Salaam
Some of you are aware that my son is very ill with what is regarded as an incurable chronic illness called Crohn's Disease. A terrible life altering disease that causes major health issues and in some cases can lead to death.
There is no consensus regarding what causes this disease, but a minority of medical experts have long suspected it to be bacterial.
This disease is exactly the same as a disease found in cattle. In cattle it is know as Johne's Disease.
In cattle they have found the bacteria that causes this disease. This bacteria has entered our food chain in the form of meat, milk, and contaminated water. This bacteria is zoonotic which means it can pass from animals to humans.
In humans it has long been suspected that a bacteria was in play, but this particular bacteria was very difficult and almost impossible to detect within the human body. A new test has now been devised that quickly and easily detects this bacteria. My son has been tested and been found to be infected with this bacteria.
This bacteria has also been implicated in other incurable chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, diabetes, etc.
It seems that this bacteria mainly affects people with a certain genetic disposition, hence why the aforementioned illnesses tend to run in families. There are also other factors at play that causes vulnerability to this bacteria.
There is a lot of research and clinical trials taking place around Crohn's Disease and the bacteria that has been implicated in this disease. Interestingly, there are a lot of Muslim doctors and researchers who are involved.
Within the UK there is a team of researchers who have developed a blood test to detect this bacteria and also a therapeutic vaccine that will aim to cure this disease. Right now the vaccine has been tested and passed on healthy people and is waiting for approval to enter Phase 2 which is to test on ill people.
Initially, research such as this and early clinical trials are privately funded until it gets to a stage where a pharmaceutical company is sufficiently interested enough to take over. Up until now everything has been done through volunteers and donations.
As we know, there is a lot of money within the Muslim community and given the right sort of campaign we are very easily able to collect funds together.
I am hoping that the Muslim community can take on this burden. The money required to carry this research and testing through is around £6000 - £10000 a month as far as I am aware. This amount is nothing if we come together as a community.
The research team is based at Kings College University in London. I have met them and I have been getting help from them in regards to my son. They are very helpful and very open people. They are not doing this for profit and their only concern is to put an end to this illness.
I would like your help, advice, expertise, and influence in this regard. I am hoping to organise a delegation of Muslim leaders who will be willing to meet with the research team at Kings College University to verify and approve a national fund raiser. I have never done anything like this before so need your help and support.
Please visit www.crohnsmapvaccine.com for more info.
May Allah reward you all. Inshallah the Muslim community can play a big part in this ground breaking cure.