Human bowel organ cultures in IBD

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Use of human bowel organ cultures to assess the therapeutic potential of targeting vascular adhesion protein-1 and other adhesion molecules in inflammatory bowel disease

  • IRAS ID

    135291

  • Contact name

    Tariq Iqbal

  • Contact email

    t.h.iqbal@bham.ac.uk

  • Research summary

    During inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the gut is damaged by white blood cells that cause ulceration and pain for patients. We want to understand the mechanisms by which white blood cells stick inside the gut blood vessels and cause damage. We will use tissue samples removed when patients have surgery or biopsies for IBD and use cells from it to test how platelets and white blood cells stick to the blood vessels, and importantly if drugs which block platelet function and white cell adhesion(such as those used in patients with heart and vascular disease) could be used to stop inflammation in IBD. Our study is important because IBD is associated with dramatic and distressing symptoms for patients and may lead to surgery to remove damaged bowel. Current treatments for IBD do not work in all patients and do have side effects. We hope to identify new targets for drugs that are already in use for other conditions, and thereby provide new avenues of treatment for patients who do not respond well to current options.

  • REC name

    North East - York Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/NE/0249

  • Date of REC Opinion

    13 Sep 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion