MILWAUKEE, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) has awarded three $40,000 grants to support innovative research into gastroparesis, a chronic digestive disease that affects adults and children.
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These grants were made possible by donations made to IFFGD, a nonprofit education and research organization, including money raised through its grassroots arm, the Digestive Health Alliance (DHA).
Applications for the IFFGD grants were submitted from around the globe. An independent selection committee of medical professionals reviewed the grant proposals. After careful consideration, applications from the following three investigators were chosen to receive the grants:
- Leo K. Cheng, Ph.D., Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland
- Braden Kuo, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
- Richard W. McCallum, M.D., Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
"Increased understanding of these conditions can only come from more research and advanced science," said Nancy J. Norton, president and founder of IFFGD. "We are pleased to be able to give patients, families, and friends a way to contribute to this advancement and help broaden the understanding of the conditions that affect their lives day to day."
Also called delayed gastric emptying, gastroparesis is a condition where the movement of food out of the stomach is impaired. Symptoms vary from person to person, but include nausea and vomiting after eating. Other symptoms may be feelings of fullness when eating, inability to finish a meal, as well as stomach discomfort or pain. The severity of the condition ranges from uncomfortable to debilitating, and can be life-threatening. In the majority of those with gastroparesis, the cause is unknown – termed idiopathic.
These IFFGD research grants will be used to explore new options for diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic gastroparesis.
In this era of federal budget constraints, funding for seed grants like these is becoming more difficult to come by. IFFGD supports research grants to help fill that gap. These grants promote interest and opportunity in the field of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders, like gastroparesis, so that new treatment answers can begin to be found for those affected by the conditions.
For more information about gastroparesis, visit IFFGD's dedicated website, www.aboutgastroparesis.org. If you are experiencing symptoms of the condition, see your health care provider. To learn more about how you can support research into conditions like gastroparesis, visit http://www.aboutgastroparesis.org/support-research.
ABOUT IFFGD
The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) is a nonprofit education and research organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people impacted by chronic digestive conditions. Together with patients, families, clinicians, researchers, and other health professionals, IFFGD works tirelessly to promote awareness, scientific advancement, and improved patient care. The largest organization of its kind in the US, IFFGD and its grassroots arm, the Digestive Health Alliance, rely on donor support to fund research and provide educational resources for those affected by gastrointestinal disorders. Learn how you can help at www.iffgd.org and www.dha.org or by contacting Email.