Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
From the Essential Gluten-Free Blog:
GF News: Record Gift Funds Celiac Research at University of Maryland
by Emily K.
Big news!
The University of Maryland’s Center for Celiac Research is already known as a leading figure in the gluten-free community. Now, thanks to a $45 million gift, the university is poised to play an even bigger role.
The gift comes from a grateful patient who was diagnosed with celiac disease, and will be used to establish a new research center focusing on autoimmune diseases. There’s a great article, including a video from the news conference, on the University of Maryland – Baltimore’s website. To sum it up, though:
The center will focus on three areas: celiac disease, mucosal biology, and microbe /host interaction
At the start there will be 13 researchers, but the center hopes to ultimately employ up to 200 people
In addition to celiac disease, the center hopes to shed light on multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, asthma, and others
Research into celiac disease lends itself to a wider understanding of other autoimmune disorders, because it is the only one with a clear, known trigger (gluten)
Dr. Alessio Fasano, who currently directs the Mucosal Biology Research Center and the Center for Celiac Research, will direct the new center
The gift is the largest private donation in the University of Maryland’s history
You can learn more about the Center for Celiac Research on their site, which also has great resources for every facet of the gluten-free community.
http://www.oea.umaryland.edu/communicat ... tail=10975
More research into MC?? Gift Funds Celiac Research at UMD
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
More research into MC?? Gift Funds Celiac Research at UMD
1987 Mononucleosis (EBV)
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
-
MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
Perhaps we should consider lobbying them? I'm their patient and have access to many others in the area.
But I'm confident that MC will be part of their research effort, in part because Fasano told me 30% of celiac patients also have MC.
He says in the article (link above):
"There are three key ingredients of inflammation and autoimmunity," said Fasano. "First, you are born with certain genes that predispose you. Second, there is an environmental trigger that causes your body to develop inflammation and eventually attack itself. Third, you have a 'leaky gut,' that is, your intestinal barrier does not keep antigens out of your body. That barrier is permeable and allows some antigens to penetrate. Celiac disease is the only autoimmune disorder for which we know the trigger-gluten. Because we know that trigger, one of our questions about autoimmunity already is answered in celiac disease. It minimizes the unknown variables we have to work with and makes celiac disease an ideal model for other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders."
MC is as closely tied to celiac and leaky gut as any disease can possibly be...we are on the same disease continuum.
Much like we believe here, that every MC case is different, he says:
"Our goal is personalized medicine. We hope to identify biomarkers to develop diagnostics for autoimmunity that can assist us in developing preventive strategies in the preclinical phase, as well as to customize treatment for individuals based on their genetics and their microbiome," he said.
This is music to my ears -- at last I have a doc who believes in "preventive strategies in the preclinical phase." Many of us with MC and no other autoimmune disease are in that preclinical phase.
This is also great news:
"The planned enterprise will have three divisions: one focused on celiac disease, the second on mucosal biology and a third focused on microbe/host interaction. The third division, the newest of the three, will examine the intersection between the human body and the microbes that inhabit the body."
Perhaps they will finally prove or disprove the theory of MAP or other bacteria living undetected in our bodies and causing "autoimmunity."
I'm ready to donate my live body to science!!
But I'm confident that MC will be part of their research effort, in part because Fasano told me 30% of celiac patients also have MC.
He says in the article (link above):
"There are three key ingredients of inflammation and autoimmunity," said Fasano. "First, you are born with certain genes that predispose you. Second, there is an environmental trigger that causes your body to develop inflammation and eventually attack itself. Third, you have a 'leaky gut,' that is, your intestinal barrier does not keep antigens out of your body. That barrier is permeable and allows some antigens to penetrate. Celiac disease is the only autoimmune disorder for which we know the trigger-gluten. Because we know that trigger, one of our questions about autoimmunity already is answered in celiac disease. It minimizes the unknown variables we have to work with and makes celiac disease an ideal model for other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders."
MC is as closely tied to celiac and leaky gut as any disease can possibly be...we are on the same disease continuum.
Much like we believe here, that every MC case is different, he says:
"Our goal is personalized medicine. We hope to identify biomarkers to develop diagnostics for autoimmunity that can assist us in developing preventive strategies in the preclinical phase, as well as to customize treatment for individuals based on their genetics and their microbiome," he said.
This is music to my ears -- at last I have a doc who believes in "preventive strategies in the preclinical phase." Many of us with MC and no other autoimmune disease are in that preclinical phase.
This is also great news:
"The planned enterprise will have three divisions: one focused on celiac disease, the second on mucosal biology and a third focused on microbe/host interaction. The third division, the newest of the three, will examine the intersection between the human body and the microbes that inhabit the body."
Perhaps they will finally prove or disprove the theory of MAP or other bacteria living undetected in our bodies and causing "autoimmunity."
I'm ready to donate my live body to science!!
I hope I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that this aspect of their research will be directed at "synergistic", "probiotic" type microbes, rather than pathogens such as MAP.Zizzle wrote:and a third focused on microbe/host interaction. The third division, the newest of the three, will examine the intersection between the human body and the microbes that inhabit the body.
Dr. Fasano has no prior history of showing any interest at all in MC, unless I'm overlooking something. Again, I hope I'm wrong.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.