Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an ongoing or chronic health problem that causes inflammation and swelling in the digestive tract. The irritation causes bleeding sores called ulcers to form along the digestive tract. This in turn can cause crampy, abdominal pain and severe bloody diarrhea.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that affects the large intestines, particularly the colon. It is classified as one of the two inflammatory bowel diseases along with Crohn’s disease.

Mesentery: a new organ?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Pregnancy

FODMAP Research

Dysbiosis and the Microbiome

Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)

Ulcerative Colitis Causes

Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer

Latest Inflammatory Bowel Disease News and Research

Plant-based diets reshape gut microbes to boost healthy metabolites

Plant-based diets are good for you. They promote gut, immune, metabolic and cardiovascular health, in part by cultivating a diverse community of intestinal bacteria.

27 Jul 2026

Duke University engineers use robots and AI to improve gut health

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated a method for systematically developing novel, complex combinations of probiotics and prebiotics to more effectively maintain gut health and treat various gastrointestinal diseases.

27 Jul 2026

Two microscopic parasites cause widespread diarrheal illness across America

You've seen the alarming headlines about parasites causing "explosive diarrhea" across the U.S. Two microscopic parasites – cyclospora cayetanensis and cryptosporidium – can both cause prolonged gastrointestinal illness, including watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and dehydration.

24 Jul 2026

Scientists discover hidden cell network driving rapid intestinal renewal

Your intestine completely rebuilds its inner lining every few days—one of the fastest renewal processes in the human body.

20 Jul 2026

Global childhood IBD trends reveal unequal progress in diagnosis and survival

An analysis of GBD 2021 estimates across 204 countries and territories found that global deaths from early-onset IBD fell by approximately 71% among children younger than 10 between 1990 and 2021. However, estimated incident and prevalent case numbers rose while the age-standardized incidence rate remained broadly stable, with persistent socioeconomic and regional inequalities.

20 Jul 2026

Early PFAS exposure linked to childhood intestinal inflammation

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," during pregnancy and early life is associated with increased intestinal inflammation during childhood.

16 Jul 2026

Dysregulation of immune regulator NF-κB drives major human diseases

NF‑κB controls genes involved in inflammation, immunity, cell survival, and proliferation. Triggered by cytokines (TNF‑α, IL‑1β), microbial products, or cellular stress, it translocates to the nucleus and induces pro‑inflammatory mediators.

13 Jul 2026

Nine gut bacteria linked to future type 2 diabetes risk

Research identifies specific gut microbes associated with future type 2 diabetes risk, emphasizing the impact of dietary fiber on microbiome health.

9 Jul 2026

Mcmaster researchers develop targeted phage therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

A research team at McMaster University has developed a targeted approach to treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using bacteriophages, viruses that infect specific bacteria, to disarm harmful microbes without disrupting the broader gut ecosystem.

8 Jul 2026

Researchers identify key protein balancing gut immunity and inflammation

A protein produced by gut immune cells orchestrates both immune protection against pathogens and immune tolerance of gut bacteria, according to a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

7 Jul 2026

New drug candidate treats severe fatty liver disease by improving gut health

Researchers discovered that a potential drug developed at Michigan Medicine treats severe fatty liver disease by improving gut health, according to a study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

7 Jul 2026

Sustainable oyster meat extract may reduce human intestinal inflammation

Ongoing research provides evidence that readily-available and sustainable oyster meat extract may have powerful anti-inflammatory effects on human intestinal cells.

7 Jul 2026

Scientists uncover immune mechanisms driving rare gastrointestinal disorder

A collaborative team led by Dr. Jingnan Li and Dr. Ji Li at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, together with Associate Professor Xiaohuan Guo at Tsinghua University and Academician Ye-Guang Chen at Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, published a study in Volume 2, article number 28 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation on June 17, 2026.

26 Jun 2026

New project investigates gut microbiome for personalized bowel disease therapies

The gut microbiome plays an important role in inflammatory bowel disease. In the research project MikrobiomProCheck, researchers are investigating how microbiome data can in future be used for diagnostics, disease monitoring and personalized therapies.

26 Jun 2026

Study sheds light on why red meat may worsen inflammatory bowel disease

New research sheds light on why red meat may worsen inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - and how other protein sources could help protect the gut.

24 Jun 2026

Using blood proteomics to identify pediatric inflammatory bowel disease risk

For children with suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic, relapsing condition of the gastrointestinal tract, getting the right diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical evaluation, imaging, endoscopy, and histopathology.

24 Jun 2026

Natural microbial compound helps protect the gut from chronic inflammation

University of Louisville researchers have discovered how a naturally occurring microbial compound may help protect the gut and support future treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

24 Jun 2026

LMU researchers discover new genetic cause of Crohn's disease

A team led by LMU physician Daniel Kotlarz has identified a previously unknown genetic cause of Crohn's disease.

24 Jun 2026

Researchers uncover key mechanism driving chronic Sjögren disease

Sjögren disease, an autoimmune disease characterized by dry mouth and dry eyes, may reduce patients’ quality of life.

24 Jun 2026

GATA6 loss transforms colorectal cancer cells into metastatic states

Loss of GATA6-a transcription factor that controls which genes are turned on or off-can reprogram colorectal cancer cells into more primitive, adaptable states that can then spread to the liver and establish new tumors, according to Weill Cornell Medicine and Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers.

22 Jun 2026