Contemporary approach to the management of celiac disease

Contemporary approach to the management of celiac disease and achievements of CD SKILLS Interreg Danube Transnational Programme". An associated colloquium with this generic title was held on December 2, current year. It was organized by the Department of Pediatrics of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy in partnership with the societies of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Hepatology from the Republic of Moldova.

National and international experts, and specialists in pediatrics, gastroenterology, and hepatology attended the event. The forum participants discussed the latest achievements in the field of celiac disease management in children and adults, highlighted the regional gaps, and established new goals with the aim of improving the diagnosis of this disease, as well as the quality of life of patients.

Vitalie Jacot, the deputy in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Public Administration Commission, has mentioned that our country is currently facing an unprecedented crisis, one of them – the pandemic – brilliantly managed by doctors, who showed courage, sacrifice, and devotion. “It is imperative that, despite all the challenges, the processes do not stop. I welcome the external partners who help us with expertise, financial support, and training, so that celiac patients have a quality life in society. We hope that these projects and partnerships will give us tools that we can use in the future”, the parliamentarian pointed out.he Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Public Administration Commission, has mentioned that our country is currently facing an unprecedented crisis, one of them – the pandemic – brilliantly managed by doctors, who showed courage, sacrifice, and devotion. “It is imperative that, despite all the challenges, the processes do not stop. I welcome the external partners who help us with expertise, financial support, and training, so that celiac patients have a quality life in society. We hope that these projects and partnerships will give us tools that we can use in the future”, the parliamentarian pointed out.

According to Boris Galca, head of the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Health within the Chisinau City Hall, celiac disease is a rare pathology found in both children and adults, which is often not diagnosed on time. There are no complex statistical data on the number of patients, it is estimated that there are around 800 patients nationwide. “Like any rare disease, it is a challenge for patients, family, society, and authorities, which requires joint efforts and effective management. The issue of rare diseases currently has no solution, because the essential treatment depends on the right diet and the use of gluten-free products whose costs are covered directly by the patients rather than on prescribing medicines”, mentioned the specialist.

University professor Mihail Todiras, head of the Research Center in the Field of Health and Biomedicine within the National Institute for Health and Medical Research of “Nicolae Testemitanu” University, noted that, in the context of strengthening research, a center of molecular medicine would be founded at the University – a didactic-scientific laboratory for students, master's students, resident doctors, and doctoral students. “This project laid the foundations of a national platform in enzymatic and gastrointestinal diseases. Use this opportunity to jointly apply for new projects, because as an EU candidate country, the Republic of Moldova has the opportunity to access European funds. Thus, new financing opportunities opened, including within cross-border platforms, and we will have to provide the capacity to absorb these funds. The Center for Molecular Medicine, which will be implemented in 1-2 years, will include the equipment of the morphology and biochemistry laboratories, where both functional and quantitative, genetic, immunological, and cell culture biochemical investigations will be carried out”, said the researcher. Moreover, at the level of parliamentary committees, the draft Biobank Law is being examined, based on which clear rules will be established for the circulation of biospecimens and patient data. Prof. Todiras added that the University recently became a member of the European biobanking platform and urged the university community to apply for projects within the Doctoral School in Health Sciences and the Project Support Center.

For his part, Professor Dr. Jernej Dolinsek, the leading partner of CD SKILLS Interreg Danube Transnational Programme, pediatrician gastroenterologist, head of the department at the University Clinical Center in the city of Maribor, Slovenia, an expert in the field of celiac disease of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), appreciated the participation of members of the university community in this project, especially for approaching this problem under a scientific aspect, urging young researchers to take over the tools and experience of mentors and further study this disease. Also, the Slovenian expert held the Management of celiac disease in the 21st-century lecture and emphasized the importance of publishing scientific results on international platforms to help improve the lives of celiac disease patients worldwide.

The CD SKILLS project “Interreg Danube Transnational Programme” is implemented between July 2020 and December 2022 by Nicolae Testemitanu University together with 18 partner institutions from nine countries of the Danube basin, under the Danube Transnational Program 2014-2020.