European association funds project to prevent inflammatory bowel diseases

Researcher Joana Gaifem was recently reward with an “ECCO Grant”, worth 80 thousand euros, by the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) - a non-profit European medical association dedicated to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The award-winning project aims to find new prevention strategies for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Joana Gaifem’s project will be developed in the Immunology, Cancer & Glycomedicine group (led by Salomé Pinho) and in collaboration with the Gastroenterology service of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto and with the Saint Antoine Hospital (in Paris), and aims to “study how changes in the expression of glycans (carbohydrates/sugars) present on the surface of intestinal cells can influence the composition of bacteria (intestinal microbiota) and how these changes can underlie the development of this diseases”. In addition “we aim to explore a new prophylactic strategy that can be effective in preventing the development of the disease”.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a set of inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This disease is characterized by alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, known as dysbiosis. “The cause-effect relationship between dysbiosis and the development of the disease is still not completely clear and the existing treatments are not effective for all types of patients, hence the need and importance of finding new therapies and new prevention strategies”, explains the researcher.

“The results generated within the scope of this project, which lasts for one year, will contribute to clarifying the mechanisms behind dysbiosis and consequently the development of inflammatory bowel disease and opening up perspectives for new disease prevention strategies”, adds Joana Gaifem.

For the researcher, “it is a great honor” and “very motivating”, to have received funding from an “worldwide prestigious” organization such as the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO), which aims to support scientists under 40 years that develop excellent research in the field of gastroenterology. “The award of this project represents not only the appreciation of the scientific research that our group at i3S produces, but also the importance and impact of the study in the area of inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, the possibility of leading a research project with the support of ECCO will help to boost my scientific career”.