£180,000 funding announced for research into coeliac disease

The UK charity for people who need to live gluten free and the innovation agency are launching a second research call to industry and researchers to make improvements for people living with the autoimmune condition, coeliac disease.

“We want to change the course of coeliac disease treatment through improved diagnostics, technology and food innovations that truly bridge the gap between people, health professionals and products,” said Hilary Croft, CEO of Coeliac UK. “Research has the power to do this and by combining forces with Innovate UK and industry, our charity demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the UK’s growing gluten free community.”

The successful projects must underpin and support Coeliac UK’s top ten research priorities, including:

• Improving diagnostics for coeliac disease, refractory coeliac disease and/or gluten related neurological conditions
• Developing tools for the long term management of coeliac disease
• Enhancing the quality of staple gluten free food.

Three projects have already been awarded grants from the first joint research call and include projects to provide a less invasive way of diagnosing coeliac disease; the development of new plant proteins derived from crops (which are underused in the UK) and software innovation to help in the ongoing management of coeliac disease.

“It’s fantastic to be working with charities such as Coeliac UK to promote innovations that will have a real, positive impact on people’s lives,” added Kathryn Miller, Innovation Lead for Food and Nutrition at Innovate UK. “Innovate UK has long supported businesses innovating in the areas of healthcare diagnostics, digital support and enhancing nutritional quality of foods, themes already supported through joint Coeliac UK/Innovate UK funding awarded earlier this year.”

Applications and information about the second joint research call will go live on 6 June 2019 on the Coeliac UK website.