Genetic Analysis (GA) has announced that the Norwegian Research Council has approved its grant application of NOK 16 million (€1.6 million) for its project developing new innovative microbiome-based diagnostics to be used to aid selection and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients.
In this project, GA will develop an easy to use, in vitro diagnostic test that profiles gut microbiota to predict disease progression and treatment regimes in patients with ulcerative colitis. The development and validation of the test will be done in close collaboration with R&D partners at Akershus University Hospital (Prof Stefan Brackman), Norway and Sahlgrenska University (Prof Lena Öhman) Hospital/University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
“This will not only improve treatment outcome and quality of life for patients suffering this debilitating disease but also contribute to lowering the huge costs related to treatment,” said Ronny Hermansen, CEO of Genetic Analysis.
“Improved treatment regimens for IBD patients represent a major unmet medical need, and patients will benefit strongly from new innovative markers that can aide diagnoses and selection of treatment for these life-long diseases. We look forward to supporting GA in their development of new innovative diagnostics for IBD patients” said IBD authority Professor Lena Öhman.
Image credit: Mikita Karasiou