Many hundreds of thousands of Canadians suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. These ‘Digestive’ Diseases can effect anyone, children or adults regardless of sex or race. The physical and emotional consequences can be debilitating and, in some cases, fatal. Digestive Disease sufferers often have to contend for long periods of their lives, with symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, malnutrition, loss of appetite and chronic discomfort. More hospital beds are occupied by Digestive Disease patients than patients suffering respiratory and cardiovascular disease combined. Yet Digestive Diseases are a neglected area of medical research.
Unfortunately, government research bodies have not launched the major efforts necessary to study Digestive Diseases. Although modern medicine has improved the treatment of patients, we still do not know the cause of most of these Digestive Diseases. However, the more effort put into an area of research, the more likely it is that progress will be made. Research will provide us with the answers. By establishing the cause(s) and the way regions of the digestive system are affected, better therapy and cures can be found.
Digestive Diseases have multiple causes and effects. A broadly-based multi-disciplinary research effort is therefore necessary to tackle these complex problems. To this end, a variety of talented scientists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, pathologists and physicians from the University of Ottawa, Government Laboratories and affiliated hospitals have formed a Digestive Diseases Research Group dedicated to fostering the study of Digestive Diseases. A number of important projects are underway, including the study of Peptic Ulcer, Functional Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Hirschprung’s Disease, Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Liver Disease and gut wound healing. We need your contribution to help our research efforts.