The course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, varies from patient to patient. While some patients respond well to treatment, it remains ineffective for others. The majority of those affected suffer from IBD throughout their lives. This results, among other things, in frequent hospitalisations and an increased risk of bowel cancer. In addition to genetic factors and environmental influences, the gut microbiome – the totality of microorganisms in the human digestive tract – plays a key role in IBD.
In IBD, the gut microbiome becomes dysregulated. This is precisely where the MikrobiomProCheck (meaning microbiome pro check) research project comes in. The project aims to improve our understanding of the role of the gut microbiome in IBD and to develop new diagnostic tools and precision medicine therapies based on the new insights. To this end, MikrobiomProCheck brings together partners from academic and non-academic research, clinical practice, and biotechnology. In addition to ISAS as the project lead, the Universities of Bonn, Bielefeld and Duisburg-Essen are involved, as well as the companies Biofidus AG and Lead Discovery Center GmbH.