Best ages for colonoscopy to catch colorectal cancer in people with colitis
Official title: Mathematical Optimization of Surveillance Ages to Intercept colitis-associated Colorectal cancer (MOSAIC)
Funded at VA San Diego Healthcare System · NIH-11130910 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses math, genetic information, and tissue data to find the right ages for colonoscopies so people with inflammatory bowel disease can catch colorectal cancer earlier while avoiding unnecessary procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA San Diego Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005958-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11130910 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans with inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon (IBD colitis) who receive care in the VA system and can share medical records and biopsy samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without IBD, those with other non-colitis colorectal risks, or patients outside the VA system may not benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, the team will combine medical records, colonoscopy findings, biopsy samples, and genetic data from Veterans with colitis to build computer models of cancer risk over time. They will use those models to map how cells change and when early cancers are most likely to appear. The project aims to create personalized timelines that show when surveillance colonoscopies are most likely to find treatable problems. Results will be checked against real-world VA data to make the recommendations reliable for people in VA care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people with IBD could get fewer unnecessary colonoscopies and have a better chance of catching colorectal cancer at an early, treatable stage.
How similar studies have gone: Current surveillance intervals were based on limited evidence and personalized, molecularly informed timing is a newer approach with little prior clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
VA San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curtius, Kathleen M. — VA San Diego Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Curtius, Kathleen M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How immune cells and Th17 inflammation drive colitis-related colon cancer
This project looks at how certain immune cells and ongoing gut inflammation help cause colon cancer in people with long-term colitis.
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Gut bacteria and colorectal cancer risk in people with ulcerative colitis
Researchers are looking at whether certain gut bacteria help protect against or promote colorectal cancer in people who have ulcerative colitis.
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Understanding how inflammation contributes to colorectal cancer development
This study is looking at how long-lasting inflammation in the intestines might lead to colorectal cancer, and it's for people who want to understand more about the disease and how to improve treatments by exploring the immune system's role in tumor growth.
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Understanding how gut bacteria influence colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might influence the risk of developing colorectal cancer if you have ulcerative colitis, and it aims to find out which types of bacteria could help protect you or possibly increase that risk.
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Improving cancer screening for Veterans with inflammatory bowel disease
This study is looking to improve how we check for colorectal cancer in Veterans with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by finding out the best times for screenings based on individual risk, so that everyone gets the right care without unnecessary tests.
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Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.