NFCA earns admission into 13th International Coeliac Disease Symposium
| 12/29/2008 |
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Ambler, Pennsylvania (December 29th, 2008) -The NFCA is both thrilled and humbled by the acceptance of its abstract submission entitled, “Gluten-Free Cooking Sprees: An innovative approach to promoting awareness and diagnosis of celiac disease” into the 13th annual International Coeliac Disease Symposium (ICDS). NFCA president Alice Bast will have the tremendous honor of presenting the entire study during the event to be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from April 6th-8th 2009. NFCA’s abstract will be showcased alongside 350 presentations slated for the symposium’s program. NFCA’s submission “Gluten-Free Cooking Sprees: An innovative approach to promoting awareness and diagnosis of celiac disease” details the implications and outreach of the organization’s signature fundraising event, the “Gluten-Free Cooking Spree”. Through a multi disciplinary methodology addressing celiac disease in both medical and lifestyle arenas, as well as its all encompassing appeal to healthcare, food industry, media, public audiences; the success of NFCA’s “Gluten-Free Cooking Spree” program holds influence in the areas of raising awareness and celiac disease education. In 2008, NFCA held sprees in seven cities and involved 1000 medical professionals both directly and indirectly, 500 restaurant and culinary industry professionals, as well as over 5,000 members of the general public and celiac community. “Gluten-Free Cooking Sprees: An innovative approach to promoting awareness and diagnosis of celiac disease” will be presented as a part of the clinical forum programming for its relevance and application to ICDS subtopic category, diagnosis of celiac disease. The abstract was co-authored by Dr. Ritu Verma; director of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Center for Celiac Disease, and section chief of CHOP’s gastroenterology & nutrition department. Dr. Verma will join Alice Bast at the symposium and assist in the presentation. The International Coeliac Disease Symposium is the foremost conference for the review and discussion of contemporary issues and latest scientific developments in celiac disease. The program covers the entire spectrum of celiac disease from; pathogenesis, presentation, diagnostics, treatment, application, and education through its scientific and clinical forums. The annual event attracts the most prestigious pioneers and leaders in the celiac community including; doctors, nurses, scientists, researchers, dieticians, and activists. 2009 ICDS will feature speakers including: Peter Green MD, director of The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, Nadine Cerf-Bensussan MD PhD, Charles Debray and Rosa Lamarca prize winner for her research in immunology applied to intestinal diseases, Peter Shewry, BSc, PhD, DSc, Associate Director of Rothamsted Research and member of the BBSRC Agri-Food Committee leading research programs on structure, composition and end use properties of cereal seeds, and Professor of Gastrointestinal Genetics at Queen Mary University of London, David Van Heel , among many other authorities in the celiac disease community. For more information on the 13th annual International Coeliac Disease Symposium, visit http://www.icds2009.org/ Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. It is triggered by consumption of the protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. Left untreated, people with celiac disease can develop further complications such as other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and some cancers. The National Institute of Health estimates that 1 in 133 people in the United States have celiac disease, but an astounding 95% live undiagnosed. The only known treatment for celiac disease is a life long adherence to a gluten- free diet. |
