Breaking News: Propel a Cure has awarded two $100,000 Trailblazer Grants to research teams pursuing bold, new approaches to understanding and treating Crohn’s disease, in pursuit of cures. At @Stanford, the Kenneth Weinberg Research Team is investigating whether dysfunctional mitochondria, the energy producers of our cells, may contribute to inflammation and intestinal injury in Crohn’s disease. The team will also test a targeted, nonimmunosuppressive drug that could address the inflammatory and tissue-damaging processes caused by this dysfunction. This project is supported through the generous partnership of the Mendez Family Foundation and other Propel a Cure donors. At The University of Queensland’s @UQ_News @MaterResearch Institute, researchers are exploring the role of the microbiome in driving fibrosis, a serious complication that affects approximately half of people with Crohn’s disease and currently has no therapeutics. The team will study the bacteria and metabolites that may protect against fibrosis and test whether restoring them could help prevent or halt its progression. These are exactly the kinds of game-changing, early-stage projects Propel a Cure was created to support. Thank you for helping us invest in bold ideas that could change the future of Crohn’s research. Help support our scientists and fund the next breakthrough. Donate at propelacure.org/donate #crohnsdisease #propelacure #crohns #ibd #ibdresearch #microbiome #fibrosis

Every breakthrough starts with research. 🔬 Your gift helps advance the science needed to better understand Crohn’s disease, uncover new treatment possibilities, and move us closer to a cure. At Propel a Cure, we’re investing in research that looks deeper at the root causes of Crohn’s and explores new paths forward. Every gift makes a difference in moving this work forward. Thank you for being part of it. Donate today to help propel Crohn’s research forward: propelacure.org/donate #PropelACure #CrohnsDisease #IBDResearch #CrohnsResearch #IBD

The team leading Propel a Cure’s newly funded research project at the @MaterResearch Institute (University of Queensland) is expanding its search for gut bacteria that may help protect against intestinal #fibrosis in Crohn’s disease. Building on its initial screening of 96 bacterial isolates, the team has screened more isolates and identified promising candidates that may influence biological processes involved in fibrosis development. The researchers are now investigating whether the potential protective effects of one promising bacterial species are unique to the strain initially identified or shared by other strains of the same species. They are also continuing to screen other bacterial isolates for promising candidates. The most promising will be prioritized for further studies to identify the substances they produce that may be responsible for these effects. This research represents an important early step toward understanding how the gut microbiome might be harnessed to help prevent or reduce intestinal fibrosis in people with Crohn’s disease. Learn more about this research at propelacure.org/researchproj… #ibd #crohnsdisease #microbiome #crohns @UQ_News

What role might environmental exposures play in #IBD? In our latest expert interview, Propel a Cure speaks with Dr. Manasi Agrawal about how microplastics, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and other environmental toxicants may influence IBD development and disease activity. She discusses her recent research, the potential for developing environmental risk scores to predict IBD susceptibility, and practical ways people with IBD can minimize environmental exposures through lifestyle changes. Dr. Agrawal is a physician-scientist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the @IcahnMountSinai. She is a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital specializing in IBD and the inaugural Director of Environmental Gastroenterology in the Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology at ISMMS, where she oversees research on environmental chemicals that may trigger or worsen intestinal inflammation. ✨ Watch the full interview: youtu.be/zVMnQMBAdCI?is=FwOD… #microplastics #pfas #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #ibdawareness #ibdresearch @DOMSinaiNYC @MSHS_IBDCenter

Are you an #IBD patient in NY, NJ, or PA? P3 Technology is recruiting adults in this region for a healthcare market research study. Selected participants will complete a 30-minute online pre-task and possibly a 3-hour in-home interview between October 26 and November 9. Compensation for those selected will be $50 for the online activity and $500 for those chosen for the in-home portion. To complete the screening application, visit p3-universal-survey-quality.… #ibdresearch #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #ibdawareness

Crohn’s patients: Share your experience and help advance IBD research! Propel a Cure is partnering with Rare Patient Voice to connect people living with Crohn’s disease and IBD with paid research opportunities. Your perspective can help inform research while supporting Propel a Cure’s mission to advance a cure for Crohn’s disease. Research opportunity details: 🔹 Who: Adults 18+ living in the U.S. with Crohn’s disease 🔹 What: A 60-minute, web-assisted telephone interview 🔹 Compensation: $120 for your time (equivalent to $120/hour) 🔹 Future opportunities: Eligible participants may also be invited to paid advocacy opportunities, including photo and video shoots and speaking events. Your voice matters. By sharing your experience, you can help researchers better understand life with IBD and support the work of Propel a Cure. Interested? Sign up at tinyurl.com/rvp-propel #CrohnsDisease #IBD #IBDResearch #PropelACure #PatientAdvocacy

Could targeting mitochondrial damage lead to new treatments for Crohn’s disease? With support from Propel a Cure, in partnership with the Mendez Family Foundation, researchers at @Stanford University’s Weinberg and Haileselassie Labs have launched a new project investigating how mitochondrial damage in intestinal cells may contribute to Crohn’s disease. The long-term goal is to develop and test a potential non-immunosuppressive treatment that protects intestinal cells by preventing mitochondrial damage and the release of extracellular mitochondria (ExMito). To investigate this approach, the team is growing patient-derived intestinal organoids—miniature models of the bowel created from cells collected during endoscopic biopsies. These “disease in a dish” models will allow researchers to study mitochondrial function in people with Crohn’s disease and compare it with that of healthy individuals. Next, the team will investigate how these cells respond to different types of stress, including exposure to immune cells and substances produced by gut microbes. This research is in its early stages, but understanding the underlying mechanisms of Crohn’s disease could help pave the way for new treatment strategies. We’re proud to support the scientists pursuing foundational research that could advance better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. #PropelACure #CrohnsDisease #IBDResearch #Mitochondria #IBD @StanfordMed

Our fall newsletter is coming soon! Stay up to date on the latest advances in Crohn’s disease and IBD research, updates on the studies Propel a Cure is supporting, and opportunities to help accelerate progress. Sign up today so you don’t miss this issue: propelacure.org/newsletter

Today is DAF Day! 💙 If you have a Donor-Advised Fund, today is a great day to recommend a grant to Propel a Cure and help fund research into the root causes of Crohn’s disease. Giving through your DAF is easy: 1. Log in to your DAF account. 2. Search for Propel a Cure for Crohn’s Disease. 3. Choose the amount you’d like to give. 4. Submit your grant recommendation. Your DAF is more than a charitable account. It’s an opportunity to put your generosity to work advancing research and helping create a future with better answers for people living with Crohn’s. Ready to make a difference? Recommend Propel a Cure today. #DAFDay #PropelACure #CrohnsDisease #IBD #CrohnsResearch

Does breastfeeding duration affect a child’s risk of developing IBD? A study of more than 169,000 children in Denmark, Norway and Sweden found no association between breastfeeding duration and later development of IBD, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. The findings remained consistent after accounting for factors including parental IBD, smoking during pregnancy, maternal education, delivery method and premature birth. For mothers who have wondered whether not breastfeeding, or not breastfeeding for very long, contributed to their child’s IBD, these findings offer an important reassurance: breastfeeding duration was not associated with a child’s risk of developing IBD in these cohorts. IBD is a complex disease, and its causes are still not fully understood. Research like this helps us separate what we think might influence IBD from what the evidence actually shows. Read the full study here: cghjournal.org/article/S1542… #ibd #breastfeeding #ibdawareness #crohns #ulcerativecolitis

A recent nationwide cohort study found that the risk of psychiatric disorders increased in the years leading up to an #IBD diagnosis, peaked shortly after diagnosis, and remained elevated even 10 years later. The strongest associations were seen with major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and substance misuse. Findings like these underscore why we need to understand IBD as a whole-body disease, not simply a disease of the digestive tract. At Propel a Cure, our mission is to support research that gets us closer to understanding the underlying causes and mechanisms of Crohn’s disease, so that future patients can have better treatments and, ultimately, better outcomes. Research moves us forward. 🔬 #crohns #mentalhealth #ulcerativecolitis #ibdawareness

Pillar Patient Advocates is seeking patients aged 65 or older who have been diagnosed with Colitis or Crohn’s Disease. The upcoming market research study involves completing a 60-minute online board activity for which $125 is paid in appreciation of one’s time and input. The purpose is to learn more about patient experiences and opinions while responding to various prompts. To determine if you qualify, please complete our registration at research.net/r/prplcribd. A Patient Liaison will call you to go through a few screening questions. This study is for US residents only. #ibd #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #uc #ibdawareness

What does it take to move Crohn’s disease research closer to a cure? In this @aboutIBD podcast conversation, our President & CEO Angela Clark talks with Amber Tresca about Propel a Cure, why we fund research into the underlying causes of Crohn’s disease, and how supporting innovative early-stage research can help move the field forward. We believe we need to understand what drives Crohn’s disease if we’re going to develop better treatments and, ultimately, find cures. That’s why we focus on funding promising research that might otherwise struggle to get off the ground, while keeping our community informed about what researchers are learning along the way. Whether you’ve been following Propel a Cure for years or are just learning about our work, this conversation is a great look at our mission and the research we’re working to advance. Listen to the full conversation with Angela and Amber. youtu.be/MpkdPwO2088?is=FChN… #crohnsdisease #ibd #ibdawareness #chronicillness #crohns #ulcerativecolitis

At Propel a Cure, we believe understanding what causes Crohn’s disease is an important step toward better treatments and, ultimately, cures. Last year, IBD Connect interviewed our President & CEO, Angela Clark, about our mission, how Propel a Cure got started, and why we focus on funding innovative research into the underlying causes of Crohn’s. Angela also discusses the challenges facing Crohn’s research, some of the progress being made, and the areas that give us hope for the future. If you’re new to Propel a Cure, this is a great introduction to our work and the research we support. Read the full interview: ibdconnectinc.org/blog/the-p… #ibd #crohnsdisease #ibdawareness #ibdresearch

🔬 Do you live with #Crohns disease? Researchers are looking for people in the U.S. with Crohn’s to participate in an ongoing research study. Participants may also have opportunities to contribute to future advocacy efforts, photo/video projects and speaking events. Compensation varies depending on the level of participation. At Propel a Cure, we partner with @rarepatientvoic to help connect patients with paid research opportunities that can help advance #IBD science. If you’re interested, sign up now at tinyurl.com/rvp-propel #ibdresearch #crohnsdisease #ibdawareness #crohnsresearch