Digestive Disease Week (DDW), the largest and most important gathering of gastrointestinal researchers in the world, was held in San Diego from May 21-24, 2022. This was a notable event as there were more presentations from researchers about celiac disease at this conference than at any other DDW in history. You can view the entire celiac disease program with abstracts here.
But it isn’t just the volume of celiac disease research presented at this conference that was impressive. The quality of the research, especially around promising new therapeutics and a deeper understanding of the disease microbiology and its impact on quality of life for patients, is truly a sign of the progress being made. It is also a sign that your generous donations to the Celiac Disease Foundation are realizing a solid return. For example, four of the most highly-regarded researchers to whom the Foundation has awarded research funding presented at Digestive Disease Week:
- Dr. Joseph Murray, Mayo Clinic, Celiac Disease Foundation Prize for Excellence in Celiac Disease Research recipient
- Dr. Jocelyn Silvester, Boston Children’s Hospital, Celiac Disease Foundation Young Investigator Prize and Young Investigator Research Grant Award recipient
- Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, Columbia University, Celiac Disease Foundation Young Investigator Research Grant Award recipient
- Dr. Amelie Therrien, Boston Children’s Hospital, Celiac Disease Foundation Young Investigator Research Grant Award co-investigator
In addition, results from two Foundation-supported clinical trials were presented:
- Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacodynamic Assessment of KAN-101, A Novel Liver-Targeted Therapy to Induce Immunological Tolerance to Gliadin in Celiac Disease
- CeliacShieldTM Gluten Challenge Study – Latiglutenase Protects the Mucosa and Attenuates Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Marilyn G. Geller, Celiac Disease Foundation CEO, also co-authored a poster that was presented during the conference:
- Celiac Disease Symptom Flares Are Common During the Postpartum Period. Marcela Banegas, Marilyn G. Geller, Daniel A. Leffler, Jocelyn Silvester, Amelie Therrien.
The Foundation was also delighted to present the $25,000 Celiac Disease Foundation Prize for Excellence in Celiac Disease Research to Dr. Murray and the $10,000 Celiac Disease Foundation Young Investigator Prize to Dr. Silvester at the Inaugural Awards Reception at Digestive Disease Week. We are deeply grateful to our prize recipients for their commitment to the celiac disease community and their work that continues to move us toward treatments and, one day, a cure for celiac disease.
Are you interested in participating in celiac disease research? Add your data to our iCureCeliac® patient registry today. iCureCeliac® is a free online platform for patients or their caregivers to provide critical insights into life with celiac disease. Your participation will help create better diagnostic tools and treatments for cross-contact and gluten consumption, governmental policy changes, and access to new and innovative clinical trials nationwide, which may, one day, cure celiac disease.