Coeliac UK was chosen as one of only eight charities to exhibit at a Medical Research Showcase in the House of Commons, hosted by the Association of Medical Research Charities.
The event, which was attended by MPs, Peers and representatives from charities investing in research, was an opportunity to highlight the work the charity funds and supports to improve diagnosis and ensure that no life is limited by coeliac disease.
An estimated 1 in 100 people in the UK has coeliac disease but half a million people in the UK are undiagnosed. When left untreated, coeliac disease can lead to other significant health issues, and the only treatment is a strict gluten free diet, which is why research into improving diagnosis and finding a cure is so vital for patients.
At the event, Coeliac UK presented research by Professor Elizabeth Soilleux and Dr Florian Jaeckle from the University of Cambridge. Their work focuses on making the coeliac disease diagnosis process quicker and more accurate so patients can begin their treatment sooner and potentially avoid long term complications.
To do this, their research explores how to automate biopsy diagnoses with the help of artificial intelligence. Coeliac UK funded the pilot study in 2019 allowing the researchers to gather preliminary data and to go on to obtain additional funding to further their research.
Since then, the team has dedicated years to training the system to identify coeliac disease from biopsies and avoid bias. The system has already been found to be as accurate as a pathologist (a medical professional who specialises in diagnosing diseases), plus it has the benefit of being able to operate around the clock and look at a whole sample in a matter of seconds.
In contrast, a human pathologist only has an average of 5-7 minutes to look at each sample, meaning they can only focus on one small part to make a diagnosis.
Currently, the gold standard for coeliac disease diagnosis for most adults and some children, involves a blood test followed by an endoscopy and biopsy. Biopsy samples are sliced and viewed under a microscope by a specialist pathologist to look for characteristic signs of coeliac disease such as damage to the villi that line the gut for nutrient absorption, and an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes, which are special immune cells.
Keira Shepherd, Research Manager at Coeliac UK, said:
“We are very proud to be one of the few charities who were chosen to showcase research in the House of Commons. It was an amazing opportunity to highlight the fantastic research that we are so proud to have funded, thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters.
“We know that coeliac disease is a lifelong condition and therefore it’s crucial that people get an accurate diagnosis. However, the diagnosis process itself can also be extremely long winded which can be distressing for patients.
“Research is such a vital part of making a real-world difference for people who live with the condition every day, and bringing us closer to a cure for coeliac disease, so we’re delighted to see the progress Professor Elizabeth Soilleux and Dr Florian Jaeckle’s work is making.”
Principal Investigator, Professor Elizabeth Soilleux, said:
“It’s been amazing to reflect on the significance of the day. We had a rare chance to highlight research with real clinical potential, while raising awareness of the challenges people with coeliac disease face.
“We were able to emphasise that diagnosis can be lengthy and distressing, and that innovations offering both speed and accuracy could make a meaningful difference to patients’ lives.”
A key next step for this research is to continue to train the system on more samples, specifically samples from children, young people and with other conditions. The system is already 97% accurate but further training will help to improve accuracy among different age groups and different conditions. Then the team will work towards regulatory approval, so it can be used for diagnosis.
More information about research Coeliac UK supports
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