Date:
Oct 08 2026 - Oct 10 2026
Time:
All day
Location:
The Charles Hotel, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Category:
International Symposiums
On October 8-10, 2026, the 6th International Symposium on IgG4-Related Disease will bring together international experts to inform, debate, and discuss novel aspects in the field and to update the guidelines for diagnosing and treating IgG4-Related Disease.
RegisterThe IgG4ward! Foundation invites you to the 6th International Symposium on IgG4-RD
The 6th International Symposium on IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) will update the clinical guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of IgG4-RD since the 1st International Symposium in 2011. Other agenda topics include organ-specific manifestations, new thinking about pathology, the Granzyme K story, present and future treatment approaches, lessons from the MITIGATE and INDIGO clinical trials, and more.
Event details
October 8-10, 2026
The Charles Hotel
1 Bennett Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
The quick history of symposiums:
1st International Symposium, Boston (US) in 2011
Officially named the condition — “IgG4-related disease, and established other nomenclature and the pathology features of the disease.
2nd and 3rd International Symposia, Hawaii 2014 & 2017
Launched the first set of classification criteria for this condition, explored common clinical presentations of the disease, and established diagnostic standards for each organ involvement.
4th International Symposium, virtual mtg, Kitakyushu (Japan) 2021
Began to review treatment guidelines and ongoing investigational approaches to treatment.
5th International Symposium, Milan 2024
Informed, debated, and discussed disease classification, organ-specific manifestations, diagnostic features, immunopathogenesis, and present and future treatment approaches. Also, defined the IgG4-related disease activity score (IgG4-RDAS), a novel clinimetric tool to guide treatment decisions.
Expert-led sessions
Opportunities to connect with others clinicians and scientists
A supportive environment focused on learning, empowerment, and community
Recommended Hotels:
Within Walking Distance:
110 Mount Auburn Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138
across the street from the Charles Hotel (Symposium)
16 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138
10-minute walk from the Charles Hotel (Symposium)
1 Remington St, Cambridge, MA 02138
15-minute walk from Charles Hotel (Symposium)
Accessible via Public Transportation:
505 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
Nearest T: Downtown Crossing (Red Line)
2-minute walk to station
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston
821 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
Nearest T: Tufts Medical Center Station (Orange Line)
1-minute walk to station
240 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
Nearest T: Boylston Station (Green Line)
2-minute walk to station
Wednesday, October 7 from 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Charles Hotel Lobby – Ground Floor)
Thursday, October 8 from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Ballroom Foyer - Third Floor)
Friday, October 9 from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Ballroom Foyer - Third Floor)
Saturday, October 10 from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Ballroom Foyer - Third Floor)
Attendees arriving in Cambridge on Wednesday are encouraged to stop by and collect their badges ahead of the Symposium. We encourage attendees to arrive early to allow sufficient time for check-in before the opening session.
Poster Presentation Information
Viewing: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Kennedy & Longfellow (Charles Pavilion – ground floor)
Poster Guidelines
All poster presenters are asked to prepare their posters according to the following specifications:
Poster dimensions: 46 inches (height) x 70 inches (width) (116 cm x 177 cm)
Orientation: Landscape
Poster setup time: Posters may be mounted as of 12:00 PM on Thursday, October 8
Poster removal time: Posters must be removed by 4:00 PM on Friday, October 9
Additional instructions will be communicated to accepted poster presenters directly.
Registration: Charles lobby & Charles Ballroom foyer (third floor)
Main Plenary: Charles Ballroom (third floor)
Poster Display: Kennedy & Longfellow (Charles Pavilion – ground floor)
Exhibits: Roger & Stratton Rooms (located across from the Charles Ballroom)
For attendees with registration questions, accessibility requirements, or last-minute logistical issues, please email Zoë Dicaire at a2z@pinnacle-me.ca).
Agenda
Day 1 - October 8
8:00 - 12:00
MORNING SESSION
8:00
Welcome
John Stone
8:30
Oral Abstract Presentations
8:30
Epidemiology and outcomes in IgG4-RD in a nationwide U.S. cohort
Speaker: Remco Kersten
Moderator: John Stone
8:50
Mortality in patients with IgG4-RD: A long-term cohort study from China
Speaker: Shuning Guo, Wen Zhang
Moderator: John Stone
9:10
Organ damage is common in IgG4-RD at the time of initial evaluation and is driven by disease duration
Speaker: Guy Katz
Moderator: John Stone
9:30
Break
9:50
Overview of the IgG4ward! Foundation International Guidelines on the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of IgG4-RD
Speaker: Arezou Khosroshahi
Moderator: John Stone
10:10
New thinking about the pathology of IgG4-RD
Speakers: Ingeborg Bajema, Yoh Zen
Moderator: Adam Kilian
11:10
Retroperitoneal fibrosis: What are our biggest challenges and how do we circumvent them?
Speakers: James Tomlinson & Augusto Vaglio
Moderator: Tobias Alexander
12:00
Lunch
1:15 - 7:00
AFTERNOON SESSION
1:15
The pathophysiology of IgG4-RD
Speaker: Cory Perugino
Moderator: Shiv Pillai
2:00
A knock-in mouse model of IgG4-RD
Speaker: Bernard Malissen
Moderator: Cory Perugino
2:30
Long-term outcomes in type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis
Speaker: Atsushi Masamune
Moderator: Matthias Löhr
3:00
Managing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: Which patients need pancreatic enzyme
Speaker: Yasmin Hernandez-Barco
Moderator: Yuzo Kodama
3:30
Break
3:50
The natural history of autoimmune pancreatitis by imaging
Speaker: Avinash Kambadakone
Moderator: Emma Culver
4:20
Oral Abstract Presentations
4:20
Risk and prognostic impact of pancreatic cancer in patients with Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis: A multi-center retrospective study
Speaker: Yusuke Kurita
Moderator: Kazuichi Okazaki
4:40
IgG4-RD is not associated with risk of malignancy
Speaker: Dan Michelson
Moderator: Kazuichi Okazaki
5:00 - 7:00
Poster viewing session
7:00
Conclude for the day
7:00
Speakers’ dinner* and industry dinners**
*By invitation
**Industry sponsors are welcome to arrange dinner on their own
Day 2 - October 9
8:00 - 12:20
MORNING SESSION
8:00
Treatment guidelines highlights
Speakers: Selected Presenters & Commentators
Moderator: Shingo Nakayamada
9:00
The Granzyme K story: Is this T cell the disease linchpin?
Speaker: Vinay Mahajan
Moderator: Shiv Pillai
9:30
Which B lymphocytes are the key players in IgG4-RD - and what are they doing?
Speaker: Tobias Lanz
Moderator: Shiv Pillai
10:00
Break
10:20
Emerging insights into the genetics of IgG4-RD
Speaker: Sakshi Agarwal
Moderator: Shiv Pillai
11:00
Tph cells versus T-follicular helper cells in IgG4-RD
Speaker: Deepak Rao
Moderator: Cory Perugino
11:40
Autoantibodies and autoantigens in IgG4-RD
Speaker: Federica Bonaso
Moderator: Masafumi Moriyama
12:20
Symposium photo in Harvard Yard
All
12:30
Lunch in Harvard Square
Attendees may dine at a nearby restaurant or café. Lunch is at each attendee’s own expense.
1:45 - 4:30
AFTERNOON SESSION
1:45
Biggest lessons and recent data from MITIGATE
Speaker: Yoshiya Tanaka
Moderator: Emanuel Della Torre
2:15
Biggest lessons and recent data from INDIGO
Speaker: Luke Chen
Moderator: Mollie Carruthers
2:45
Break
3:00
Progress in current trials (RILIEF, ACE1831, other)
Speaker: Mollie Carruthers
Moderator: John Stone
3:30
Next-generation immune reset in autoimmune disease: Cell-based and bi-specific strategies targeting B cells and possible application in IgG4-RD
Speaker: Max König
Moderator: John Stone
4:30
Conclude for the day
6:00 - 9:00
Symposium soirée at The Liberty Hotel
Day 3 - October 10
8:00 - 12:15
MORNING SESSION
8:00
Management guidelines
Speakers: Selected Presenters & Commentators
Moderator: Lingli Dong
9:00
Oral Abstract Presentations
9:00
Obexelimab reduced glucocorticoid-associated toxicity in patients with IgG4-related disease: results from the phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled INDIGO trial
Speaker: Matt Baker
Moderator: Mikael Ebbo
9:20
Long-term inebilizumab treatment results in mild immunoglobulin reduction but no increase in infection risk
Speaker: Emanuel Della Torre
Moderator: Mikael Ebbo
9:40
Longer-term efficacy and safety of Obexelimab in IgG4-related disease: Results from the Phase 3 INDIGO Open-Label Extension
Speaker: Emma Culver
Moderator: Mikael Ebbo
10:00
Break
10:30
On the contrary, IgG4-RD is not a pre-malignant condition
Speaker: Guy Katz
Moderator: Alexander Kleger
11:00
How do we diagnose and manage IgG4-Related scelrosing cholangitis
Speaker: Yuzo Kodam
Moderator: Omer Karadag
11:00
How do we diagnose and manage isolated IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis?
Speaker: Yuzo Kodama
Moderator: Omer Karadag
11:30
Managing the atopic features of IgG4-RD: Interactions of IgG4-RD with eosinophils, IgE, and Th2 inflammation
Speaker: Emanuel Della Torre
Moderator: Mitsuhiro Kawano
12:15
Lunch
1:30 - 3:30
AFTERNOON SESSION
1:30
What is the long-term prognosis of IgG4-RD
Speaker: Wen Zhang
Moderator: Hisanori Umehara
2:00
Coronary vasculitis and peri-arteritis in IgG4-RD: How do we diagnose, treat, and manage it?
Speaker: Jiaxin Zhou
Moderator: Matt Baker
2:30
What will the diagnosis, treatment, and management of IgG4-RD look like in 2030?
Speaker: Matt Baker
Moderator: John Stone
3:00
Break
3:15
Identification of the seventh symposium site in 2028 & Closing remarks
Speaker: John Stone
Our partners/sponsors for the event
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Host
Dr. John Stone
IgG4ward! Executive Chairman, Rheumatologist
Massachusetts General Hospital