University of Calgary
IBD
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Research program aimed at bowel disease
Watch VideoA team of researchers and physicians from across Alberta is launching an ambitious new research program, aimed at improving the lives of people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and reducing the cost of IBD for the health system.The Alberta IBD Consortium, funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), is reaching out to Albertans to participate in clinical research to help IBD scientists and doctors better understand the root causes of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Alberta has one of the highest rates of IBD per capita in the world. “Our goal is to improve the health and quality of life for 15,000 Albertans with IBD,” says Alberta IBD team leader Herman Barkema, a professor in the faculties of veterinary medicine and medicine at the University of Calgary. “The team is made up of excellent scientists in medicine and veterinary medicine as well as world-known doctors. IBD is a complex problem so we are bringing together immunologists and bacteriologists, along with people who suffer the debilitating symptoms of IBD every day.” “Having colitis is so embarrassing and painful, when I was first diagnosed I didn’t want to talk about it at all,” says Sarah Lang, a Calgary volunteer on the IBD team. Diagnosed in 2006 while competing for the U.S. National Team in short track speedskating, Lang began to get severe intestinal problems that landed her in the intensive care unit in Calgary. That’s when Lang met Dr. Remo Panaccione, director of the inflammatory bowel disease clinic and associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary. She went on to skate her personal best on the world cup circuit, winning a bronze medal and having a top five individual finish. “IBD is devastating because it strikes people when they are young,” says Panaccione. “And, although it’s not well-known, IBD is as common as Type 1 diabetes and three times more common than MS and HIV.” IBD team scientists are studying inflammation in the gut not only in people, but also in cattle and dogs. “What we learn about IBD in animals can potentially benefit people with IBD, and vice versa,” says Barkema. “We anticipate having experts with such diverse perspectives will allow us to find new treatments more quickly, sparking new human medicines and veterinary medicines.” 
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February 24, 2010