CeliAct project aims to characterize celiac disease in Portugal, to create a biobank of serum and stool samples from celiac patients and their families and to study the immunogenic portions of gluten to contribute to the future development of a treatment that protects celiac patients from the attack of their immune system when stimulated by gluten. Celiac disease is the only autoimmune disease in which its trigger, gluten (present in wheat, rye, barley and oat) is known. However, only 10% of the genetically susceptible people develop the disease and some of these people even have positive antibodies but remain asymptomatic. Studying their intestinal microbiota is the next step in this exploratory project.

Keywords: Celiac Disease, Microbiota, Gluten digestion biochemistry 

Principal Investigator
Sónia Gonçalves Pereira

Research Team
Daniela Cipreste Vaz (co-PI);
Ana Isabel Roque (PhD student);
Vanessa Santos Domingues (PhD student).

Duration
18 months (2019 – 2021)

Institutional Partners and Others
Hospital Center of Leiria, EPE
University of Coimbra

Website: Não aplicável

Funding
Maratona da Saúde – 5th edition – Autoimmune diseases and Allergies