Elin Hård af Segerstad has been named the first recipient of the AOECS Young Researcher Award, presented at the Association of European Coeliac Societies’ 38th Annual Conference in Amsterdam. The new award recognises promising early-career researchers and places the priorities of people living with coeliac disease at the heart of research.
The Swedish researcher was selected from six entries assessed by an independent evaluation panel. Her research focuses on making life with coeliac disease easier, strengthening the evidence behind the gluten-free diet and understanding how healthcare services can best support people living with the condition.
“This year, AOECS embarked on a new adventure: recognising and promoting the work of young researchers in coeliac disease,” said Veronica Rubio, Secretary General of AOECS.
“This award represents the voice of the international coeliac community, encouraging young talent to pursue research that can make a difference to people living with coeliac disease.”
Bringing patient priorities into research
The award combines scientific assessment with the perspectives of the community the research aims to serve. The three-member evaluation panel brought together Professor Luisa Mearin Manrique, Jeroen Knol and Guilherme Tavares Bastos, combining clinical and scientific expertise with patient and family perspectives.
Entries were assessed against a broad set of criteria covering the researchers’ scientific track records and contributions, alongside the quality, originality and feasibility of their proposed research. Potential benefits for patients, relevance to unmet needs and plans to communicate findings to patients and healthcare professionals were also considered.
The award includes a €500 prize and international recognition within the coeliac community.
Research that matters to people living with coeliac disease
“I am incredibly grateful and proud to receive this award. It means a great deal to me that it comes from AOECS, which represents people with coeliac disease across Europe,” said Elin Hård af Segerstad.
“My research aims to explore how living with coeliac disease can be made easier, how we can best define what can be included in a gluten-free diet and what needs to be excluded, and how healthcare services should support people with coeliac disease."
“This award encourages me to continue pursuing these questions and to keep my research relevant to people living with the condition.”
Elin was unable to attend the ceremony in Amsterdam. Hans Otto Engvold, Secretary General of the Norwegian Coeliac Association, accepted the award on her behalf. She will receive it personally at an upcoming conference in Oslo.
Through the Young Researcher Award, AOECS aims to encourage the next generation of researchers to pursue work that advances knowledge and improves everyday life for people with coeliac disease.