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Crohn's Disease

 Stand up comic, Gareth Berliner is 35 years old and has suffered from Crohn’s disease for 21 years. 

What is Crohn's
Crohn’s is an unpredictable disease of the immune system causing inflammation and swelling and can occur anywhere in the 8 metres of our intestines.

For Gareth the inflammation was so bad that food could not pass through the gut, causing him a huge amount of pain. Like 10% of people with Crohn’s he ended up having a section of his small intestine removed.

Gareth's Case
Gareth’s case is extreme: he had 4.5 metres of his small intestine removed leaving him with just 50 cm. His lack of intestines means he absorbs very little nutrients from food.

As a result he is completely dependent on a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) catheter in his chest that provides liquid nutrients and fluids to keep him hydrated.

Gareth’s been in remission for the past 4 years. But what could science offer him now if his Crohn’s were to become active?

What Can Science Do for Gareth?
Meeting doctors at the cutting edge of Crohn’s research, he witnesses how a conclusive diagnosis can now be made in 8 hours using the latest camera 'pill'.

He finds out if bacteria really could cause Crohn’s and if taking hookworms could be an alternative to current drug therapies.

Gareth meets the scientists