Coeliac UK at the AMRC Medical Research Charity Showcase

Published: 8 April 2026

By Keira Shepherd (Research Manager) at Coeliac UK

Coeliac UK was delighted to exhibit at the AMRC Medical Research Showcase in the House of Commons in January. This was a rare opportunity to demonstrate how our funding can translate to real world, clinical impact.

We presented research by Prof Soilleux and Dr Florian Jaeckle at the University of Cambridge which is looking to automate coeliac disease diagnosis with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Improving diagnosis

This innovation comes at a critical time. Pathologists typically have only 5-7 minutes to examine each biopsy, focusing on a small section of tissue. Research has also shown they may disagree in up to 20% of cases. With the UK facing a shortage of pathologists, this research could benefit the healthcare system and support Coeliac UK’s mission to improve diagnosis and ensure that patients begin treatment sooner.

Currently, the gold standard diagnosis involves a blood test followed by an endoscopy and biopsy. Biopsy samples are sliced and viewed under a microscope by a specialist pathologist to look for characteristic signs of coeliac disease such as damage to the villi (finger like projections) that line the gut for nutrient absorption and an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes (immune cells).

The AI system can analyse an entire sample and identify all the features needed for an accurate diagnosis in just seconds. Operating 24/7, it provides continuous support. Trained on samples from across the UK, it is highly accurate and will flag any uncertain cases or alternative conditions for review by a pathologist, ensuring that nothing is overlooked.

Microscope being used at the Coeliac UK showcase stand. The exhibit invited guests to attempt diagnosis to see if they could beat the AI

Showcasing our research

At the event, attendees had the opportunity to attempt to diagnose coeliac disease by looking down a microscope in the same way that a pathologist would in a lab. This highlighted to guests just how tricky the diagnosis process is, emphasising the need for this research.

We were delighted to be able to showcase this fantastic research with real world clinical potential while also raising awareness of the challenges faced by people with coeliac disease. We were able to highlight that diagnosis can be lengthy and distressing, and that this exciting innovation could improve both speed and accuracy making a meaningful difference to patients’ lives.

Involving those with lived experience

One crucial part of research is engaging with people who have already undertaken the diagnosis journey. To achieve this, Coeliac UK carried out two face-to-face workshops, in different areas of the UK, to discuss the research. The events allowed better understanding of people’s individual diagnosis journeys and views on artificial intelligence in healthcare. The majority of attendees enjoyed participating and found it interesting to learn about the project and its potential impact. Whilst some people felt wary of AI to begin with, due to reasons such as data control and lack of understanding, many accepted that it could be a helpful tool in the healthcare sector and recognised that it would be regulated properly with patient benefit at the forefront of any decisions.

From left to right: Tristan Humphreys, Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs at Coeliac UK, Keira Shepherd, Research Manager at Coeliac UK, Dr Florian Jaeckle, Researcher in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge and Chief Technology Officer, Professor Elizabeth Soilleux, Honoury Consultant Pathologist, Director of Studies and Professor at the University of Cambridge

What’s next?

A key next step for this research is training the model on more samples. Specifically, samples from children, young people, and those with other conditions. The system is already 97% accurate but further training is beneficial to improve accuracy amongst these groups.

Following this, the final step will be to seek regulatory approval. Like medications, all health technologies are regulated to ensure no harm to patients. This system will need to meet and adhere to regulatory standards and gain certain approvals for use in the UK and Europe.

Once approvals are in place, the system can be rolled out into pathology laboratories where it should have an immediate impact on the time taken to process samples and provide diagnoses to patients.

Image 1: Microscope being used at the Coeliac UK showcase stand. The exhibit invited guests to attempt diagnosis to see if they could beat the AI .

Image 2: From left to right: Tristan Humphreys, Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs at Coeliac UK, Keira Shepherd, Research Manager at Coeliac UK, Dr Florian Jaeckle, Researcher in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge and Chief Technology Officer, Professor Elizabeth Soilleux, Honoury Consultant Pathologist, Director of Studies and Professor at the University of Cambridge.