Celiac Disease Foundation

The Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing services and support to persons with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis (CD/DH) through programs of awareness, advocacy, and research. Celiac disease is a chronic, hereditary, intestinal malabsorption disorder caused by intolerance to gluten. Dermatitis herpetiformis, also known as Duhring disease, is a rare chronic skin disorder characterized by the presence of groups of severely itchy (pruritic) blisters and raised skin lesions (papules). The exact cause of this disease is not known although it is frequently associated with the inability to digest gluten (gluten-sensitive enteropathy). Established in 1990, CDF works to assist people with CD/DH and their families to understand and cope with the disease; to distribute reliable up-to-date information about CD/DH and the gluten-free diet; to increase awareness of CD/DH among healthcare professionals, food and drug manufacturers, the food service industry, the media, and the public; and to encourage celiac disease research.