Research

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The inflammatory bowel diseases - or IBD - are chronic disorders characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two most common forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Both disorders have symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramping, gastrointestinal bleeding, and changes in appetite.

The causes of IBD are unknown, IBD can run in families. Our early studies indicate that in Utah, first degree relatives of an affected individual are at a five-fold risk for developing IBD.

Join Our Study

Researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine, led by Dr. Stephen Guthery, are enrolling patients 18 years and younger and their family members in a study to understand why people get IBD.

To be eligible for the study subjects must:

Sign a permission form for themselves or their child if their child is under the age of 18 years.
Provide a sample of either blood or saliva.
Sign a release of medical records to allow researchers to confirm a diagnosis of IBD.