University Hospitals in Aachen and Maastricht Cooperate in the SysMedIBD Research Partnership

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's or Colitis ulcerosa can currently not be cured. In order to improve current therapies, the unknown causes and disease mechanisms of inflammatory bowel diseases must be researched. Researchers from the Department of Internal Medicine III at Aachen University Hospital developed new biomarkers with their Dutch colleagues from the University of Maastricht as part of the SysMedIBD research association. These biomarkers help to diagnostically recognize the disease, in order to make individual, improved treatment possible for those affected.

 

The development of the biomarkers is component of the international research association SysMedIBD, in which twelve institutions worldwide are involved. The European Union is funding the project as part of the 7th EU Framework for five years for a total of twelve million euros.

"By selecting our euregional research project, the European Union recognizes the transboundary collaboration between the RWTH Aachen and Maastricht University Hospitals", said Prof. Dr. Christian Trautwein, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine III at Aachen University Hospital. Both institutions receive a total of two million euros in order to unify diagnostic steps and develop new biomarkers for diagnostics and therapy. The research collaboration is laying the foundation for improved, unified, European treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

Morbus Crohn and Colitis ulcerosa patients suffer from diarrhea, stomachaches, and weight loss. In some individuals the disease comes in batches, others suffer constantly. Currently only the symptoms can be treated with the help of medicine and a special diet.

SysMedIBD Project Partners:

Aachen University Hospital
University Maastricht
University of Manchester
University of Kiel
German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg
University of Warwick
University of Liverpool
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
University of Auckland
Lifeglimmer GmbH, Berlin
Genexplain GmbH, Wolfenbüttel
GABO:mi GmbH & Co KG, Munich