Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a term used to describe two conditions, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These lifelong illnesses flare at intervals, producing debilitating symptoms including cramping abdominal pains, anaemia, weight loss and diarrhoea. They require on-going drug therapy, and many patients also require major surgery.
In the UK, more than 300,000 people are affected by IBD. The exact causes of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are unclear, but there is evidence that IBD can cluster in families and having an affected family member is a risk factor.
In January 2016, a new research resource was launched nationally to recruit people with IBD to help investigators better understand Crohn’s and Colitis and find new treatments. The NIHR IBD BioResource sits within the NIHR BioResource - comprising volunteers from around the England who are willing to be approached to participate in research studies and trials on the basis of their genetic makeup or clinical features.
The NIHR IBD BioResource began in Cambridge just over a year ago, and the team have had a lot of interest across the country from people who want to take part. More centres are opening up for recruitment. Cambridge has recruited its 1000th patient, and nationally 1000 more have been recruited in the last few months alone.
The NIHR IBD BioResource recruits people diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis and asks them to provide a small blood sample and clinical data. Researchers then study the genetic makeup of these samples. People who sign up to the NIHR IBD BioResource are then invited back to participate in future research studies and this could involve giving another blood sample or a stool sample, completing a questionnaire or participating in a trial.
Researchers hope more people will come forward to sign up as volunteers for the NIHR IBD BioResource, to help better understand IBD and develop new treatments for those who are living with this condition.
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