Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program

Research

The Yale Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program is uniquely suited to offer state of the art research to the patients who are evaluated.  Participation in any research program is strictly voluntary and whether or not a patient participates does not alter how and when he or she is treated.

Current research consists of the following studies:

1. A confidential survey given to patients that evaluates patient preferences in medication dosage and route of administration.  Since the physicians in the Yale IBD Program believe it is important that patients actively participate in their care, we are investigating how and if a patient’s disease extent and severity of activity influences his or her choice of oral, intravenous, enema, or surgical treatment preferences.
2. Genetics
3. Determinants of Quality of Life in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (HIC # 0806003938) - Patient Diary

Currently, we are performing a genome-wide association study in CD involving the typing of over 300,000 markers throughout the genome that assays approximately 80% of the common genetic variation in European ancestry populations. The advances of the Human Genome Project are making possible the very efficient, comprehensive typing of human genetic varation. The magnitude of the information available on individual genetic variation has the potential of markedly increasing our understanding of disease processes and tailoring treatment and prognosis for individual patients. The translation of genetic information to clinical practice will require creative integration of disciplines including clinical practice, immunology, biostatistics, microbiology, pharmacology and cellular biology.