International Genetics of Ankylosing Spondylitis Consortium Conference 2023

IGAS 2023: THE GENETIC FRONTIER OF SPONDYLOARTHRITIS
“From GWAS to Function: Decoding the Ankylosing Spondylitis Genome”
Conference Dates: March 30 – April 1, 2023
Location: Naples, Italy (Centro Congressi Federico II)
Academic Host: The International Genetics of Ankylosing Spondylitis (IGAS) Consortium
General Information
Welcome to the premier gathering of the global Spondyloarthritis (SpA) research community. The IGAS 2023 Conference represents a critical turning point in rheumatology: the shift from simply identifying risk genes to understanding their function in the immune system.
Held in the historic academic center of Naples, this exclusive summit brings together the world’s leading geneticists and immunologists. Unlike general rheumatology meetings, IGAS focuses entirely on the molecular engine driving Axial Spondyloarthritis. This course offers a deep dive into how the “Dark Matter” of the genome interacts with the microbiome to trigger inflammation.

Format: High-Level Scientific Plenary + Interactive “Young Investigator” Sessions.

Focus: Translational Medicine (Genetics, Pathogenesis, New Therapies).

Language: English.

Target Audience
This advanced curriculum is designed for medical professionals and researchers operating at the cutting edge of immunology:

Academic Rheumatologists: Who need to understand the “Polygenic Risk Scores” that will soon guide prognosis in clinical practice.

Geneticists & Immunologists: Investigating the functional consequences of HLA-B27 and ERAP1 interaction.

Pharma & Biotech Researchers: Looking for the next generation of therapeutic targets beyond TNF and IL-17 inhibitors.

Learning Objectives
By analyzing the 2023 consortium data, participants will be able to:

Interpret Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS): Understand how cumulative genetic risk is calculated and its potential to predict disease severity in axSpA.

Connect Gut & Spine: Explain the causal relationship between the gut microbiome and entheseal immunity using Mendelian Randomization techniques.

Target the Misfolding: Evaluate the role of ERAP1 (Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 1) and its potential as a drug target.

Analyze Rare Variants: Differentiate between common GWAS hits and rare, high-impact variants found in multi-case families.

Conference Topics & Modules
*Note: these are continuous video recordings during the conference, they include individual lectures mentioned in the below

DAY 1 – 30th March 2023

08:30 AM – DAY 1 – 30th March 2023

8:30 – 8:45
8.30 – 9:00
Registration CME
Welcome

09:00 AM – DAY 1 – 30th March 2023 – Session 1 Genetic – Chair: Paul Wordsworth, Matthew Brown

9:00 – 9:20
Overview on genetic in axSpA
Matthew Brown

9:20 – 9:40
Polygenic risk score in biomedical research
Richard Oram

9:40 – 10:00
Polygenic risk scores in axSpA
Huji Xu

10:00 – 10:20
Functional evaluation of ERAP1 in axSpA
Tony Kenna

10:20 – 10:40
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
interactive

10:40 AM – Day 1 – 30th March 2023 – Coffee Break

from 10:40 to 11:00

11:00 AM – DAY 1 – 30th March 2023 – Session 2 Genetic – Chair: Maxime Breban, Carlo F. Selmi

11:00 – 11:20
Exploring rare variants in multicase Families
Felicie Costantino

11:20 – 11:40
News from B27 transgenic drosophila
Vincent Rincheval

11:40 – 12:00
Functional genomics in axSpA
Matteo Vecellio

12:00 – 12:15
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
Interactive

12:15 PM – DAY 1 – 30th March 2023 – Young Session – Chair: Matthew Brown

12:15 – 12:25
Validating the arthritogenic hypothesis: connections between gut and entheseal immunity
Jose Garrido Mesa

12:25 – 12:35
Identifying causal relationships between gut microbiome and axSpA through mendelian randomization
Nicholas Harvey

12:35 – 12:45
Exploring TLR signaling in DC from HLA-B27 transgenic rat
Ait Ali Said Amel

12:45 – 1:00
Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
 

01:00 PM – DAY 1 – 30th March 2023 – Lunch

from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

02:00 PM – DAY 1 – Session 3 – Microbiome – Chair: Huji Xu, Torkell Ellingsen

2.00 – 2:20
Microbiome and axSpA pathogenesis
Maxime Breban

2:20 – 2:40
The role of gut bacteria in the development of Spondyloarthritis
Anne Sophie Bergot

2:40 – 3:00
Fecal microbial transplantation in axSpA
Maja Kragsnæs

3:00 – 3:20
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
Interactive

03:20 PM – DAY 1 – Coffee Break

From 3:20 PM to 3:40 PM

03:40 PM – DAY 1 – 30th March 2023 – Session 4 The Mucosal Corner – Chair: Giuliana Guggino, Rosario Peluso

3:40 – 4:00
Gut and axSpA: evidence and controversies
Francesco Ciccia

4.00 – 4:20
News from the gut in axSpA
Thomas Bazin

4:20 – 4:40
Modulation of epithelial intestinal barrier in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis
Aline Bozec

4:40 -5:00
New mucosal player in axSpA pathogenesis
Daniele Mauro

5:00 – 5:20
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
 
Interactive

DAY 2 – 31st March 2023

08:50 AM – DAY 2 – 31st March 2023 – Session 5 – Adaptive Immunity – Chair: Robert D. Inman, Nigil Haroon

8.50 – 09:10
Co-receptors in helper and cytotoxic T cells function
Ondrej Stepanek

09:10 – 09:30
DCs and Th17 interaction in B27 transgenic rat
Simon Glatigny

09:30 – 09:50
Single cell insights into the immunology of axSpA
Davide Simone

09:50 – 10:10
Autoimmunity-associated T cell receptors recognize HLA-B*27-bound peptides
Paul Bowness

10:10 – 10:30
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
interactive

10:30 AM – DAY 2 – 31st March 2023 – Coffee Break

From 10:30 AM to 10:50 AM

10:50 AM – Day 2 – 31st March 2023 – Session 6 – Adaptive Immunity – Chair: Paul Bowness, Roberto Giacomelli

10:50 – 11:10
TCR immunology
Jia Jia Lim

11:10 – 11:30
Interleukin 17 inhibitors and the effect on enthesitis and pain in Spondyloarthritis
Marije Koenders

11.30 – 11.50
Immunopathogenesis of enthesistis in axSpA
Dennis Mc Gonagle

11.50 – 12.10
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)

12:10 PM – DAY 2 – 31st March 2023 – Lunch

from 12:10 PM to 1:30 PM

01:30 PM – DAY 2 – Session 7 – Innate Immunity – Chair: Irene van der Horst-Bruinsma, Dirk Elewaut

1:30 – 1:50
MIF: a potential therapeutic target in axSpA
Nigil Haroon

1:50 – 2:10
Dysregulated CTL Exhaustion in axSpA
Michael Tang

2:10 – 2:30
ZRANB1 in AS pathogenesis
Archita Shrinath

2:30 – 3:00
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
Interactive

03:00 PM – DAY 2 – 31st March 2023 – Coffee Break

From 3:00 PM to 3:20 PM

03:20 PM – DAY 2 – 31st March 2023 – Session 8 – Innate Immunity – Chair: Alberto Cauli, Carlomaurizio Montecucco

3:20 – 3:40
Immune tolerance and resolution of inflammation in inflammatory arthritis
Stefano Alivernini

3:40 – 4:00
Metabolic control of Innate lymphoid cells
Chen Dong

4:00 – 4:20
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
Interactive

04:20 PM – DAY 3 – 31st March 2023 – Young Session – Chair: Roberto Giacomelli, John Reveille

4:20 – 4:30
Profiling T cell receptor polymorphisms in axSpA
Zoya Qaiyum

4:30 – 4:40
Leaky gut in SpA: focus on ZEB proteins
Chiara Rizzo

4:40 – 4:50
How does TGFb affect CD4+ T cell response in axSpA?
Marc Lauraine

 
4:50 – 5:05
Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
 

05:05 PM – DAY 2 – 31st March 2023 – Lecture not included in the educational program CME

5:05 – 5:25
The lecture has not been included in the educational program CME
From patient side: the role of Ixekizumab in patient reported outcomes 
Ennio Favalli

5:25 – 5:45
The lecture has not been included in the educational program CME
The recognition and management of early PsA: which role for the IL23 inhibitor GuselKumab?
 
Ilenia Pantano

DAY 3 – 1st April 2023

08:30 AM – DAY 3 – 1st April 2023 – Session 9 – Osteoimmunology – Chair: Lianne Genssler, Georg Schett

8:30 – 8:50
Immune-stromal interaction in bone formation
Nicole Horwood

8:50 – 9:10
Mechano-inflammation in axSpA
Dirk Elewaut

9:10 – 9:30
Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) PET-CT for depicting osteoproliferation in axSpA patient
Andreas Ramming

9:30 – 9:50
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
interactive

09:50 AM – DAY 3 – 1st April 2023 – Session 10 – Clinical Overview 1 – Chair: Paul Bowness, AnnaMaria Iagnocco

9:50 – 10:10
Sex-specific differences in axSpA: myth or truth?
Irene Van der Host-Bruinsma

10:10 – 10:30
Sex differences in treatment efficacy of interleukin 17 inhibitors in Spondyloarthritis
Emmerik Leijten

10:30 – 10:50
Insight in PsA by imaging
AGeorg Schett

10:50 – 11:00
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
interactive

11:10 AM – DAY 3 – 1st April 2023 – Session 11 – Clinical Overview 2 – Chair: Felicie Costantino, Raffaele Scarpa

11:10 – 11:30
Biomarkers predictive of clinical response in AxSpA
John Reveille

11:30 – 11:50
ASAS-Eular recommendations for the management of AxSpA
Lianne Gensler

11.50 – 1 2.10
The added value of sonography in SpA diagnosis and monitoring
Maria Antonietta D’Agostino

12:10 – 12.30
Questions and Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
Interactive

12:30 PM – DAY 3 – 1st April 2023 – Young Session – Chair: Luisa Costa

12:30 – 12:40
Comorbidities and metabolic burdern in early PSA: data from prospective metapsa cohort
Alla Ishchenko

12:40 – 12:50
Cytof profiling of blood populations in axSpA”
Claudia Worth

12:50 – 1:00
IL-24 as biomarkers in axSpA
Giulio Forte

1:00 – 1:15
Discussion (Regarding the subject included in the session)
 

01:15 PM – DAY 3 – 1st April 2023 – Mark Asquith Award

1:15- 1:25
“Mark Asquith” award for best young presentation