IFCCA – International Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations

26/01/2026

and aging: What you need to know for long-term health.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can be diagnosed at any age. Receiving a UC diagnosis earlier in life means you’ll li

25/01/2026

Why your ostomy might actually prefer winter over summer.

IBD influencer Sara Levitt shares how the winter months can actually bring some benefits when it comes to her bag—though she needs to be mindful of dry skin in the peristomal zone.

24/01/2026

Our IFCCA Board meeting in Brussels is coming to a close after a full day of in-depth discussions and forward planning.

Today, we worked intensively on the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, reviewed the current state of play ahead of the IFCCA 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆, and aligned on priorities for 𝗘𝗖𝗖𝗢, 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 and 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗨 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀.

A sincere thank you to all Board members, staff, and external contributors — both in Brussels and online — for the constructive exchanges and strong collaboration throughout the day.

We move forward with clarity, commitment, and a shared vision for IFCCA’s future.

Leone Cândida Cruz Alexandra Mitria Avedano Haaf Rafaela Vakouftsi Busuttil Stella de Rocchis
Saldaña Cruz Oughcha Formin Sajak-Szczerba

24/01/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗙𝗖𝗖𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀 🇧🇪 — gathered together in our office for a full and meaningful working day.

We’re spending the day reflecting, exchanging ideas, and working side by side on our 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, setting priorities, and shaping a clear roadmap for the future of our organisation. Board members, staff, and external experts are joining both in person and online, all with the same goal: strong governance and a shared vision.

It’s a long day, but an important one, filled with collaboration, honest discussion, and forward thinking.

More to come from Brussels later today.

Leone Busuttil Cândida Cruz Avedano Haaf Alexandra Mitria Rafaela Vakouftsi Saldana

23/01/2026

⏳ 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲!

Take part in the 𝗺𝗶𝗚𝘂𝘁-𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 and 𝗜𝗙𝗖𝗖𝗔 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟲 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟭𝟲:𝟯𝟬–𝟭𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗧. This interactive session invites people with IBD, their families, and healthcare professionals to share experiences, discuss health engagement, and collaborate in a workshop to co-create practical solutions for living well with Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

💻 Don’t miss this chance to 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Learn more and register: https://buff.ly/ujoLGDk

22/01/2026

We are proud to share 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗕𝗗.

The findings highlight that 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, while 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀.

The report underscores the 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 💚 to ensure more equitable IBD management for everyone.

👉 Read more: https://buff.ly/bWCaOnb

21/01/2026

𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 🍽️💭

We are proud to have participated in a new study: 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁–𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗕𝗗 , exploring how stress affects eating habits and symptoms in people living with IBD.

In a survey of 2,254 Italian patients, those with higher stress reported more comfort food consumption, greater symptom burden, and softer stools.

Two profiles emerged: 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀/𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺 group and a 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀/𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺/𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 group. These findings highlight the importance of addressing stress and patient experiences in holistic IBD care.

🔗 Read the full article: https://buff.ly/fPFOLFC

20/01/2026

🔬 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 !

Join the 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟲 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟭𝟲:𝟯𝟬–𝟭𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗧 to explore 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 with Prof. 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀, hear preliminary findings from the Dutch survey cohort presented by 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝘇, and discover the 𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗚𝗘-𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲, a co-created resource that puts patient experience at the centre of personalised care.

💻 Open to people with IBD and their families.
👉 Learn more and register: https://buff.ly/ujoLGDk

19/01/2026

🎬 We’re proud to share the second documentary from the Horizon Europe project 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗬𝗟𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖: 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲.

This video introduces the 𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆, in which IFCCA participates, and explores how 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗡𝗔 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 can support a more personalised and forward-looking approach to Inflammatory Bowel Disease care.

Featuring insights from Prof. 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶, Dr 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲, Prof. 𝗚𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗗’𝗛𝗮𝗲𝗻𝘀, and patient representative 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 , the documentary highlights the potential of innovative research to transform care for people living with IBD.

📄 Watch the documentary here: https://buff.ly/Ve1h4IL

18/01/2026

Managing ’s fistulas: Modern treatments and quality of life.

​​​​​​​Fistulas are a common complication of Crohn’s disease — about 1 in 3 people with Crohn’s will develop a fistula at some point...

17/01/2026

Winter proofing your ostomy: Essential tips for cold weather care.

IBD influencer Sara Levitt shares how the winter months can actually bring some benefits when it comes to her bag—though she needs to be mindful of dry skin in the peristomal zone.

16/01/2026

📢 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯: 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

Join the 𝗺𝗶𝗚𝘂𝘁-𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 project and 𝗜𝗙𝗖𝗖𝗔 on 𝟮𝟲 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟭𝟲:𝟯𝟬–𝟭𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗧 for a 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 interactive session.

Discover survey results on “𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗘𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗕𝗗”, explore the 𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗚𝗘-𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲, and learn how lifestyle and patient experience can shape personalised IBD care.

💻 Open to people with IBD and their families.

👉 Register here: https://buff.ly/2jTXtiM
🧪 Learn more about the lab: https://buff.ly/ujoLGDk