Congratulations to Dr CK Yao on her Angela McAvoy Research Scholarship

Dr CK Yao

Source: www.crohnsandcolitis.com.au/research/cca-grants-awards/angela-mcavoy-fellowship/

Congratulations to Dr CK Yao, an experienced research dietitian in the Department of Gastroenterology, Monash University, who has been awarded a prestigious three-year scholarship by the Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) national peak patient body.

A Research Scholarship of $25,000 per year for 3 years is offered in recognition of the pioneering work of Angela McAvoy AM, who founded CCA.


The purpose of this Scholarship is to foster the development of a health professional or scientist in clinical research into inflammatory bowel disease in Australia. Funds to support this scholarship were entirely raised by CCA through donations from people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) their family friends and public donors supporting them.

CCA awarded the 2019 Angela McAvoy Research Scholarship to Dr Chu Kion (CK) Yao for her research on dietary strategies for ulcerative colitis.

Despite growing research suggesting that diet plays a major role in causing ulcerative colitis and symptoms of pouchitis, there is very little research on how dietary strategies can be used effectively as treatment for patients.

Dr Yao's study will aim to determine if a whole diet approach using a 4-SURE (4-strategies for a Sulphide-Reducing) diet that she and Department of Gastroenterology team members have designed and supplied to people with mildly flaring ulcerative colitis or pouchitis can achieve the following: improve symptoms; reduce inflammation in the large bowel/pouch; effectively reduce bacterial sulphur gas production and be well tolerated compared to a control diet.

This study, if successful, could lead to a new treatment pathway for people with ulcerative colitis and pouchitis.