The Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation, which actively supports science research, has given substantial support to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America to continue its Genetic Initiative to find a cure for the diseases.
Crohn's is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Every year, about 700,000 Americans are diagnosed, the majority being between the ages of 15 and 35. Crohn's affects the end of the small bowel, or ileum, the beginning of the colon and parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the colon or large intestine.
The cause of Crohn's and Colitis is uncertain but the chronic inflammation stems from the immune system attacking microbial antigens in the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this, the disease is classified as an autoimmune disorder.
What is certain however is that Crohn's has a strong genetic component. Siblings are 30 times more likely to develop Crohn's than the general population. Children of those affected, are 3 to 20 times more likely to develop the disease and twins show a concordance of over 55%.