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Public Education & Awareness

Since our inception in 1991, IFFGD has helped millions of people, providing education, assistance, and support.

Each month, IFFGD creates a Digestive Health Monthly (DHM) enewsletter to keep you updated on issues that matter. This newsletter contains the latest news about treatments, research breakthroughs, and the activities of those taking steps to raise awareness. 

The information is reliable and understandable by lay readers, while being authoritative for medical professionals. Distribution has been to members, physicians, regulators, investigators, and the general public in countries throughout the world.

We maintain a unique library of our own publications and fact sheets that contains over two hundred articles with information on a range of topics available to help individuals or the families of those affected by GI disorders.

Until 2016, IFFGD published a magazine, Digestive Health Matters, that covered different areas of gastrointestinal health in adults and children with up-to-date information on recognizing, diagnosing, treating, and living with the disorders.

We have been active in Washington, DC making the needs of all those affected by functional GI and motility disorders known to members of congress and to funders an regulators at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Learn about those activities, and how you can participate here.

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Timeline

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

  • IFFGD awarded Research Awards to three young investigators in clinical and translational sciences.
  • IFFGD had a Virtual Hill Day  interviewing individuals on various GI topics

2019

  • IFFGD awarded Research Awards to young four investigators in clinical and translational sciences.
  • IFFGD’s National Advocacy Event was a two-day event bringing together advocates from across the nation — patients, family members and friends, and health care providers.
  • IFFGD created the Latin Ambassador Program to increase awareness of IFFGD’s mission among physicians outside the United States.
  • IFFGD Launched the Constipation Dilemma

2018

  • IFFGD awarded 4 Research Grants to young investigators in clinical and translational sciences.

2017

  • Results of the IFFGD online research survey of people diagnosed with gastroparesis, titled “The Burdens, Concerns, and Quality of Life of Adults with Gastroparesis,” are published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences.
  • The Functional GI and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act is re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 1187).
  • A Dear Colleague letter is circulated in the U.S. House of Representatives encouraging the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee to support the implementation of the research recommendations of the 2009 Commission on Digestive Diseases Report.
  • IFFGD publishes their Reporter’s Guide to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Second Edition, and distributes the Guide to reporters and other members of the media with an interest in health, lifestyle, and medical news.

2016

  • IFFGD launches its redesigned family of websites in celebration of 25 years of support for the digestive health community.
  • Preliminary results of the IFFGD online research survey of people diagnosed with gastroparesis are presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2016.
  • A statement in the US Senate is introduced by Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI) on behalf of those affected by gastroparesis recognizing National Gastroparesis Awareness Month.
  • Gastroparesis Awareness Month is listed on the US National Health Observances Calendar for the month of August.

2015

  • The Functional GI and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act is re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 2311) by Congressman James F. Sensenbrenner (WI).
  • IFFGD provides oral and written testimony at the FDA Patient Perspective, Patient-Focused Drug Development meeting on functional GI disorders, a part of the Prescription Drug user Fee Act (PDUFA).
  • In collaboration with researchers from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, IFFGD develops a research survey of people diagnosed with gastroparesis to gain a better understanding of the various issues confronting patients with gastroparesis and their treatment needs.
  • A statement in the US House of Representatives is introduced by Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4) on behalf of those affected by gastroparesis recognizing National Gastroparesis Awareness Month.

2014

  • IFFGD awards $120,000 in grants to support research into idiopathic gastroparesis.
  • The IFFGD mobile app, IBS Info, is launched for iOS and Android systems.
  • IFFGD founder, Nancy Norton, is honored with the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) Lifetime Service Achievement Award.
  • IFFGD organizes the 2014 Advocacy Day June 23-24, 2014 in Washington, DC. Advocates from across the country again gathered to educate Members of Congress about the needs of the functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMDs) community.

2013

  • The Functional GI and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act is re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 842).
  • IFFGD organizes the 2013 Advocacy Day on June 18–19, 2013 in Washington, DC. Advocates from across the country again gathered to educate Members of Congress about the needs of the functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMDs) community.

2012

  • IFFGD provides oral testimony regarding Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) Gulf War Illness Research Program to the U.S Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee On Defense.
  • IFFGD organizes the 2012 Advocacy Day on June 19–20, 2012 in Washington, DC. where advocates from across the country gathered to educate Members of Congress about the needs of the functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMDs) community.

2011

  • The Functional GI and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act is introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 2239).
  • IFFGD creates a grassroots arm, the Digestive Health Alliance (DHA).
  • IFFGD is invited to appear and provides testimony to the U.S. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee about the impact of functional GI and motility disorders on veterans and the needs for research funding.

2010

2009

2008

  • IFFGD presents oral testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education and Related Agencies regarding fiscal year 2008 funding for functional GI and motility disorder research.
  • IFFGD drafts and proposes the IBS research and Treatment Act, seeking congressional support.
  • IFFGD creates the Reporter’s Guide to Bowel Incontinence and distributes it to medical and health reporters.

2007

  • IFFGD submits written and verbal testimony to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittees on Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2008 funding of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorder research.
  • IFFGD, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, begins a comprehensive online survey of persons with IBS; IBS Patients: Their Illness Experience and Unmet Needs.
  • IFFGD helps plan and participates in an NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on prevention of incontinence in adults.

2006

  • IFFGD submits written testimony to both the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2007 funding of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorder research.

2005

  • IFFGD submits written testimony to both the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2006 funding of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorder research.

2004

  • IFFGD presents testimony to the House Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education and Related Agencies in support of fiscal year 2005 funding through the NIH for functional gastrointestinal and motility disease research including development of a strategic plan setting research goals on IBS and functional bowel diseases and disorders, development of standardized scales to measure incontinence severity and quality of life and to develop strategies for primary prevention of fecal incontinence associated with childbirth, and providing funding for more research on the causes of esophageal cancer.

2003

2002

  • Nancy J. Norton, President of IFFGD presents verbal testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies recommending increased funding support in fiscal year 2003 to the NIH.
  • IFFGD conducts and publishes IBS in the Real World survey findings; and IFFGD initiates the IBS: A Call to Action, which resulted in thousands of faxes, letters, and e-mails to members of the U.S. Congress and the Food and Drug Administration explaining the impact of IBS on sufferers and requesting clarification regarding standards for assessing the burden of illness for chronic and debilitating conditions and their application to IBS.

2001

  • IFFGD produces GERD in the Workplace, a “toolkit” that provides corporate wellness managers or human resource managers the information they need to educate their employees about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

1999

  • IFFGD produces the first Public Service Announcement (PSA) about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that was ever televised in the USA.

1998

  • IFFGD designates one week in November as GERD Awareness Week, which is also listed on the U.S. National Health Observances calendar. During this time we work to focus extra attention on important health messages about GERD.

1997

1995

  • IFFGD publishes the first physician Education Guide on functional GI disorders incorporating the Rome Criteria – for physician-delivered community education programs.
  • IFFGD organizes and hosts the first professional symposium on functional GI disorders: the International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

1993

  • IFFGD creates first patient physician-delivered education curriculum for the public on IBS and on loss of bowel control.

1992

  • IFFGD produces and publishes Participate magazine, the first patient publication on functional gastrointestinal (GI) and motility disorders.
  • IFFGD creates the first Call Center for individuals affected by functional GI and motility disorders.

See other IFFGD accomplishments:
Professional Education & Awareness

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IFFGD is a nonprofit education and research organization. Our mission is to inform, assist, and support people affected by gastrointestinal disorders.

Our original content is authored specifically for IFFGD readers, in response to your questions and concerns.

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International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

This information is in no way intended to replace the guidance of your doctor.

We advise seeing a physician whenever a health problem arises requiring an expert’s care. 

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