Understanding what causes inflammatory bowel disease in diverse populations
Official title: Identification and characterization of inflammatory bowel disease causal variants
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11380697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to map genetic variants linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and see how they work in people from different ancestries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $685,039 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129364-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inflammatory bowel disease or those who carry IBD-related genetic variants, especially from diverse ancestries, may be eligible for future related studies or follow-up work.
✕Less likely to help
Many participants in broad genetic studies may not directly receive a therapy from this project, though their data will advance understanding.
What this research studies
This project looks at why some people get IBD by studying genetic differences across diverse populations and testing how those differences affect gut biology. Researchers will fine-map IBD risk regions using a large, multi-ancestry dataset and then perform focused lab experiments to understand the function of the identified variants. The goal is to connect genetic clues to the biological processes in the gut that drive IBD, which could point to new treatment ideas. The work will be done at Massachusetts General Hospital with collaboration across diverse patient groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more precise diagnoses and targeted therapies for people with IBD, including individuals from non-European backgrounds.
How similar studies have gone: Previous multi-ancestry IBD studies have advanced our knowledge, but functional validation in diverse populations remains limited and this study aims to add that.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Hailiang — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Huang, Hailiang
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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.