Dear Friends,
Thanks to your generosity, Propel a Cure is one of the sponsors of a groundbreaking study by Promakhos Therapeutics that will help us better understand the biological mechanisms at work in Crohn's disease and potentially lead to the development of a new class of non-immunosuppressive oral therapy.
In our last update, we had shared that our partners at Promakhos had discovered that up to 85% of patients with Crohn's disease at a Boston hospital carried low levels of certain bacterial molecules that promote immune control and wound healing in the gut, most likely due to microbiome changes (initial study with 25 patients). Ultimately, the team seeks to restore the levels of these ligands to the levels observed in healthy individuals and thinks that this could be disease modifying.
The researchers are close to finishing their analysis of 25 new stool samples from patients with Crohn's disease from their Boston collaborator. They expect to complete this analysis before the end of the year and share the results with us in the next update.
The next phase of the project will involve transplanting Crohn's patient stool that reflects the 10-fold reduction in bacterial molecule levels into mice to develop a clinically relevant mouse model of bowel inflammation. With this model, the team will be hoping to further validate the therapeutic effect of their candidate drug molecule before they move towards the clinic.
The Promakhos team has also further engaged with researchers at KU Leuven in Belgium to analyze more stool samples from patients with Crohn's disease. Finally, they are exploring using colon organoids established from patients to evaluate the therapeutic effect of their candidate drug molecule.
These colon organoids maintain the state of the colon lining in patients and are the closest human system for assessing the therapeutic effect of a new drug before evaluating it in the clinic. Using these organoids, the team aims to estimate the clinical doses that will most likely have therapeutic effect in patients.
Your donation is crucial to supporting novel Crohn's research like the Promakhos Therapeutics project. We are entirely volunteer based, so when you give to Propel a Cure, over 98% of your gift goes directly to research! Please help launch cure-focused studies that would otherwise not receive sufficient funding by donating whatever you can today.
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Giving Tuesday is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 this year. We hope you will mark your calendars and participate in this annual event, which is often described as a global day of giving and focuses on the work of nonprofits.
On December 3, Propel a Cure will be attempting to raise $7500 for Crohn's research in just 24 hours. Thanks to supporters like you, we believe it's possible!
Here is how you can help on Giving Tuesday 2024 (or any day!):
- Make a one-time donation.
- Set up a recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual, or yearly donation. Recurring donors are incredibly important to our mission and provide a dependable income stream for the innovative research teams we sponsor.
- Start a Facebook or Instagram fundraiser for Propel a Cure.
- Our ability to offer matching funds incentivizes more donors to give and higher levels of giving. If you are able to help in this area on Giving Tuesday, please email angela@propelacure.org.
- Share our mission to find a cure for Crohn's with friends and family.
- Engage with us on social media by sharing, commenting, and liking our posts.
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RESEARCH REVIEW
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A recent study in Public Health showed that hospitalization with infectious mononucleosis increased the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially Crohn's disease.
Article Link:
Public Health
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Scientists have discovered that oral antibiotic use can impair the integrity of the colonic mucus barrier and may result in penetration by bacteria capable of triggering the gut inflammation seen in IBD.
Article Link:
Science Advances
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Researchers found that Crohn's patients on a high-fiber, low-fat diet (Mi-IBD diet) experienced different microbiome changes depending on whether their disease affected the colon or ileum, with the diet benefiting colonic Crohn's disease patients the most.
Article Link:
Microbiome Journal
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A University of Michigan team focusing on the link between manganese deficiency and IBD says that low levels of this micronutrient can worsen intestinal injury and inflammation.
Article Link:
Nature
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PAID RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
We're proud to partner with Rare Patient Voice, connecting patients and caregivers with valuable research opportunities while supporting Propel a Cure for Crohn's Disease! Sign up here to be matched with paid research studies that align with your or a loved one's condition.
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ONLINE STORE OPEN FOR SHOPPING
Our online store is back in time for the holidays! Shop for gifts like shirts, hats, mugs, totes, and much more, all embossed with our attractive logo. Propel a Cure receives a portion of all proceeds.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
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Annabelle Hall, Founder
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Thank you for supporting
Propel a Cure! If you can get involved, please let us know. We would love to have you
as a volunteer! If you'd like more information about Propel a Cure or have
suggestions for topics you'd like to see covered in the next newsletter,
please contact us at
info@propelacure.org. We are convinced that together we can make a difference!
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