<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

In 2003 HHS released a Comprehensive Research Plan from NIH to fight
autoimmune diseases. It provided specific recommendations for research
and education. This report is NIH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES COORDINATING
COMMITTEE Autoimmune Diseases Research Plan.

The report is very comprehensive and well done. However there is NO
MENTION of CELIAC DISEASE. This work is done under the NIAID, the NIH's
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Because we were was
concerned we called NIAID and found that a new report is about to be
released and this does cover Celiac.

Has anyone been involved in the development of the new report? IN THE
2003 report there were no Celiac groups represented, although other
groups were. Are there any celiac specialists or patient groups
represented in the development of this new report?

There is much commonality in the autoimmune community of diseases, thus
there is the need to develop multidisciplinary approaches to follow up
and training that goes beyond the gastroenterologist dietician model. We
think the celiac community should be involved. Perhaps it has been and
is, but we have not seen much mention of it. All activities are
coordinated under the NIAID

One can find more information by going to the NIAID website. Noel Rose
is the Chairman of the Trans-NIH AUtoimmune Diseases Coordinating
Committee.

Please contact us if you know about this work and if we have any
representatives. The AARDA has been very involved and knows about
celiac, but it did not appear to have advocated for us.

Also our name is De Bruyn we will have to correct our mail set up.

Hal and Irma De Bruyn

* Please remember some posters may be WHEAT-FREE, but not GLUTEN-FREE *