Inflammatory bowel disease research is changing. Progress in defining and treating these diseases is advancing in lock step with the furious pace of technological advances that continue to refine the tools of discovery. With sequencing of the entire genome completed, genetics research is providing direction for molecular and immunological in vivo and in vitro investigation, which in turn directs the development of targeted therapeutics. As translational investigation evolves, what is learned in clinical research is combined with what is learned in basic science research and is leading to a “personalized medicine” approach for managing inflammatory bowel diseases and is bringing the potential of prevention into view.
