Ep 127 Global Incidence of Celiac Disease – A Conversation with James King

Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –

James King was a past recipient of the James A. Campbell Memorial Research Award from the Canadian Celiac Association. His research involved a study of the many previous studies that have been done world-wide on the incidence of celiac disease.  James discussed with me the method of his study along with some of the results.  He mentioned an interactive map that is available online, so both the public and researchers can check on many of the studies used in their research.  If you have feedback for James you can email him at jamking@ucalgary.ca and find him on twitter at @jamesa_king. You can access the map, along with James’ presentation from the Canadian Celiac Association virtual conference in May at the following link – https://ucalgary.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=126de8e4d8794c7a998d035d1a7583d3

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts –

My celiac diagnosis happened late in 1995.  At the time, I came to believe that celiac disease was not of much interest to researchers and the pharmaceutical community.  There weren’t any medications on the horizon to combat the condition or even the symptoms.  We were only about 1% of the population, so it didn’t feel like we had much clout with the doctors, let alone the scientists involved in research.

After attending a few Canadian Celiac Association conferences, I saw that the CCA was awarding grants to scientists for research.  As I continued over the years to attend the CCA conferences, I sat in on the presentations of much of the funded research.  As a member, I was proud to know that this research was made possible by an organization I was supporting. 

In more recent years, the pharmaceutical companies have joined the game with prospective innovative medications that just might allow our body to not go into battle with itself when gluten enters the picture.  I have been privileged to have interviewed some of the scientists involved in this endeavour for the podcast. 

I had always thought that celiac disease could never be a money maker for the big drug companies, so if there was no profit, we’d be left out in the cold.  I suppose, in a cynical way, this is actually true, but I’m also realizing there is much research that can be done to improve both detection and quality of life without actually having a medication for celiac disease.  This, I think is where the promise lies currently.  The understanding of celiac disease from a scientific perspective can only be a positive thing for us and our community.

It’s in our best interest to have celiac specific research done, and that’s where the CCA and the James A. Campbell Memorial Research Fund comes in.  Over the years our member chapter has contributed to this valuable fund, but I should remind you that if this is something you’d like to support, you can make a donation, large or small to the CCA and direct the money specifically to this fund.  The work that James King has done will benefit our community, and just think, there are other future researchers out there with an interest, or a plan, or a theory, that are just waiting to contribute knowledge to the scientific database to help us all.

Thanks again CCA!