Using genetics to discover what causes IBD and why people react in different ways to drugs 2011

What the research looked at?

The last five years has seen great progress towards identifying the genes which pre-dispose people towards developing Crohn’s and UC. With the support of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, the UK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium has been at the front of this research – building a vast database of genetic and clinical data from patients across the UK. The progress made is now beginning to provide clues about the causes of these conditions. 

The researchers need to carry out further investigations to build on their discoveries. 

They wanted to collect 5000 DNA samples from IBD patients from across the UK. In particular they want to focus on UK South Asians as this group has not been studied before. Studying this group will allow comparisons with European patients. This will help the researchers understand why people develop IBD – and whether there are environmental triggers. 

The researchers also wanted to look at the genes of people who have been on infliximab and adalimumab. These drugs are not always successful in all patients and can result in side effects. The researchers want to see if there are any genetic markers which may predict how people react to these drugs. 

Conclusions: 

This research puts IBD at the forefront of the fast moving field of common disease genetics. The large number of people involved in the study (who were recruited with the help of Crohn’s and Colitis UK) allowed the research to be carried out on a scale that has only been achieved by one or two other diseases. 

The researchers were able to undertake a huge study of genes. They found 163 distinct genes and gene locations which may make people more susceptible to developing IBD. They also found many other interesting and important genetic discoveries – for example the study suggests that while some IBD patients share the same genes, there are also sets of IBD genes that are specific to different ethnic groups. 

What do researchers think this could mean for people with IBD? 

The aim of this research is to understand what causes IBD. The researchers hope that this will eventually lead to better treatments for IBD, as well as possible ways to prevent people developing the condition. 

Who led the research: Dr Miles Parkes, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
Our funding: £30,000 over 24 months
Official title of the application: “UK IBD Genetics Consortium study of anti-TNF pharmacogenomics and IBD genetics in the UK South Asian population."
Tags: Genetics / Drugs / Causes of IBD