Research

Filling in the genetic gaps

The first project, led by Professor David van Heel at Queen Mary College London, builds on earlier work carried out to identify the genetic basis of coeliac diseaseA condition where a person is unable to eat gluten as it makes their body attack itself. also funded by the Charity. In this early work, Professor van Heel identified 13 new gene variants which appeared to be associated with the condition and many were linked to the way the immune system works. In the latest study, new genetic techniques will be used to identify those genes most likely to cause coeliac disease rather than simply associated with the condition.  In the main part of the study 8,000 coeliac patient genetic samples will be analysed and compared with those from 8,000 people without the condition. The new understanding the work will generate is expected to lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment in the long term.

The project was awarded £143k and is expected to be completed early 2013.

A further update on Professor van Heel’s research can be found to the right of this page. 

Nerve knowledge

In the second study, a research team new to Coeliac UK will be funded in Cardiff led by Professor Daniel Aeschlimann. He will be joined in the researcher by longstanding coeliac specialists, Drs Marios Hadjivassiliou and David Sanders based in Sheffield.  The team are investigating a group of patients with neurological symptoms (loss of balance and loss of senses such as feeling) of coeliac disease and no classical gut symptoms. Neurological symptoms are particularly worrying because often the damage cannot be reversed unlike bowel damage. It is often harder to get a quick diagnosis when neurological symptoms are involved because the usual blood tests are more specific to gastrointestinal symptoms. 

The research will use new biomarkers (transglutaminase 6 autoantibodies) in the blood to identify more quickly those with classic neurological symptoms.  It will also look for new additional markers which may be of use as tests.  Finally, the new tests will be assessed in patients with bowel symptoms to indicate suspectability to nerve symptoms as well.

The research was awarded £190k and is expected to be completed early 2013.

Faster findings

The final research award has been given to Professor David Sanders at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.  His work will focus on improving speed to diagnosis by changing the clinical approach to those seeking a diagnosis with non specific gut symptoms.  Professor Sanders proposes testing for coeliac disease in a sample group of patients attending hospital for an endoscopyAn investigation that looks inside your gut. The endoscope is a thin flexible tube that you swallow. It has a light and a camera and is passed via the mouth and into the upper part of the gut that is affected in coeliac disease. appointment for non specific gut symptoms (where coeliac disease might not be suspected) with a blood test which provides instant results (he will be using the ‘pin prick’ test currently sold in the UK as Biocard). 

The results will be compared with a group of patients treated in the usual way. It is hoped that those who might have missed diagnosis with the usual approach can be identified quickly in a cost effective way using screening blood tests.

The research was awarded £14k which has been match funded by funding from the Bio Card company. The work will be completed in January 2011.