Developing a test to see scarring in the bowel

What this research is looking at

Ongoing inflammation in Crohn’s Disease can cause scar tissue to form in the bowel. This is called fibrosis. This scarring can build-up to create a narrow section of the bowel known as a stricture. A stricture can make it difficult for food to pass through and can cause a blockage.

Most people will need surgery to remove the blockage. Around 1 in 3 people will need further surgery because another stricture has formed.

There is currently no way to measure scarring in the bowel of people with Crohn’s – or to predict those who will go on to develop a stricture and need surgery.

Dr Rahul Kalla will develop a new non-invasive test to see active scarring and track ongoing damage in the bowel. He will use a special dye called fibrosis associated protein inhibitor (FAPI). The FAPI dye will light up to show exactly where the active scarring is on a type of scan called a PET/MRI. Dr Kalla’s research colleagues in Edinburgh have shown that FAPI dye can detect early scarring in the lungs, heart and kidneys. This will be the first time it’ll be tested in the bowel of people with Crohn’s. 

What the researchers think this could mean for people with Crohn's and Colitis

If successful, this will be the first test that can detect active scarring in the bowel of people with Crohn’s. It has the potential to revolutionise the care of people with Crohn’s. Importantly, this test is non-invasive and it will allow the development of active scarring to be tracked over time. It could be used to help develop new treatments that prevent scarring and the long-term bowel damage that leads to surgery in Crohn’s.

Who is leading this research: Dr Rahul Kalla, University of Edinburgh
Our Funding: £99,314
Duration: 24 months 
Official title of application: Fibrosis Associated Protein Inhibitor (FAPI) radiotracer-based imaging to identify fibrotic intestinal Crohn’s Disease (FATE-CD)