Intestinal autoinflammation

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by chronic, relapsing, or progressive inflammation of the intestine. Canada has among the highest incidences and prevalence of IBD in the world with as many as 1 in 160 people with disease [1]. In ulcerative colitis, inflammation predominantly occurs in the epithelial cell lining of the colon, whereas in Crohn’s Disease extends through the entire thickness of the gut wall and most frequently occurs in the distal ileum. These sequelae cause intestinal dysfunction and/or obstruction that requires surgery in 1 in 3 patients with Crohn’s Disease within 10 years of diagnosis. Tremendous strides have been made in dampening down inflammation in inflammatory bowel diseases to reduce symptoms but the underlying cause(s) of disease remains unknown. Up to 40% of people with inflammatory bowel disease are predicted to become refractory to all available treatments [2-4].

Faculty Supervisor:

Laura Sly

Student:

Partner:

BC Children's Hospital;STEMCELL Technologies Canada Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: