Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an ongoing or chronic health problem that causes inflammation and swelling in the digestive tract. The irritation causes bleeding sores called ulcers to form along the digestive tract. This in turn can cause crampy, abdominal pain and severe bloody diarrhea.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that affects the large intestines, particularly the colon. It is classified as one of the two inflammatory bowel diseases along with Crohn’s disease.

Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Mesentery: a new organ?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Pregnancy

Ulcerative Colitis Causes

FODMAP Research

Dysbiosis and the Microbiome

Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer

Latest Inflammatory Bowel Disease News and Research

Pyruvate identified as a promising oral treatment for ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by intestinal pain, bleeding, and impaired gut barrier function.

29 Jul 2025

Scientists discover neuron-like communication system in the gut

In a key advance for regenerative medicine and gut health, scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have uncovered a precise and unexpected communication system in the gut.

24 Jul 2025

New insights reveal how the immune system fights intestinal parasites

New research from the University of Pittsburgh reveals how the immune system defends against intestinal parasitic worms, or helminths, one of the most common infections worldwide in communities with limited access to clean water and sanitation.

22 Jul 2025

UC Riverside scientists develop tool to preserve mitochondrial DNA

When environmental stress harms DNA, it can set off a cascade of failures linked to heart conditions, neurodegeneration, and chronic inflammation.

21 Jul 2025

Blocking a single gene disrupts vitamin D metabolism and cancer pathways in new cell study

Researchers identified SDR42E1 as a key regulator of vitamin D absorption and sterol metabolism in colorectal cancer cells. Disruption of this enzyme altered cancer-related pathways and cell viability, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

21 Jul 2025

Agricultural dust exposure may pose significant risks to gut health

Inhaling agricultural dust may pose significant risks to gut health for workers in animal agriculture, a University of California, Riverside, study has found.

18 Jul 2025

Cuproptosis offers new hope for treating inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer

Cuproptosis represents a novel mechanism of cell death characterized by intracellular copper ion accumulation.

18 Jul 2025

Research highlights guselkumab's impact on Crohn's endoscopic healing

In a major advance for patients with Crohn's disease, a new study led by researchers at Mount Sinai Health System found that guselkumab, a medication with a mechanism of action that is new to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment, outperformed an established standard of care in promoting intestinal healing and symptom relief.

18 Jul 2025

Study reveals key role of Egr-1 in controlling autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis result when the body's immune system starts to attack its own cells. Regulatory T cells, a subtype of T cells play a critical role in suppressing these attacks.

14 Jul 2025

Egr-1 gene identified as crucial regulator of regulatory T cells in multiple sclerosis

Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affect millions of people worldwide.

11 Jul 2025

Uncovering how a key inflammatory molecule causes esophageal smooth muscle contractions

A research group led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka from the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, has uncovered important details about how platelet-activating factor (PAF)-a powerful molecule involved in inflammation and allergic reactions-triggers contractions in the smooth muscles of the esophagus.

9 Jul 2025

Healthy plant-based diet linked with reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease

A large prospective study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research reveals that a healthy plant-based diet is linked with a reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

9 Jul 2025

Synthetic Biology and the Pursuit of Living Diagnostics and Therapeutics

In this interview, Professor James J. Collins, founder of the field of Synthetic Biology, discusses his journey to founding the field of synthetic biology and the potential of living diagnostics.

From Pittcon 7 Jul 2025

Harnessing the gut virome emerges as a promising strategy in precision medicine

The human gut is home to trillions of microbes, yet scientific understanding has largely focused on bacteria, leaving the virome—the community of viruses—relatively uncharted.

3 Jul 2025

New insights into programmed cell death could offer relief for inflammatory bowel disease

New basic science insights into programmed cell death could offer relief for inflammatory bowel disease.

26 Jun 2025

Study finds nearly double risk of depression and anxiety in autoimmune patients

Living with an autoimmune disease is linked to a near doubling in the risk of persistent mental health issues, such as depression, generalised anxiety, and bipolar disorder, with these risks higher in women than in men, finds a large population-based UK study, published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

25 Jun 2025

Genes may determine how early life exposures shape the gut microbiome

Early nutritional and antibiotic exposures affect adult gut microbiota, with genetic background and parent-of-origin significantly influencing outcomes.

19 Jun 2025

Understanding the interconnected roles of microbial, metabolic, and immune biomarkers in IBD

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract with a rising global burden.

19 Jun 2025

T cells play key role in early stages of Parkinson’s disease

Your T cells work hard to fight disease. Unfortunately, "friendly fire" from T cells can sometimes harm the body's healthy tissues.

19 Jun 2025

Compound-level diet analysis sheds light on hidden triggers in IBD

Dutch researchers identified specific food compounds that influence remission and flare risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The study shows compound-level dietary analysis could help personalize IBD management and clarify conflicting advice about diet.

18 Jun 2025