience: nurses and other non-clinicians
    10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
    More than numbers: how laboratory tests guide IBD care
    11:10 AM - 11:40 AM
    A journey inside the gut: endoscopy explained for non-clinicians
    11:40 AM - 12:00 PM
    Coffee break
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
    Imaging the invisible: what radiology reveals in IBD
    12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
    Surgical options in IBD: procedures, indications and outcomes
    1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
    Lunch
    Congress Day 1 Plenary Sessions
    2:00 PM - 2:05 PM
    Welcome by the BIRD President
    2:05 PM - 3:20 PM
    Session One: IBD uncovered: Evolving Guidelines, Hidden Drivers and Overlooked Frontiers
    2:05 PM - 2:30 PM
    When guidelines clash: Practical strategies for evolving IBD recommendations
    2:30 PM - 2:55 PM
    Decoding the Exposome: Implications for IBD risk, flares and progression
    2:55 PM - 3:20 PM
    Upper GI Crohn's: The overlooked frontier in disease management
    3:20 PM - 4:00 PM
    Coffee break and exhibition
    4:00 PM - 5:20 PM
    Session Two: IBD at the Edge: Treating Fibrosis, Avoiding Pitfalls and Harnessing AI
    4:00 PM - 4:25 PM
    Fibrostenosing Crohn’s: Will we finally be able to treat It without surgery
    4:25 PM - 4:50 PM
    IBD Mimics: Avoiding diagnostic pitfalls
    4:50 PM - 5:15 PM
    Artificial Intelligence in IBD: opportunties, challenges and clinical impact
    5:15 PM - 5:20 PM
    Closing remarks day 1
    7:00 PM - 1:00 AM
    Conference Dinner
    8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
    Welcome coffee
    Workshops (participants will select one option from each session)
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Workshop Session 1

    Some workshops can be attended by industry members. See description of the workshop for verification.
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Workshop A: The Radiologist’s lens: Abdominal imaging for the clinician

    A practical, advanced-level workshop on abdominal imaging in IBD, focusing on selecting the appropriate imaging method, recognizing key findings, and improving communication between clinicians and radiologists.
    Target audience: clinicians & industry representatives
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Workshop B: Excellence in IBD: Measuring, monitoring, moving forward

    A workshop on improving quality of care in IBD, focusing on meaningful measurement, precise monitoring, and reducing variation in practice, with a look at future directions in care.
    Target audience: all attendees welcome
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Workshop C: Your voice, your choice: Implementing shared decision making

    A workshop on applying shared decision-making in IBD care, focusing on clear communication of risks, benefits, and uncertainty across multiple commercial and investigtional treatments options.
    Target audience: healthcare professionals only
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Workshop D: When patients say No… Finding the path together

    A practical, role-play based workshop on responding to treatment refusal in IBD, focusing on understanding patient concerns, and using effective communication to explore, reframe, or appropriately accept patient preferences in order to identify acceptable paths forward.
    Target audience: healthcare professionals only
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Workshop E: Making the call: Referral strategies in daily IBD practice

    A workshop on referral decisions in IBD care, focusing on early warning signs, appropriate pathways, and timing. The session also addresses practical challenges in coordination between providers.
    Target audience: all attendees welcome
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    Workshop F: Decoding the lab: Innovations clinicians shouldn’t miss

    A workshop on new developments in laboratory testing in IBD, focusing on how emerging techniques are used in research and their potential impact on clinical practice.
    Target audience: all attendees welcome
    10:00 AM - 10:10 AM
    Switch rooms
    10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
    Workshop Session 2

    Some workshops can be attended by industry members. See description of the workshop for verification.
    10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
    Workshop A: The Radiologist’s lens: Abdominal imaging for the clinician

    A practical, advanced-level workshop on abdominal imaging in IBD, focusing on selecting the appropriate imaging method, recognizing key findings, and improving communication between clinicians and radiologists.
    Target audience: clinicians & industry representatives
    10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
    Workshop B: Excellence in IBD: Measuring, monitoring, moving forward

    A workshop on improving quality of care in IBD, focusing on meaningful measurement, precise monitoring, and reducing variation in practice, with a look at future directions in care.
    Target audience: all attendees welcome
    10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
    Workshop C: Your voice, your choice: Implementing shared decision making

    A workshop on applying shared decision-making in IBD care, focusing on clear communication of risks, benefits, and uncertainty across multiple commercial and investigtional treatments options.
    Target audience: healthcare professionals only
    10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
    Workshop D: When patients say No… Finding the path together

    A practical, role-play based workshop on responding to treatment refusal in IBD, focusing on understanding patient concerns, and using effective communication to explore, reframe, or appropriately accept patient preferences in order to identify acceptable paths forward.
    Target audience: healthcare professionals only
    10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
    Workshop E: Making the call: Referral strategies in daily IBD practice

    A workshop on referral decisions in IBD care, focusing on early warning signs, appropriate pathways, and timing. The session also addresses practical challenges in coordination between providers.
    Target audience: all attendees welcome
    10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
    Workshop F: Decoding the lab: Innovations clinicians shouldn’t miss

    A workshop on new developments in laboratory testing in IBD, focusing on how emerging techniques are used in research and their potential impact on clinical practice.
    Target audience: all attendees welcome
    11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
    Coffee break and exhibition
    Congress Day 2 Plenary Sessions
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    Session Three: Best of 2026
    12:00 PM - 12:20 PM
    New in UC : best of ECCO/DDW/UEGW ‘26
    12:20 PM - 12:40 PM
    New in CD : best of ECCO/DDW/UEGW ‘26
    12:40 PM - 12:55 PM
    Panel Discussion
    12:55 PM - 1:00 PM
    Closing remarks
    1:00 PM - 1:00 AM
    Lunch & exhibition
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