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Watch IFFGD’s 2026 Virtual Advocacy & Education Event
Whether you are living with a chronic GI condition or you know someone who is, you understand the true impact of these conditions on those affected and the need for greater research funding for treatments and cures.
This Virtual Education Event provides presentations for patients, caregivers, and other members of the digestive health community on resources to assist with your illness journey and ways to advocate from the comfort of your home.
Please email advocacy@iffgd.org if you have any questions relating to this event or future advocacy efforts.
Advocating for Medical Research Funding
This year, IFFGD’s Virtual Advocacy Event focuses on the critical role medical research funding plays in advancing care for the GI community. Research drives progress — leading to better diagnoses, improved treatments, new medications, and ultimately hope for cures. Advocating for increased medical funding for gastrointestinal and motility disorders is essential to ensure this progress continues. During this event, you’ll learn why advocacy matters and hear directly from researchers whose funded work has made a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. Together, we can raise our voices to help shape the future of GI care.
Why is Advocating for Medical Research Funding Important?
Michigan Medicine
During this presentation, learn more about the importance of medical research and how advocating for more medical research funding can help advance progress in diagnosis, treatments, and improved quality of life for patients living with GI disorders.
Eric D. Shah is an Associate Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and serves as Director of the Michigan Medicine GI Physiology Laboratories.
GI Research Funded by Government Agencies
Cedars-Sinai
Overview Coming Soon
Christopher Almario is the Associate Professor of Medicine at Cedar-Sinai. His research interests include digital medicine, health services research, cost-effectiveness analysis, clinical informatics, and development of technologies that improve health care delivery.
The Gut and Mind Connection to Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
In this presentation, you will hear about research related to the Gut and Mind Connection to Gulf War Veterans’
Dr. Chatterjee is a human physiologist with specialized training in immunology. He earned his PhD in inflammation biology at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center and completed postdoctoral training at the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. His research focuses on host–microbiome interactions, redox biology, and gut–brain pathways in inflammatory diseases. In addition to his academic appointments, he serves as a Research Health Scientist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the Long Beach VA Medical Center.
From Idea to Impact: How Research Funding Is Advancing New Treatments for Diabetic Gastroparesis
Tennekoon Buddhika Karunaratne currently works at the Consorci Sanitari del Maresme (CSDM) at Hospital de Mataró. His research focuses on neurogastroenterology, gastroenterology, and gut–brain interactions.
Nonprofit Spotlight
As part of our Virtual Advocacy Event, we are proud to spotlight three outstanding organizations doing critical work to strengthen and uplift the GI patient community: GI Nutrition Foundation, Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS) Foundation, and Strategic Alliance for Intercultural Advocacy. This special segment will highlight the diverse ways advocacy, research, education, and culturally responsive outreach are advancing digestive health care and empowering patients across diagnoses and backgrounds. By bringing these voices together, we aim to showcase the power of collaboration, amplify important perspectives within the GI space, and inspire collective action that moves our entire community forward.
The GI Nutrition Foundation will share how evidence-based nutrition research is transforming care for individuals living with digestive disorders. Their talk will explore how targeted dietary strategies, clinical research, and provider education are advancing treatment options and empowering patients to better understand the role nutrition plays in gut health. Gain insight into how nutrition science is shaping the future of GI care and why continued advocacy and funding in this space matter.
SMAS Patient Assistance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals affected by Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS). We work to educate both patients and the medical community about this rare and often misunderstood condition, helping promote earlier recognition and accurate diagnosis. Our organization connects patients with financial assistance resources, provides guidance when navigating insurance denials, and advocates on behalf of those struggling to access appropriate care. Through education, support, and advocacy, we strive to ensure no SMAS patient faces this journey alone.
Our efforts educate both the public and the medical community about this rare disease to encourage early diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Email advocacy@iffgd.org before, during, or after the event.
All are welcome to participate! Many people are impacted by gastrointestinal disorders and we invite everyone to attend.
You can use the button above or by clicking the link below to register
No, this is a pre-recorded event so you will be watching the event as a viewer. As always, please email advocacy@iffgd.org with any questions or comments.
Poor internet connection or cellular service can affect the quality of your connection to this event.
You can connect using a computer, laptop, tablet, cell phone, or any other device with an internet connection.
The presentations will be visible on our YouTube channel
This event will have pre-recorded videos. You can leave comments on the videos and the IFFGD team will do our best to answer any questions you may have. You can also email us with questions at iffgd@iffgd.org
No worries! Even if you are in a different time zone, this event will be available as they contain pre-recorded videos and will be accessible even after March 15, 2025
Participants can receive a certificate for attending this virtual event after the completion of our post event survey.
We have tailored the content of this event to address the needs of our patient community. During this event, participants will learn about other nonprofits and government agencies that are made available to support patients and their caregivers living with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. You will also learn ways to advocate for yourself and loved ones from the comfort of your own home.
No, this is a complimentary event. In fact, all of IFFGD’s programs and events are made available to our patient community at no cost!
This event should last no more than 4 hours. All videos will become available on March 15th, 2025 and will be accessible through our YouTube Channel and the Video Corner