Keynote Presentation
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From Mechanisms to Medicines: The Journey to Therapies for Stricturing Crohn’s Disease

Florian Rieder, MD
Vice Department Chair
Co-Section Head for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Director, Program for Global Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio
Recognized as one of the foremost authorities in the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Dr. Florian Rieder has devoted his career to understanding and combating fibrostenosis—the build-up of scar tissue that leads to strictures and intestinal blockages in Crohn’s disease. His pioneering research and leadership in international clinical consensus have shaped modern approaches to the diagnosis, management, and pursuit of therapies for this formidable complication. Dr. Rieder’s commitment to translating scientific discovery into meaningful therapies, coupled with his collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, positions him as an exceptional thought leader and catalyst for innovation in IBD research.
About Dr. Rieder
Dr. Florian Rieder is Vice Department Chair, Co-Section Head for IBD, and Director of the Global IBD program at the Digestive Disease Institute at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He received his medical degree from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Medical School in Munich, Germany, followed by advanced training in both Germany and the United States, including research fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Cleveland Clinic.
A leading international expert on IBD, Dr. Rieder’s clinical and scientific focus centers on the pathogenesis, prediction, and therapy of intestinal strictures—particularly fibrostenosis—in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. He has published more than 250 articles and book chapters, and has held influential roles as lead author of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) clinical guidelines and consensus statements. Currently, Dr. Rieder directs an NIH-funded research program and is lead Principal Investigator for the international Stenosis Therapy and Anti-Fibrotic Research (STAR) Consortium, which aims to pave the way for anti-fibrotic therapies in stricturing Crohn’s disease. He is widely recognized for his leadership in collaborative research and education, advancing hope for patients worldwide. Dr. Rieder is a member of the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IOIBD).