Coeliac News

Cambridge Workshop Explored the Future of AI in Coeliac Disease Diagnosis

June 17, 2026

We recently hosted a workshop in Cambridge on 6th June 2026 to hear local people’s ideas on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in coeliac disease diagnosis.

The event formed part of our support for an important research project led by researchers at Cambridge University and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The project is developing an AI system to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosing coeliac disease through analysis of biopsy samples.

During the workshop, members of the research team presented details of their AI system and how it could potentially support histopathologists (a doctor who diagnoses diseases by examining biopsies under a microscope) in diagnosing coeliac disease more efficiently. We then invited participants to take part in smaller group discussions, where they could share their views on topics such as; the use of AI in everyday life, the use of AI in healthcare, and how they may feel if an AI system gave a different diagnosis than a healthcare professional. Questionnaires were also circulated to help document people’s thoughts about the potential benefits and concerns of this new approach. The researchers intend to use feedback from this workshop to help shape the progression of their project.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended and generously shared their thoughts and experiences. It is contributions like these that will help ensure patient and public perspectives remain at the heart of research. At Coeliac UK we believe this is essential for keeping the research we support relevant and impactful to our community.

We look forward to continuing to support this exciting project and sharing updates as the research progresses.