<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Dear List Mates: I have posted before about the number of celiacs with multiple autoimmune conditions and that we should tell the AARDA (American Autoimmune Related Disorders Association) about our situation. There is an article in "Family Circle" dated April 3, 2001. (Page 15&16) "Hoping for a Cure". I tried writing to the AARDA again but could not get the e-mail to go through. But at the end of the article it gives the name of the researcher at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution who is directing the research. Dr. Noel R. Rose. His e-mail address is [log in to unmask] I e-mailed him this morning to tell him of Dr. Fine's research and how people with autoimmune disease should be screened for gluten sensitivity/celiac disease. Even that every American should be screened. If you feel that autoimmune disease needs more attention and research and that Dr. Fine's testing (a simple stool test) should be incorporated into screening individuals with autoimmune disease then maybe you could write to him also. Tell him of any experiences you have with celiac disease and any other autoimmune disease you may have (even the other conditions such as asthma, ADD, peripheral neuropathy, and any others that were associated with celiac disease). You might want to mention all of the problems that the celiacs are having as you may have read on the listserve. Tell him how life threatening celiac disease is. Also how autoimmune disease should be tracked. How many celiacs are there in the U.S.? If we get enough people to advocate in this direction perhaps we can get some research in this area and find out "why" is there so much autoimmune disease especially in women. Thanks to everyone for being concerned about this situation and your support to help autoimmune disease. Elaine