The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is dedicated to raising awareness and diagnosis rates nationwide and meeting the critical needs of people affected by celiac disease through education, research and advocacy.

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is the first center of its kind in the nation, offering a comprehensive approach to the disease: including reliable and accurate patient and professional education, expert diagnosis and treatment for both children and adults, ground-breaking bench and clinical research and active leadership in advocacy efforts.

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is a part of The University of Chicago, a 501-c3 non-profit organization. The Celiac Center is completely funded by donor contributions. If you would like to help, please click here.

Mission:

History:

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center was the first organization of its kind in the United States.

Founded in 2000 by Dr. Stefano Guandalini, a world-renowned pediatric gastroenterologist and Celiac Disease expert.Largely meant to combat the misconception that Celiac Disease is a rare disease and to properly educate both the general public as well as the medical profession, the Celiac Disease Center got its start as The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program with the help of Robin Steans and Leonard Gail, parents of one of Dr. Guandalini’s celiac disease patients at the University of Chicago. Dr. Guandalini, originally from Naples, Italy, was shocked to learn how few Americans were diagnosed with Celiac Disease when he came to the United States in the early 1990’s. Dr. Guandalini quickly discovered the reason for the lack of diagnoses in the United States. It wasn’t that it was less common (in fact, current research shows the prevalence of celiac disease is approximately 1 in 100 Americans); rather it was that U.S. medical doctors had for years been taught that celiac disease was extremely rare and were therefore not screening patients for the disease.

Determined to raise awareness, education, diagnosis rates and get research underway, Dr. Guandalini joined forces with the Steans-Gail Family, established a passionate advisory board and a bold mission: to raise diagnosis rates for celiac disease and to meet the critical needs of people affected by this condition through education, research and advocacy. As a result of its success, in 2007 the organization was renamed The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center.

In addition to conducting leading research and providing education and patient services for celiac disease, The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center consists of a network of doctors who specialize in infertility, thyroid disease, dermatology, diabetes, cancer and other diseases and disorders that are often associated with celiac disease. These specialists collaborate to offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is well known for some of the best programs for celiac disease in the country including:

The Celiac Disease Care Package Program which delivers a gift basket of gluten free foods, educational materials about the disease and the diet to newly diagnosed Celiacs across the nation.
The Celiac Disease Preceptorship Program is the only intense hands-on medical professional celiac disease education in the country.
The Celiac Disease Information Hotline is available five days a week to answer any questions related to the diet or disease.
Celiac Disease Research Team who has made great strides in determining the triggers for celiac disease and continues to work on finding innovative therapeutic intervention for the disease.

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is led by the medical director and executive director and is supported by a talented and diverse advisory board consisting of doctors, dietitians, nurses, business people and lay people, each of whom has a special interest in celiac disease and is dedicated to the mission of the organization.

As of May 2007, The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center had directly assisted more than 100,000 people throughout the United States. The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center continues to advance, maintaining its status as the leading authority on celiac disease. If you would like to help, please click here.