Weekly News

August 19 | 2026

NASPGHAN has joined an amicus brief alongside the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium, the March of Dimes and other organizations in support of a petition for certiorari filed by Mead Johnson requesting that the U.S. Supreme Court put a stop to plaintiff forum shopping in cases alleging that Mead Johnson’s nutrition products caused their preterm infants to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NASPGHAN and the other organizations are submitting this brief as neutral, academic authorities, to help the Court understand the association between the onset of NEC and preterm infant formula use.

Mead Johnson is arguing that plaintiffs’ lawyers are concentrating cases in certain Illinois counties known for being plaintiff-friendly, even though many of the involved children were born, treated, fed the products and injured somewhere else.

The amicus brief is intended to help the Court understand that current medical science does not support that preterm-infant formula causes NEC and that continuing to allow plaintiffs to concentrate their claims in friendly forums poses a grave threat to the preterm infant formula supply.

Mead Johnson is seeking U.S. Supreme Court review after the Illinois Appellate Court ruled against Mead Johnson on the jurisdiction question, and the Illinois Supreme Court declined to review that ruling.

If the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the case and rules in Mead Johnson’s favor, its decision could establish that Illinois courts may not exercise personal jurisdiction over many out-of-state NEC claims based solely on Mead Johnson’s historical operations or substantial business activities in Illinois.

2026 Grants Study Section

This week, the 2026 NASPGHAN Foundation Grant applications were reviewed during the annual Grant Study Section led by the Research Committee. Over 30 dedicated NASPGHAN members were assembled representing the Research Committee, APGNN, CPNP, the Hepatology Committee, IBD Committee and Celiac Disease SIG to review excellent grant applications to advance research in the field of pediatric GI, hepatology, and nutrition.

Thank you to those members who supported the review process this year and for the Foundation’s continued efforts to support research at NASPGHAN totaling $1 million in support for 2026-2027!

Make Your Voice Heard in the 2026 NASPGHAN Election

If you haven't yet voted, take a few minutes to review the candidate biographies and statements on the Meet the Candidates page and cast your ballot for NASPGHAN's next leaders for President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, Clinical Practice Councilor and Canadian Councilor.

Eligible voting members include Full NASPGHAN members in the Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Research Scientist, Emeritus, and Psychologist categories.

Voting closes Thursday, September 10, at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligible members who did not receive their personalized SurveyMonkey ballot on August 4 should contact Steve Farace, Director of Member Engagement, at sfarace@naspghan.org.

Early Bird Registration Closes August 20!

There's only one day left to take advantage of early-bird registration for NASPGHAN 2026.

Join the pediatric GI community in San Diego for:

The NASPGHAN/CPNP/APGNN Annual Meeting
The Postgraduate Course
Two Wednesday Single Topic Symposia
New research and poster presentations
Baby Shark Tank
Hands-on learning
Networking, exhibits, awards and more

NASPGHAN and CPNP are seeking six volunteer members to serve on the Faltering Weight Micro-Volunteer Working Group, part of the educational initiative entitled: Faltering Weight Explained: A Masterclass in Diagnosis, Management and Treatment, supported by Nutricia.

This expert working group will develop and review educational resources that support implementation of the recent AAP/NASPGHAN Joint Clinical Practice Guideline for the diagnosis and management of faltering weight. Working Group members will help ensure the materials reflect current evidence, clinical guidance, and practical, real-world messaging for a multidisciplinary audience.

We invite applications from qualified healthcare professionals, including pediatric gastroenterologists, hepatologists, dietitians, advanced practice providers, and others with expertise in faltering weight, growth assessment, or pediatric nutrition.

Details at a glance:

• Positions available: Six (6) NASPGHAN and CPNP members

• Meeting format: Virtual

• Estimated commitment: Approximately 10–15 hours per month

• Project duration: 2026–2027

• Application deadline: September 14th

We encourage all interested members to apply and help shape this important educational initiative!

Questions or concerns may be directed to NASPGHAN Project Manager Samiya Green.

Are you interested in advancing pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition through research, education, advocacy, and philanthropy?

Applications are open to serve on the NASPGHAN Foundation Board of Directors - the site closes September 8.

For the 2027 open positions, the Foundation is currently seeking approximately two NASPGHAN members with expertise in Nutrition, Procedures/Endoscopy, non-IBD luminal GI, Health Equity, and Pancreatology.

The Foundation is committed to inclusive representation across the pediatric GI community in North America. Applications from members practicing in Canada and Mexico are strongly encouraged.

Review the full application requirements and submit your application here.