New clinical trial provides hope for children
with Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
SEATTLE, May 13, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- With pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
diagnoses on the rise globally, a clinical trial in Seattle aims to transform treatment approaches
through deep molecular profiling.
Recruitment has begun for the Seattle STRIDE study, a joint
effort by Seattle Children's Research Institute and the Allen
Institute for Immunology. The trial aims to enroll 200 volunteers
and follow them over three years. It will employ a range of genomic
tools to analyze intact tissue samples from routine tests. These
single-cell analysis methods will provide a detailed look at how
the immune system behaves in patients with IBD and how it
responds over time to specific drug treatments.
Deep immune profiling could offer an unprecedented view of the
disease, paving the way for new and improved treatments,
said Betty Zheng, MD, an
assistant professor of pediatrics at Seattle Children's and the
study's principal investigator.
"IBD is a very complex disease, and we only have a rough
understanding of what is happening at a molecular level," she said.
"By partnering with the Allen Institute, we want to get a detailed
view of the disease's molecular mechanisms to find better ways of
treating the patients we see in the clinic."
Unraveling molecular mysteries
The exact causes and progression of IBD, a chronic inflammatory
condition affecting the digestive tract, have remained elusive,
Zheng said. It likely involves some combination of genes, immune
dysregulation, and environmental and dietary factors.
In children, IBD is both more aggressive and harder to
treat. Around 30% of pediatric IBD patients do not respond to
initial treatments. Furthermore, nearly half of the remaining
patients will find their treatments becoming ineffective over time.
These children face risks like impaired growth, mental health
issues, and missed educational and social activities.
A deeper molecular understanding of the disease could enable
personalized treatment strategies, moving away from less effective
one-size-fits-all approaches, Zheng said.
"Some children find relief with first-line therapies, others
require a combination of treatments, and some don't respond to
anything and languish in the hospital for months," Zheng said.
"This is a big question mark in the clinic."
A deep dive into the molecular workings of the disease could
also uncover unknown pathways of inflammation. These pathways could
potentially serve as targets for the development of new drugs.
"There is a universe of information that is not being seen,"
said Adam Savage, Ph.D., an
Assistant Investigator at the Allen Institute for Immunology.
To explore that universe, Savage and other scientists will
deploy a suite of advanced technologies refined at the Allen
Institute for Immunology that can identify and pinpoint immune
cells and molecules inside tissues collected during routine
hospital visits. By analyzing patient samples over time, these
tools can offer a window into how the disease progresses and how
patients respond to treatment.
Behind the data and the advanced technologies, the ultimate goal
remains clear: improving the lives of patients.
"We look at data on computers, or head into the labs, and we can
get a little detached," Savage said. "But when we visit and see the
patients we're trying to help, it's a powerful reminder of why we
come to work—to have a real impact on patients' lives."
Families interested in joining the Seattle STRIDE study can
learn more here.
About the Allen Institute
The Allen Institute is an
independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization founded by
philanthropist and visionary, the late Paul G. Allen. The Allen
Institute is dedicated to answering some of the biggest questions
in bioscience and accelerating research worldwide. The Institute is
a recognized leader in large-scale research with a commitment to an
open science model. Its research institutes and programs include
the Allen Institute for Brain Science, launched in 2003; the Allen
Institute for Cell Science, launched in 2014; the Allen Institute
for Immunology, launched in 2018; and the Allen Institute for
Neural Dynamics, launched in 2021. In 2016, the Allen Institute
expanded its reach with the launch of The Paul G. Allen Frontiers
Group, which identifies pioneers with new ideas to expand the
boundaries of knowledge and make the world better. For more
information, visit alleninstitute.org
Media Contact
Peter Kim,
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
206-605-9884 | peter.kim@alleninstitute.org
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SOURCE Allen Institute