Discovering Novel Treatments
Once a patient receives the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, they face the decision of choosing a course of treatment. With science rapidly advancing every day, Canadian researchers remain driven to discover novel forms of treatment.
With the support of grants from Crohn's and Colitis Canada, the researchers noted below are working on research projects that focus on discovering innovative forms of treatment for patients living with Crohn's or colitis.
2024 Grant Recipients
Dr. Christophe Altier | University of Calgary
Research: Understanding the mechanisms leading to pain responses in Crohn’s and colitis patients
Date: 2024-2027
Amount: $375,000
More than one-third of those living with Crohn’s or colitis experience pain, even after receiving treatment that successfully reduces gut inflammation. This project investigates the persistence and amplification of pain responses by blocking a specific molecule identified in previous studies at this laboratory that alleviates pain in mouse experiments. This research seeks how to target this molecule or repurpose anti-cancer drugs that target pain mechanisms as a way to offer new treatments to manage chronic pain.
Dr. Waliul Khan | McMaster University (Hamilton)
Research: Finding the anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring role of an amino acid metabolite
Date: 2024-2025
Amount: $50,000
Intestinal wound healing that leads to scarring is a common complication of Crohn’s and colitis. Existing medications are ineffective at preventing or reducing the severity of such scarring. Preliminary studies in this laboratory have shown that a biological by-product, or metabolite, of a specific amino acid significantly reduces the severity of colitis and scarring. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory role of this metabolite as well as its anti-scarring role. The hope is that this metabolite could be the basis for new drugs to treat Crohn’s and colitis.
Dr. Deanna Santer | University of Manitoba
Research: Signaling proteins that help control colitis inflammation
Date: 2024-2027
Amount: $375,000
This laboratory recently discovered that specific receptor cells are significantly fewer for a specific signaling protein that helps control inflammation in those with colitis. This project looks into quantifying protein and receptor changes to determine how this protein alters the gut and its healing, how its anti-inflammatory activities are altered in colitis and the factors that contribute to responsiveness to this protein. The hope is that a new therapy targeting this protein can be developed that does not suppress the immune system.
Dr. Laura Sly | University of British Columbia
Research: Translating an innovative gut drug delivery system into real world situations
Date: 2024-2027
Amount: $375,000
This research focuses on proof-of-principle experiments of a new gut drug delivery mechanism that coats drugs in a sugar 'cage’. Prior research has shown that the cage delivers the same treatment results at a 90% reduced dosage rate. This is because only bacteria living at the site of Crohn’s or colitis causing inflammation can break down the cage and release the drug to reduce inflammation. Building on this finding, the next step is to test it on mice. The goal is to develop a drug delivery system that allows for reductions in drug dosage amounts, which will decrease side effects and make more drug options available.
Past recipients
To learn about the 2023 research projects we supported, click here.
To learn about the 2022 research projects we supported, click here.
To learn about the 2021 research projects we supported, click here.
To learn about the 2020 research projects we supported, click here.
To learn about the 2019 research projects we supported, click here.
To learn about the 2015-2018 research projects we supported, click here.
To learn about the 2014 research projects we supported, click here.