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Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health launched to find new IBD treatments




More than 100 children living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis tried their hands at being a scientist as the Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health was launched.

The centre brings together University of Cambridge scientists, using tools such as organoids grown from cells donated by the children together with leading patient care from Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Family day at the Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Kelly Spike
Family day at the Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Kelly Spike

The launch took place on Friday (6 June) - Family Day for Children with IBD - and was organised by volunteers, children and young people who are cared for by team members across the centre.

Its director is Matt Zilbauer, professor of paediatric gastroenterology at the University of Cambridge and a consultant at Addenbrooke’s, who said: “We’re incredibly fortunate to have access to a huge amount of talented scientists, clinical academics, doctors and medical staff who are dedicated to improving the lives of their patients.

“But really, it’s about the brilliant children and teenagers that we meet, who, despite the difficulties they face living with these terrible conditions, are enthusiastic about getting involved in helping us better understand their conditions and search for new treatments.”

Family day at the Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Kelly Spike
Family day at the Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Kelly Spike
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health

Prof Zilbauer and the team at Cambridge Stem Cell Institute study IBD using cells donated by the young patients to grow 3D cell cultures, or organoids, which are nicknamed ‘mini-guts’ as they share key characteristics of gut tissue.

Last year, their research showed that switches that modify DNA in gut cells play a key role in Crohn’s disease and how it presents in patients.

“To study these diseases, we need our children and young people to donate a few extra tissue cells when we’re investigating their condition. We couldn’t do our research without their help,” he said. “The children are amazing – they’re all really keen to help us and to contribute to finding new treatments, even when they know these treatments may not benefit them directly.”

Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health

Following the publication of their work last year, funding from Helmsley Charitable Trust enabled the team to recruit a further 500 patients from six other centres across Europe and generate nearly 1,000 organoids. Their research has since gone global and they are working with partners in South Korea, Taiwan and Senegal.

The aim is to identify new biomarkers that will pave the way for personalised treatments for individual patients and they hope to identify new drug targets that can be developed with the likes of industry partners such as AstraZeneca on Cambridge Biomedical Campus and other collaborators.

Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health

Prof Zilbauer said: “IBD treatments are gradually getting better, but these children will still face a life of medication and possible surgery. With their help, we can make sure they get the very best treatments, with access to the latest drugs, to the latest clinical trials, and to outstanding clinical care. That’s why we’re launching our new centre.”

Addenbrooke’s is a specialist centre in paediatric gastroenterology and one of the largest centres for paediatric inflammatory bowel diseases in Europe. It diagnoses and treats around 100 new young patients every year with conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The centre also acknowledges the impact of such conditions on an individual’s mental health, so will feature a psychiatric team too. This approach of treating a patient’s physical and mental health holistically will be the ethos behind the forthcoming Cambridge Children’s Hospital.

Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health

Claire Glemas, research nurse and patient engagement lead at CUH, said: “Inflammatory bowel diseases are lifelong conditions with no cure. It’s really tough for the children and young people we see, so it’s important that we look after every aspect of their health. By looking after their mental health alongside their physical health, we hope to make their lives easier.”

Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health
Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health. Picture: Cambridge Centre for Children’s Gut Health

Saturday’s family day, organised by Claire, along with patient representatives Jen Rose and Seb Tucknott and volunteers, gave children and their families a chance to meet scientists and medical staff and try hands-on activities that gave an insight into the research that will take place at the centre.



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