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Celiac.com 03/25/2023 - Researchers reported last month that they have discovered the cause of celiac disease: A small fragment of the gluten protein fails to break down and triggers the immune systems into action. In addition to discovering the key fragment that makes gluten so poisonous to celiacs, Dr. Chaitan Khosla, researcher and founder of the Celiac Sprue Research Foundation (CSRF), reports that he has also found a bacterial enzyme that breaks down the toxic peptide and appears to make gluten digestible and safe. The enzyme could well become the key to an oral medication for celiac disease. The CSRF is a science-driven public charity that seeks to improve the quality of life of celiac patients by promoting research and development, and by enhancing awareness of the disease among scientists, healthcare professionals, consumer product manufacturers and the general public. Its primary goal is to translate emerging knowledge about celiac disease into a comprehensive plan for developing a therapeutic alternative to a gluten-free diet. Once the Foundation’s initial drug development strategy has been launched, it will use available resources to promote basic research that might lead to fundamentally new insights into the disease, and to improve technologies for detecting new patients of this seriously under-diagnosed disease. It is anticipated that each of the therapeutic possibilities being researched by the CSRF will require 1-3 years of pre-clinical research before a suitable Investigational New Drug (IND) candidate can be identified for further clinical studies. Once an IND application has been successfully filed with the U.S. FDA or its European equivalent, extensive human clinical studies must be performed to thoroughly assess both the safety and efficacy of the drug candidate. These clinical trials can be expected to last 5-8 years before a prescription drug emerges in the marketplace. Until such studies are successfully completed, no candidate therapeutic agent can be considered suitable for use by celiac sprue patients. The CSRF has ambitious and achievable goals if it can gain the immediate support of the celiac community. The CSRF is actively raising funds to help support the above research and development efforts.

Celiac.com 02/11/2023 - The Celiac Sprue Research Foundation has opened its research laboratory in Sunnyvale, California at the dawn of the new year. Foundation Scientific Director, Gary M. Gray, M.D., is working closely with founder Chaitan Khosla, Ph.D., in establishing the Foundation’s drug development programs and priorities. Dr. Gray also supervises two Research Associates, Qing Li, Ph.D., and Thomas Marti, Ph.D., and Clinical Associate, Gail G. Pyle, M.D. Blair W. Stewart is Vice President and General Counsel of the Foundation. Dr. Li received her Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry from Stanford University in 2002 after studying at Nanjing University and North Carolina State University. She has authored papers in protein chemistry and structural biology. Dr. Marti received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Swiss Technical Institute (ETH) in Zurich, and performed postdoctoral research at Stanford University between 1998 and 2000. From 2000 through 2002 he worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. in their Zurich offices. A Celiac herself, Dr. Pyle received her M.D. from Stanford School of Medicine. The mother of two young children, she is a Board Certified Internist, and practiced Primary Care Internal Medicine in the Stanford area for several years before joining the Foundation. Promoting the development of a safe and effective therapeutic alternative to a lifelong gluten-free diet is the number one goal of the Celiac Sprue Research Foundation. Toward this end the Foundation’s current efforts are predominantly focused on laying the groundwork for a proof-of-principle clinical trial that will test whether dietary gluten can be detoxified via treatment with a prolyl endopeptidase enzyme. This work builds on recent studies by Drs. Gray, Khosla and their collaborators from Stanford University and the University of Oslo, published last year (Science, 297, 2275-2279, 2002). A key prerequisite for this trial is the production of a recombinant enzyme, produced in bacteria. To do so Drs. Li, Marti, and Khosla recently installed two fermentors at the Foundation’s laboratory. These fermentors, on loan from Kosan Biosciences, Inc., a Hayward, California-based biotechnology company, will enable CSRF to produce intermediate amounts of the enzyme for research using advanced recombinant biotechnology methods. Later this year, production of the enzyme will be scaled up to the larger quantities needed for the proof-of-principle clinical trial. The bacteria are grown in the fermentor in a water-based environment that requires careful control of such variables as temperature, oxygen level, and nutrients. Drs. Li, Marti, and Khosla worked long into the night setting up and calibrating pumps, instruments, air and water supplies and an automatic control system. Actual fermentation began in early March and samples of the active enzyme have been produced in the Foundation laboratory. Dr. Marti has also installed a state-of-art High Performance Liquid Chromatography system, which is being used to develop a reproducible large-scale procedure for preparing enzyme-treated gluten for clinical trials. The scientific protocols for production and testing of the enzyme are being designed for reproducibility from batch to batch and to allow scaling up production to the larger batches of material needed for the clinical trial. In parallel with these laboratory efforts, Drs. Gray and Pyle are developing the protocols and consent forms for the clinical trial, and making arrangements with a local clinic for performing this trial. Resources permitting, the trial will be completed by the end of the year. If successful, it will provide a firm basis for initiating further clinical studies on whether an orally administered enzyme pill can effectively counter the toxic effects of dietary gluten in a Celiac Sprue patient. To ramp up its enzyme therapy project and also initiate a second drug development project, the Celiac Sprue Research Foundation is recruiting additional Ph.D. level scientists with strong backgrounds in the life sciences. Of particular interest are outstanding immunologists, cell biologists, molecular biologists and chemists, who are interested in a career opportunity at the interface between academia and industry that allows them to gain a unique perspective on preclinical and clinical To ramp up its enzyme therapy project and also initiate a second drug development project, the Celiac Sprue Research Foundation is recruiting additional Ph.D. level scientists with strong backgrounds in the life sciences. Of particular interest are outstanding immunologists, cell biologists, molecular biologists and chemists, who are interested in a career opportunity at the interface between academia and industry that allows them to gain a unique perspective on preclinical and clinical aspects of drug development. The Celiac Sprue Research Foundation is a public charity that relies upon donations from individuals to support its activities. As an Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Celiac.com 12/31/2022 - The Celiac Sprue Research Foundation recently held the first meeting of its Scientific Advisory Board. Marking the first anniversary of the Foundation, all nine members of the Scientific Advisory Board attended the meeting on April 16 and 17, 2003, including four scientists who traveled from Europe. The presentations and discussion included current clinical research, current and new diagnosis protocols, possible avenues for the development of therapeutic drugs, and the design of clinical trials. Attendees from Europe were Frits Koning, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands; Markku Mäki, M.D., Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Finland; Detlef Schuppan, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and the Clinical Vice Director of the Department of Medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, and Ludvig M. Sollid, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Immunology at the University of Oslo, Norway. Scientific Advisory Board members from the United States attending were Mark M. Davis, Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Investigator and the Burt and Marion Avery Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, at the Stanford University School of Medicine; John H. Griffin, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Pharmix Inc.; Martin F. Kagnoff, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Director of the Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology at the University of California, San Diego; Peter Licari, Ph.D., Vice President, Process Science of Kosan Biosciences, Inc.; and Gary M. Gray, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Foundation Scientific Director. Drs. Gray and Sollid are co-chairs of the Scientific Advisory Board. Also attending were Chaitan Khosla, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry (by courtesy) at Stanford University and Foundation President, Christopher T. Walsh, Ph.D., Hamilton Kuhn Professor at Harvard Medical School and a Director of the Foundation, Foundation Research Associates Qing Li, Ph.D., and Thomas Marti, Ph.D., and Clinical Associate Gail Pyle, M.D. A major thrust of the meeting was the review of current research in celiac sprue diagnosis and potential avenues of treatment. Dr. Khosla opened the meeting with an overview of the Foundation and its mission. He noted in particular the goals of catalyzing the development of a therapeutic alternative to the strict gluten-free diet for the treatment of celiac sprue, and of development of improved, non-invasive, non-gluten challenge diagnostic tests for the disease. While the time frame for development of therapeutics may be ten years or more, and that for much improved diagnostics five years or more, he proposed that the research activities of the Foundation may help clinically validate at least one therapeutic and one diagnostic approach within the next two to four years. Dietary gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley, reacts with cells in the lining of the gut of persons with celiac sprue leading to a marked flattening of the intestinal villi. This vastly reduces the surface area of the small intestine where most nutrients are absorbed. The result is a markedly reduced ability to absorb nutrients and leads to systemic complications such as loss of bone mass over time. More immediate symptoms include bloating, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Dietary gluten is highly resistant to digestion. In non-celiacs this is of no consequences, but in celiacs the gluten triggers a chain of event leading to the flattening of the intestinal villi. Collaborative research by Drs. Gray, Sollid and Khosla has shown that immunotoxic fragments of gluten are highly resistant to breakdown by the human digestive process. They have also shown that a prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) enzyme can accelerate the break down of gluten in conjunction with normal digestive processes. The Foundation plans to initiate a proof of concept trial later in the year. This trial involves the treatment of common wheat gluten with PEP in order to break gluten protein into smaller, readily digestible pieces. The PEP is produced from a microorganism by recombinant biotechnology techniques, and the gluten will be treated outside the body. The deactivated gluten would be given to Celiac Sprue volunteers in remission in a double blind crossover clinical study. This trial, if successful could lead to a PEP based therapeutic for treatment of the disease. Scientific Advisory Board members reported to the meeting on developments in their areas of research and expertise. Among other matters discussed, Dr. Maki presented unpublished results from his group on the incidence of celiac sprue among the Finnish population. His group studied an extended Finnish family of about 30,000 individuals that traces its genealogy back to a Celiac ancestor living about 1550. Remarkably, Dr. Maki’s researchers obtained tax, military, church and other written records of this individual and many other family members and were able to identify many of those who had Celiac Sprue. Between one in 100 and one in 200 persons in Western Europe are celiacs. Other populations may have a higher or lower incidence of the disease. There is evidence that the prevalence of celiac sprue is much higher among persons of North African descent where the introduction of wheat in the diet is a relatively recent event. In this population perhaps up the 5% of the population are celiacs. Dr. Koning reported on an approach to identify and hybridize safer foods. This approach, if pursued, would involve the analysis of the many thousands of known strains of wheat. The goal would be to search for non-toxic wheat variants, a major effort that would be expected to take several years. Foundation researchers gave reports on PEP production and gluten detoxification methods, and Scientific Advisory Board members reviewed the Foundation’s proposed trial protocol. Other promising therapeutic strategies, including tissue transglutaminase inhibitors and HLA-DQ8 inhibitors, were discussed. Regulatory and commercialization requirements were also reviewed. Finally, in a review of the meeting and Foundation’s activities to date, board members offered suggestions for fund raising and enhancing the Foundation’s effectiveness. The Foundation believes the meeting was of enormous value to its work and the fulfillment of its goals.

Celiac.com 09/23/2021 - Did you ever wonder what was in the powder that was used to make your makeup foundation? Could it, by chance, contain any wheat? After going gluten-free this “what if” mindset is very common, which is why everyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should find the peace of mind offered by EpiLynx by Dr. Liia: An entire line of gluten-free cosmetics, makeup and skin care products, and this includes their Luminous Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about their gluten-free foundation is that it's made with multiple nourishing elements that are designed to protect, hydrate, and detoxify your skin. In addition to being gluten-free, all of their products are also also allergen-free and vegan. Luminous Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation will not only help you even out your skin's complexion and create a more balanced look, but, because it contains titanium dioxide and dimethicone, it will also help to protect your skin from the sun's harmful UV radiation. Many cosmetic companies couldn't tell you whether or not their products contain gluten, and in this case, not knowing is the same thing as not caring. EpiLynx by Dr. Liia is a company that not only cares about this, but has proven it by creating an entire line of high quality gluten-free, allergen-free, and vegan cosmetics, so that you can put your mind to rest when it comes to wearing makeup. Visit their site for more info.

Celiac.com 05/14/2020 - If you're like me and have celiac disease, discovering sources of hidden gluten in your diet is essential. Gluten can be in things you least expect, and I've discovered the hard way that this also includes in your makeup. Eliminating gluten in your cosmetics, lotions, hair care products, and basically anything you apply to your skin is crucial, especially for those with gluten sensitivity and/or dermatitis herpetiformis. This is why I made the switch to EpiLynx by Dr. Liia Cosmetics. Dr Liia Ramachandra, PharmD, PhD, founder of EpiLynx by Dr. Liia, has created an incredible line of gluten-free, all natural makeup and cosmetic products that are specifically designed for people who are gluten sensitive. The EpiLynx by Dr. Liia makeup line now includes gluten-free foundations in 25 different shades, so you can perfectly match your skin tone. For this review I tried the “02” shade, which is light-yellowish. The liquid foundation comes in a squirt top bottle and applying it could not be simpler—just spread it evenly on your face to give your skin a more uniform complexion, and cover any flaws or skin tone issues you might have. Besides being a great moisturizer, this gluten-free foundation also contains SPF 15 sunscreen, so it's really an all-in-one product that can save you time and money, as you won't need to apply sunscreen separately. As with all EpiLynx by Dr. Liia products that I've tried so far, I found their foundation to be another great product that I will use regularly, without having to worry about gluten issues. I wish all products were made this way! About EpiLynx by Dr. Liia: Epilynx was founded by Dr. Liia Ramachandra, PharmD, PhD, who founded the company after her struggle with gluten sensitivity. For more info visit their site.

Celiac.com 05/21/2020 - If your face is like mine—not perfect—you may need to use a makeup foundation from time to time. If you're gluten sensitive, or have celiac disease like I do, then I recommend EpiLynx by Dr. Liia Long Lasting Glowing Moisturizing Full Coverage Gluten-Free Foundations, as they are 100% gluten-free and made specifically for those who want to avoid any gluten in their cosmetics. With EpiLynx by Dr. Liia's huge line of 25 different shades of gluten-free foundations, you can dial in a color that is just right for your skin tone. During Winter I use a lighter shade #02, but in Summer, after I get a bit more sun, I need to use a darker shade—usually #03. Shade #13 is midway between their darkest shade #25, and their lightest #1 shade, and it's a nice light-brown shade whose color reminds me of coffee with cream. Even though it's darker than I normally use, for this review I tried it out and it gave my face a tan, healthier look that surprised me because of how natural it appeared. The foundation comes in a handy pump bottle so application is a breeze, just pump a small amount on your fingers and spread if over your face evenly to give your skin a perfect looking complexion that is free of flaws. EpiLynx by Dr. Liia foundations contain SPF 15 sun block and are enriched with Vitamin E, and like all of their products, they are made using all natural and gluten-free ingredients. If your goal is to eliminate any possible sources of gluten, including those that touch your skin, and to use high quality cosmetics that contain the very best ingredients, be sure to check out EpiLynx by Dr. Liia and their vast line of outstanding gluten-free products. About EpiLynx by Dr. Liia: Epilynx was founded by Dr. Liia Ramachandra, PharmD, PhD, who founded the company after her struggle with gluten sensitivity. For more info visit their site.

Celiac.com 06/11/2020 - If you are gluten-free due to celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, or gluten sensitivity, there is a lot to love about EpiLynx by Dr. Liia's large line of gluten-free makeups, cosmetics, lotions, moisturizers and other products. Given the fact that so many food companies have focused on making gluten-free products, it's about time that a cosmetic company has catered to this fast-growing community. EpiLynx by Dr. Liia offers a vast line of 25 different shades of gluten-free foundation so you can perfectly match your skin tone. Applying the correct tone will make your face look more even and perfect, and the SPF 15 sunscreen and Vitamin E will help reduce wrinkles and keep your skin healthier. Today's product review focuses on EpiLynx by Dr. Liia shade #21, which is designed for those with a dark brown skin tone. The rich color of this foundation reminds me of medium roasted coffee, and its all natural scent is wonderful. For those with a dark brown skin, finding a foundation to match it can be challenging, especially if you also expect it to be gluten-free and made using only high quality, all natural ingredients. This liquid foundation is simple to apply using its pump bottle, and it only takes a couple of drops to cover large areas of your face, and erase any imperfections to make your skin look perfect all day long. Whether you are looking for gluten-free lip stick, eye liner, lip gloss, eye shadow, moisturizer, or foundation, EpiLynx by Dr. Liia has everything you need. With 25 different shades of Long Lasting Glowing Moisturizing Full Coverage Foundation to chose from, EpiLynx by Dr. Liia definitely has you covered! About EpiLynx by Dr. Liia: Epilynx was founded by Dr. Liia Ramachandra, PharmD, PhD, who founded the company after her struggle with gluten sensitivity. For more info visit their site.

Celiac.com 11/13/2014 - An anonymous donor has made a $2 million dollar contribution to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). The donation is the largest in the organization's history, and will support the NFCA’s mission is to raise celiac disease awareness, promote research and testing testing, and improve the quality of life for celiacs eating a gluten-free diet. Since 2003, the NFCA has worked to promote celiac disease research and awareness. The grant will help to ensure support for the NFCA as it looks to increase research and awareness into the future. Stay tuned for updates on how the NFCA supplements or expands its ongoing efforts on behalf of people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

Celiac.com 06/19/2013 - Currently, immunosuppressant drugs are the only real treatment option for most autoimmune disorders, such as celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes. However, researchers are busily exploring the possibilities offered therapeutic vaccines, known as antigen-specific immunotherapy. ImmusanT is one company working to develop a vaccine that will allow patients with celiac disease to safely eat gluten (the antigen). That vaccine is presently undergoing clinical trials. ImmusanT and its research partners are looking to build on their expertise in celiac disease to improve their understanding of antigen-specific immunotherapy for other autoimmune diseases. In Current Opinion in Immunology, researchers Bob Anderson and Bana Jabri describe how identification of pathogenic T cell epitopes (segment of the antigen) and recent initiatives to optimize immune monitoring have helped drive rational vaccine design in human autoimmune diseases. Celiac disease has provided researchers with the first opportunity to design and test epitope-specific immunotherapy with a thorough understanding of disease-causing T cell epitopes. This approach offers "truly customized immunotherapy for patients with celiac disease according to their genetics and the molecular specificity of their immune response to gluten," said Bob Anderson, PhD, MBChB, Chief Scientific Officer of ImmusanT. Because celiac disease shares key features, such as susceptibility genes, presence of autoantibodies and destruction of specific cells, with other autoimmune disorders, like Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, it provides a model for understanding and exploring the triggers and drivers of autoimmunity, in general, write Drs. Bana Jabri and Ludvig Sollid in the Perspectives section in Nature Reviews Immunology. By factoring in the association with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), post-translation modifications, the antigen and the tissue, researchers can design methods that help to the spot potential drivers of autoimmune disease. Because peptide-specific therapy specifically targets the immune cells that drive the disease process, "it offers the potential to prevent and cure disease, without inducing general immunosuppression," said Bana Jabri, MD, PhD, Director, University of Chicago Celiac Center; Professor, Department of Medicine, Pathology and Pediatrics, University of Chicago; and Senior Scientific Advisor to ImmusanT. Ludvig M. Sollid, MD, PhD, is Director, Centre for Immune Regulation; Professor of Medicine, Department of Immunology, University of Oslo; Consultant, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet; and member of ImmusanT's Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Jabri is Co-Chair of the 15(th) International Celiac Disease Symposium to be hosted by the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, September 22-25, 2013. The event will draw the world's top scientists and physicians to discuss the most recent scientific advances in managing and treating celiac disease and gluten-related disorders.

Celiac Disease Foundation is the nation’s leading disease advocacy organization for celiac disease and non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity. We drive diagnosis, treatment, and a cure through research, education, and advocacy to improve the quality of life for all those affected. Through iCureCeliac®, our national registry dedicated to patient-centered research, we collaborate with researchers, clinicians, and industry to better understand, and ultimately cure, celiac disease. Since our founding in 1990, Celiac Disease Foundation continues to champion many battles: federal recognition of celiac disease and labeling standards for gluten-free foods, improved diagnostic tools, widespread patient and provider education, access to mainstream gluten-free products, and the need for better treatments and a cure. 20350 Ventura Blvd. Suite 240 Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Tel: (818) 716-1513 E-mail: cdf@celiac.org Internet: http://www.celiac.org