ISR Spring Meeting attracts record attendance

The Irish Society for Rheumatology (ISR) 2026 Spring Meeting, which took place in Kilkenny on 16–17 April, attracted one of the largest attendances to date for the event.

The meeting covered the latest updates and research across a broad range of topics, including systemic sclerosis, the emerging role of GLP-1 agonists in rheumatology, and axial spondyloarthritis.

Speaking to the Medical Independent (MI) in Kilkenny, ISR President Dr Andrew Cairns, Consultant Rheumatologist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Musgrave Park and Belfast City Hospitals), thanked the local and international expert speakers, sponsors, and organisers, including ISR Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Dineen and Ms Marie Caston, for all their hard work behind the scenes to make ISR meetings such a success.

“It was a fantastic meeting. We had wonderful speakers, from Ireland, the UK, Europe, and particularly from the States, we had two real superstars,” Dr Cairns told MI.

“During Covid-19, when meetings ground to a halt, there were lots of virtual meetings, which served a purpose no doubt, but this is so much better. Not only do you get the science, you get those detailed interactions you don’t get virtually, as well as all the social interaction.”

Dr Cairns also praised the quality and breadth of research submissions at the meeting. This year saw the largest number to date of submitted clinical case reports (62).

The top six of these were presented orally, with the best presentation being awarded the Bernard Connor medal.

“The clinical case reports were fantastic,” he said.

“I think all of us enjoy them, as they are the different things we see in clinics, some weird and wonderful cases, great learning. Our trainees have really shown that rheumatology is in a great place going forward.”

The ISR 2026 Autumn Meeting will take place on 17 and 18 September in the Europa Hotel, Belfast.

An ISR Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Prof Madeline Rooney, Paediatric Rheumatologist, Queen’s University Belfast, at the meeting.