HMRI researchers have received a $98,700 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation for the development of new treatment for two inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

HMRI researchers have received a $98,700 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation for the development of new treatment for two inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Dr Gerard Kaiko and his team, from HMRI’s Immune Health Research Program, will undertake world-first research developing a new therapy to reduce the long-term disease progression of Crohn’s disease, IBD and ulcerative colitis.  

Australia has among the highest rates of IBD in the world with over 100,000 Australians living with the effects of IBD. There is currently no cure.

Children with IBD are unable to eat or drink normally, need to go to the toilet urgently without warning, and often become underweight, dehydrated and malnourished. It can all take a toll on their long-term health and wellbeing.

While there are therapies that target IBD, these therapies only target inflammation. But IBD is a lifelong disease and these therapies do not stop its progression. This means many people living with IBD tend to require major intestinal surgery, frequent hopsitalisation and obtain life-long medical issues. 

The therapy is designed to improve intestinal barrier function, prevent intestinal damage, and improve healing by blocking intestinal molecules called microbial proteases.

Gerard believes this new treatment will not only improve the quality of life for those living with IBD but also reduce the requirement for intestinal surgery, a procedure that significantly impacts many patients’ lives as well as our healthcare system.

This grant was part of the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation’s $770,000 funding that supports the delivery of projects and initiatives aimed at improving the health and social wellbeing of vulnerable people in regional New South Wales. 

Importantly, this grant will support research right here at HMRI. Using HMRI laboratories and established patient biobank facilities, Dr Gerard Kaiko will lead this project with his research and clinical team as well as other collaborating members of the National Centre of Excellence in Digestive Health based at HMRI led by Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley.