Review article: future research on coeliac disease - a position report from the European multistakeholder platform on coeliac disease (CDEUSSA).

BACKGROUND

CDEUSSA is a Specific Support Action project from the Sixth Framework Programme Priority of the European Union (EU). Its aim is to bring together basic and applied research in the area of coeliac disease (CD). This paper reviews the main issues that are a result of the CDEUSSA initiative.

AIM: To identify the major issues in need of investigation in the areas of clinical aspects, treatment, prevention and public health.

METHODS

Key stakeholders, representing a wide range of knowledge with crucial importance for CD research and practice, have participated in two workshops aimed at identifying and proposing to the EU, as high priority research, topics in the areas of clinical aspects, treatment, prevention and public health.

RESULTS

In public health, the overall goal should be to improve quality of life of the European population by implementing primary prevention strategies, early diagnosis and improved treatments for CD. New treatment strategies need to be developed. The option of primary prevention should be fully explored, which requires combined epidemiological, clinical and basic scientific research efforts. Such studies should also consider the importance of gene-environment interactions in the development of CD. Increased knowledge is needed on the natural history of CD. Diagnostic criteria need to be revised.

CONCLUSIONS

To achieve these goals, a collaboration of the stakeholders is fundamental, including research and patient organizations, as well as industries within both diagnostics and food production.