GI Research
Welcome to giResearch.org, a site provided by IFFGD, the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, that focuses on actions to improve, through research, the lives of the millions of people – men, women, and children – who are affected by gastrointestinal (GI) or digestive disorders.
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Since our founding, we have worked to broaden the understanding about functional GI and motility disorders in adults and children. These are often disorders characterized by symptoms that many people are uncomfortable talking about. The prevalence of many of these disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fecal incontinence, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is large; others, such as Hirschsprung's disease, or chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction are rare but have a devastating affect on the lives of children. The burden of illness affecting individual sufferers and society is great.
The majority of the diseases and disorders we address have no cure. We have yet to completely understand the underlying causes and progression of many of these conditions. Often patients and family members must daily manage chronic illnesses that are accompanied by pain and a variety of troublesome symptoms.
The Need for Research Funding
Research into functional GI disorders has been lacking. IFFGD has worked for years to encourage U.S. Congressional funding of these disorders through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read our Fiscal Year 2008 Congressional testimony and recommendations.
IFFGD is Taking Action
There are many competing demands for research dollars. We collectively need to help ourselves. In 2003, IFFGD began funding Research Awards. These awards are intended to encourage the participation of clinicians and scientists in multidisciplinary efforts aimed at advancing the understanding of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in adults and in children.
Our goal is to raise the funds needed to expand our research efforts and help build the research portfolio for the functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders community. We need to build interest and attract investigators.
It is our intent to expand our own ability to fund more substantial grants in the future with the hope that investigators will be able to move on to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded grants and that the NIH will continue to expand its portfolio of functional GI and motility disorder support.
We need help to do this. We need financial support. We invite you to browse these pages to see what is being done and what needs to be done on behalf of the digestive disease community we serve. We invite your participation. By supporting IFFGD, you make our voice stronger.
Thank you!
Let's Find the Cure
There is hope in research. Lend your support – donate now to IFFGD. Your gift can help change a life. Go »
IBS Research and Treatment Act
Support the IBS RESEARCH AND TREATMENT ACT. Your voice counts – but only if you make it heard! Go »
What's News?
Medical research is finding answers. Find out what's happening in digestive health news from around the globe. Go »