The CCA is proud to announce the speakers for the 2025 National Conference:
The 2025 CCA National Conference is a must-attend event for anyone interested in celiac disease and gluten-related disorders. This free virtual conference will feature top experts discussing the latest research, management strategies, and quality of life improvements for those affected by celiac disease. Learn more about our conference agenda and registration details
Ari Weinberg – Sourcing ingredients, testing products, and more
Ari Weinberg, President, and Founder of O’Doughs, a leading gluten-free food company committed to creating delicious and safe products for individuals with dietary restrictions. With a passion for promoting healthier lifestyles, Ari plays an integral role in his company’s mission to provide great-tasting, allergen-friendly food products that elevate the food experience, without compromise. Ari brings 17 years of experience in the food industry and a deep understanding of gluten-free nutrition. Ari thrives on the challenge of developing innovative gluten-free solutions, ensuring that O’Doughs products meet the highest quality standards in the industry.
Dr. Amélie Thérrien – Hot Topics in Celiac Disease Research
Dr Amélie Thérrien received her MD in 2011 from Université de Montreal and completed her internal medicine residency and then her Adult Gastroenterology fellowship combined with a clinician scientist program in 2017. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada in Internal Medicine, Adult Gastroenterology, and Clinician Scientist. She completed a master’s degree in experimental medicine, with a focus on immunology, working on Crohn’s disease in 2018 and moved to Boston to study celiac disease with Dr. Ciaran Kelly and the Celiac Research Program at Harvard Medical School. Her main areas of expertise are celiac disease, other small bowel disorders, nutrition, and mast cells disorders. She is now working as a clinician scientist at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Diana Mager – How to Eat a Nutritious Gluten Free Diet using the Gluten Free Food Guide for Children
Dr. Diana Mager, PhD, MSc, RD FASPEN is a pediatric dietitian by training and currently is a Professor of Clinical Nutrition in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and the Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Alberta. Dr. Mager’s research program focuses on the development of lifestyle interventions (e.g., diet, exercise) for children with chronic gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., celiac disease) and liver disease (before and after liver transplantation). Dr. Mager’s current work has focused on the impact of food insecurity in Canadian households with children with celiac disease on diet quality, adherence to the gluten free diet and quality of life in children with celiac disease.
Key points/objectives:
- Identify some of the nutritional limitations of the GFD and provide practical solutions to consuming a nutritious gluten free diet using the GFFG (Gluten Free Food Guide for Children).
- Talk about some of the challenges associated with consuming a nutritious GFD (including food insecurity)
Mark Wulczynski – The importance of fibre and small intestinal microbial metabolism in celiac disease
Mark Wulczynski is a PhD candidate in the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, investigating the interactions between diet, host, and gut microbes in celiac disease. He is interested in strategies that can optimize the nutritional value of gluten-free products, such as increased dietary fibre, which can further enhance the metabolic activity of gut microbes, associated with beneficial effects. His PhD thesis has focused on how different types of fibre and microbiota can affect mucosal healing and recovery using a humanized mouse model. Additionally, Mark is one of the vice-chairs of the newly established Young Investigator (YI) committee of the International Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (ISSCD).
Key points/objectives:
- What is dietary fibre, and the increased importance during the GFD
- How research translates from preclinical models for research and hypothesis testing to clinical interventions
- How two distinct prebiotic fibre sources can affect the small intestinal microbiota and healing
Dr. Jason Tye-Din – Beyond the Biopsy: Next-Generation Diagnostics for Celiac Disease
Jason is a gastroenterologist who runs the Celiac Research Group at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia. His research aims to understand why and how gluten causes symptoms and damage in people with celiac disease and using this information to develop better ways to diagnose, monitor, and treat it. He works closely with academic and industry partners and runs a wide range of projects including the development of a novel diagnostic blood test and developing and testing a range of new celiac treatments. Jason runs a Celiac Clinic at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he manages people with celiac disease and gluten-related issues including non-responsive and refractory disease. He leads the Celiac Theme of the Australian Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study examining the environmental factors important in the development of celiac disease.
Key points/objectives:
- Explore emerging diagnostic methods for celiac disease:
Focus on less invasive alternatives to traditional small bowel biopsy and serology, including novel blood and saliva-based tests. - Present recent clinical research findings:
Highlight the development and validation of a blood test measuring interleukin-2 and a saliva-based transglutaminase assay, both effective even in patients on a gluten-free diet. - Discuss clinical implications and future impact:
Examine how these new tools could streamline the diagnostic process and improve patient outcomes.
Patient Panel – Led by Dr. Sara Ahola Kohut
Dr. Sara Ahola Kohut is a clinical health psychologist and researcher at The Hospital for Sick Children and an Assistant Professor with the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on mindfulness, resilience, and values based living. As a psychologist, Dr. Kohut has trained and worked in a variety of settings providing care to people of all ages living with chronic health conditions.
This panel will include different perspectives such as;
University-age student, Parent of a child with celiac, Middle-aged adult with celiac, and a Senior with celiac.
Professional Advisory Council Panel – Dr. Justine Turner and Dr. Maria Pinto-Sanchez
Dr. Justine Marie Turner is a specialized Pediatric Gastroenterologist, dedicated to diagnosing and treating digestive system disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. Practicing at a leading gastroenterology clinic within Edmonton, AB, she is a key member of the local medical community committed to providing expert and compassionate digestive health care for young patients. She adheres to the standards and guidelines set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), ensuring high-quality, safe, and ethical practice. Dr. Turner focuses on the unique digestive health needs of children, from common issues to complex conditions such as pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease. Her practice offers a welcoming, child-friendly environment equipped to handle the specific needs of pediatric patients with digestive disorders, fostering a supportive atmosphere for both children and their families
Dr. Maria Pinto-Sanchez is currently an active medical staff at the Gastroenterology Division at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences where she provides consultation services in the area of gastroenterology and Nutrition. She is the Director of the Celiac Clinic at McMaster University and provides nutrition support for the Home Parenteral Nutrition program and Intestinal failure clinic. Her clinical and research interest include the diagnosis and treatment of different gastrointestinal conditions, with focus on celiac disease and gluten related disorders.
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