As an autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 3 million Americans, celiac disease is an important part of the broader national effort to improve research, diagnosis, and treatment across autoimmune conditions. This week, the Celiac Disease Foundation co-hosted a congressional briefing with the Autoimmune Association and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to present the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research.
The Strategic Plan reflects the input of our organizations and the momentum we are building toward a common vision to address autoimmune disease and dramatically improve the health and well-being of our communities.
The briefing, held July 22nd in Washington D.C. featured Dr. Victoria Shanmugam, Director of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research in the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, who detailed the full scope of the ambitious NIH 5-year plan to advance federally-funded autoimmune research efforts, including celiac disease, highlighting the steps the agency will take to achieve the following priorities:
- Priority 1: Accelerate scientific discovery in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and cure of autoimmune diseases
- Priority 2: Promote research focused on enhancing health for people living with and at risk of autoimmune diseases
- Priority 3: Support research to understand the complexity of autoimmune diseases
- Priority 4: Build and maintain capacity for autoimmune disease research
- Priority 5: Build and strengthen partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration across the autoimmune disease community
We are grateful to Dr. Shanmugan, her staff, and the NIH for their leadership in prioritizing autoimmune disease research. View the full strategic plan here: Strategic Planning for Autoimmune Disease Research at NIH or watch the recording.
We appreciate the Autoimmune Association for sponsoring this informative event and providing the Foundation an opportunity to co-host with valued community partners – the Arthritis Foundation, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Immune Deficiency Foundation, Lupus Foundation of America, National Psoriasis Foundation, National Scleroderma Foundation, and Sjögren’s Foundation.
We remain deeply committed to driving progress and meaningful change at all levels of the federal government, advancing the needs of celiac disease patients through bold, collaborative action.