We talk a lot about research at Beyond Celiac—translational research to speed the development of treatments, evidence generation to inspire more celiac research, and funded research to accelerate discovery in promising areas. While our #1 priority will always be with the celiac community, it might surprise you to know that our research efforts may be the key to finding treatments for all autoimmune conditions.
One characteristic about celiac disease that makes it potentially the key to unlocking autoimmune conditions like Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Crohn’s, and more: celiac disease is the only autoimmune condition with a known trigger. With other autoimmune diseases, we cannot pinpoint when a reaction will occur. In celiac disease, we have a known instigator: gluten.
Whether a person with celiac experiences symptoms or not, gluten causes the autoimmune response where the body begins attacking healthy intestinal cells when gluten is ingested.
This clear cause-and-effect allows us to study how the disease works more clearly than other conditions—less guesswork is involved. That means if we can figure out precisely how celiac disease works, we could figure out how other autoimmune diseases work. Going even further, if we can use this information to figure out how to cure celiac disease, we could figure out how to cure other autoimmune diseases.
March is Autoimmune Awareness Month and the perfect time to support our fellow autoimmune disease communities. From T1D and Lupus to Sjögren’s and Graves’ disease, when we advocate for one, we advocate for all to have quality patient-informed care, comprehensive treatments, and respectful accommodations. By continuing to press for celiac disease treatments, we are aiming for a future where other communities have the precious keys to unlocking their conditions.
In the meantime, we continue to support celiac patient needs today. Join us this month for Living Gluten-Free, a town hall with registered dietician Christina Williams, MS, RD, LDN. Subscribe to Celiac Straight Talk, wherever you get your podcasts, for an upcoming episode on life with multiple autoimmune conditions, including celiac disease. And, if you’re not already, subscribe to our Research News updates for regular information about the latest in celiac disease research that has the potential to unlock other autoimmune conditions.
It’s heartening for me—and I hope it is for you, too—that supporting celiac disease research isn’t just supporting our community. It’s bigger than that. It could mean supporting anyone with other autoimmune diseases and anyone who will develop one. In that sense, it’s helping everyone.
Thanks to the generosity and passion of the celiac community, we’ve come so far toward a world beyond celiac disease and autoimmune diseases. If you’d like to support our work, donate at beyondceliac.org/giving.
Together for a world beyond celiac!
—Alice Bast, CEO
Join us on March 12, National Registered Dietitan Nutritionist day, for a Q&A on the gluten-free diet with Schär dietitian Christiana Williams, MS, RD, LDN. We’ll also show you an easy gluten-free spin on the traditional Reuben sandwich just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!
This event is possible thanks to our sponsor, Schär! Those who register for our March 2025 Town Hall will receive something special from Schär.
Here’s an easy way to support celiac disease research: sign up for our annual virtual Step Beyond Celiac, presented by DiGiorno, Jack’s, and California Pizza Kitchen! Participants in our virtual event can walk, run, bike or roll 3.1 miles anywhere, anytime this May, which is Celiac Awareness Month. Any and all proceeds will go toward our work to find treatments and a cure for celiac disease, and our top fundraisers will receive fabulous, gluten-free prizes, donated by our generous sponsors.
Lace up your shoes and help us race toward the ultimate finish line—a cure for celiac disease!
Join us for the 2025 Dallas Step Beyond Celiac, presented by DiGiorno, Jack’s, and California Pizza Kitchen, on Saturday, April 5th from 9 AM–12 PM at Dallas College Brookhaven! Together we’ll enjoy the outdoors, eat gluten-free goodies, meet others in the community, and, of course, raise money for our critical work to serve folks like you all over the world. As a bonus this year, our top fundraisers will receive fabulous, gluten-free prizes!
Lace up your shoes and help us race toward the ultimate finish line—a cure for celiac disease!
Step Beyond Celiac is proudly presented by:
Bring on the fish fry! This recipe features white, flaky haddock topped with creamy avocado, a sweet-and-spicy mango salsa, and crisp lettuce. We think the combination is pretty dang tasty, but feel free to customize to your taste!
Looking for a sweet snack to have on your coffee break? Try biscotti! Biscotti are a traditional cookie from Italy that are baked twice and eaten with coffee or wine. This recipe was provided by our friends at the Gluten-Free Palate.
Is farro gluten-free?
No, farro is not gluten-free. The word “farro” actually refers to multiple species of wheat, including einkorn, emmer and spelt, which means that none of these grains are gluten-free. Avoid them if you’re on a strict gluten-free diet! Learn more about farro.
Beyond Celiac original research accepted for presentation at DDW
Beyond Celiac original research selected for presentation at DDW for the fifth time and fourth consecutive year.
Read more research news on our Research News Feed
“On top of being a college student, I’m also competing as a NCAA Division 1 athlete. Not only do I have to worry about keeping a strict gluten-free diet, I also have to constantly worry about how my food choices are impacting my athletic performance.
Despite living with celiac for almost 15 years, I have just recently realized how much of an impact living with this disease can have. I’ve had to learn to advocate for myself in the dining halls, talk with university support staff, and cook gluten-free meals in my dorm room using just a microwave.”
Lawsuit Puts 504 Plan Protections at Risk for Food Allergy Kids
The suit, called Texas v. Becerra, involves 17 states and seeks to end accommodations for students with disabilities that have been in place for decades. The 504 is a civil rights tool. Many U.S. families use it to ensure equal access to public education for students with food allergies and asthma. The states involved in the lawsuit are suing the U.S. government. In the suit, filed in September 2024, they claim that Section 504 is unconstitutional.
Podcast episode 89: Beyond Celiac Investments & Venture Philanthropy with Eric White
In this episode, we kept close to home and spoke with Eric White, Director of Business Development and Strategic Alliances at Beyond Celiac. We unpacked the concept of venture philanthropy, and how exactly Beyond Celiac Investments, our venture philanthropy arm, is making its mark on the future of celiac research.
Are you a highly organized, proactive individual with previous research-related experience and a proven track record of leading projects and working independently? Then you might just be the perfect fit for our Associate Director of Scientific Research position! Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, so apply sooner rather than later.
Raise Money for Beyond Celiac on Facebook!
Happy birth-month to all our March-born community members! When your big day rolls around, consider raising money for Beyond Celiac so that we can help fund new research by scientists in the celiac disease field. And a HUGE thank you to everyone who’s created fundraisers for us throughout the years! These fundraisers help make our important work possible.
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