Research

Coeliac disease has been recognised as an under researched and greatly underdiagnosed disease.

The Coeliac Society is keen to encourage research regarding coeliac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, the gluten free diet and any associated conditions. We actively support and have representation on the Australian and New Zealand Coeliac Research Fund (ANZCRF) which has been formed to work towards a cure and other ethical forms of treatment of coeliac disease.

The research fund has included education about coeliac disease within the medical profession as one of its major activities.

Peter Gibson, Chair of ANZCR wrote the following article for the March 2007 edition of The Australian Coeliac magazine –

What it Means to be at the Cutting Edge

It is likely there is a commonly held misbelief that "We know all that we need to know about coeliac disease - we know its cause (gluten) and we know its treatment (gluten free diet)? What else can we possibly gain from further research"?

The effects of this way of thinking are complacency and lack of progress. These lead to laziness and boredom in health professionals, sufferers may just unquestioningly accept 'their lot', and it may foster lack of interest from politicians and the food industry and, most importantly, contribute to continuing unresolved issues for those intimately associated with coeliac disease. If research was not occurring, we would still think that coeliac disease was rare, the range of gluten free foods would be like it was 20 years ago, and many sufferers would still be treated for their irritable bowel or chronic fatigue syndrome with poor outcomes.

What would it mean to people if Australia was leading the world in research into coeliac disease? First, coeliac disease would create interest and excitement, and this in turn would mean that health professionals would be better informed, would more rapidly reach the diagnosis and would have a greater chance of being right up-to-date with developments and improvements in practice. Secondly, it would mean that sufferers may not accept being 'just alright' but would expect excellence in health and want the latest in medical, dietary and other management. Thirdly, governments would be interested in what sufferers and their families thought of them and the food industry would see opportunities for expanding markets and products. Finally, hope and optimism would replace frustration and irritation amongst those where ongoing issues cannot be currently resolved.

Enter the ANZCRF

The Australian and New Zealand Coeliac Research Fund (ANZCRF) was set up a few years ago to move Australian doctors and researchers from stagnation to the cutting edge of coeliac disease. In its short life, it has been successful in stimulating interest and research into coeliac disease in two important ways:

1. It has provided much needed funds for specific research projects. For example:

Work from dietitian Sue Shepherd has studied for the first time the details of what untreated/undiagnosed coeliac disease does to the composition and physiology of the body, and how a gluten free diet influences changes seen. This work has, amongst other things, enhanced our understanding of what damage is or is not done, and how it repairs or otherwise over one year of the gluten free diet. Analysis of this detailed study is still in progress. Results will be reported in a later edition of The Australian Coeliac.

Dr Jason Tye-Din, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Dr Bob Anderson, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Immunologist have been fine mapping the details of how gluten stimulates the immune system to cause damage to the bowel. This work is pivotal to the development of coeliac vaccines, the ultimate prize.

Greg Tanner from the CSIRO is examining how to produce non-toxic cereals that behave like gluten-containing cereals and produce the bread slice that can, in the words of Sue Shepherd, 'wrap around a sausage'.

2. It has worked to enhance professional education about the disease.

This has been achieved by direct educational events where members of the Fund have lectured Gastroenterologists, Physicians, General Practitioners and Dietitians. More recently, an educational CD-ROM, providing the latest information in assessing and diagnosing coeliac disease, has been produced. This will provide an important educational source particularly for Primary Care Doctors (GPs).

Such exciting work has been possible largely because of the generosity of members of The Coeliac Society and the food industry. Many thanks to all those who have supported the Fund. The quest continues and we hope your donations will be an annual event.

Peter Gibson
Chair / ANZCRF

Vist the ANZCRF website.