Experts to discuss latest findings in IBD research at Rome meeting

Experts from 11 countries will gather this week in Rome (April 13-16) to discuss innovative strategies for studying  and treating Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs). The meeting is organized by EU-funded project IPODD (www.ipodd.eu), a 3-years consortium launched in 2008 for research on IBDs.

IPODD (an acronym for "Intestinal Proteases: Opportunity for Drug Discovery") has put together the expertise of 13 research teams across 7 countries coordinated by Prof. David Grundy at the University of Sheffield. The project was funded by the EU seventh framework program (FP7) with €3 million and will expire in July 2011.

IBDs are chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In both diseases symptoms range from mild (e.g. abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea) to severe (abdominal pain, bleeding, anaemia, weight loss and others). Some cases may require surgery for eliminating parts of the intestine.

IBDs affect 1-5 people out of 1000 in Europe. Most patients develop symptoms at teenage, alternating periods of remission and relapse ("flares") during their entire life. IBDs are an important cause of disability and morbidity, interfering with the quality of life of thousands people for many years.

The program includes:

a Summer School for young researchers (April 13th);

a Public Symposium (April 15th)

Both events feature keynote speakers from the UK, Germany, Israel, Canada, France, New Zealand, USA and Italy.

The meeting's goals:

-  To disseminate  and discuss the latest findings from IPODD;

-  To review the most promising avenues in IBD research, including work on proteases, probiotic intervention and gene-diet interactions.

Representatives from the European Federation of Crohn's and Colitis Associations (EFCCA) will also bring the patients' angle on IBDs.