A scientist at Australia’s James Cook University and a JCU adjunct professor and gastroenterologist were awarded a grant from The National Health and Medical Research Council for the purpose of studying a “revolutionary” treatment for celiac (coeliac) disease using hookworms, according to a JCU November 9th Media Release.  The grant will allow the researchers to follow-up on an earlier pilot study.

“Scientists believe the key to the hookworms’ anti-inflammatory prowess lies within the proteins that the worms secrete. Work will continue on isolating the protein, but in the interim it is thought a treatment for coeliacs will involve infecting sufferers with the whole hookworm.” read more here.

Information on the earlier clinical trial may be found here.