When Sarah Lang developed severe intestinal problems that landed her in hospital, she feared her career as a world class speed skater was over.
“It was a normal season for me until I started getting these weird symptoms,” she said.
She was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 2006 and, with a course of treatment, she was able to resume her career.
She managed to skate her personal best on the World Cup circuit, winning a bronze medal and having a top five individual finish.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
Working with volunteers like Lang, a team of researchers and physicians from across Alberta has launched a research program aimed at improving the lives of people with inflammatory bowel diseases and reducing the cost of the diseases to the health system.
The consortium includes scientists and clinical specialists from the universities of Calgary, Alberta, Manitoba and Toronto.
The program is looking for volunteer patients who are long-time sufferers of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis to examine their experience with these conditions.
The second group will include people recently diagnosed with either disease.
Scientists want to examine genetic linkages and environmental triggers like a high fat, high sugar diet, exposure to pollution or bacterial causes.
Dr. Remo Panaccione, director of the inflammatory bowel disease clinic and associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary, said the diseases are like having a severe stomach flu that does not go away.
“Crohn’s can affect you from your gums to your bum,” said Panaccione.
He said IBD is as common as Type 1 diabetes and three times more common than multiple sclerosis and HIV.
Alberta has one of the highest rates per capita in the world.
A 2008 report commissioned by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada found more than 200,000 Canadians are affected.
People with IBD interested in participating in the research can contact: Ida Rabbani, clinical research co-ordinator, 403-210-9601, ibdtrc@ucalgary.ca or Wanda MacDonald, 780-248-1037 or wmacdona@ualberta.ca.
For more information, e-mail: info@albertaibdconsortium.ca.
