The Aurora-based University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus’ inflammatory bowel disease biobank has partnered with health technology company Network.Bio to expand research into gastrointestinal diseases and potential treatments.
The biobank, established in 2007 within the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, stores patient tissue samples that researchers use to study inflammatory bowel disease and other gut-related conditions. Under the partnership, the biobank will increase tissue collection, gain access to new data analysis tools and expand research capabilities, according to a June 4 news release.
Funding from the collaboration will support a new staff position focused on patient outreach and consent, allowing the biobank to proactively collect more tissue samples during routine colonoscopies. The effort will help build a larger and more diverse sample database for future studies.
Network.Bio also will help analyze existing tissue samples and support infrastructure upgrades, including new barcode tracking and storage systems. The company works with biobanks at research institutions nationwide, according to the release.
The expanded biobank could accelerate studies of inflammatory bowel disease and related conditions. One area of focus is intestinal fibrosis, a complication of Crohn’s disease that often leads to surgery and currently has no approved treatment to stop or reverse its progression.
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