Research Initiatives

These grants focus on emerging areas of research that CCFA's National Scientific Advisory Committee finds worthy of nurturing. CCFA has established several major research initiatives to encourage cooperative efforts among investigators, research centers, and other resources.

Funding of Research Initiatives is generally established by a foundation, individual, or a CCFA Chapter Research Alliance. For more information on how you can become involved in sponsoring a research initiative, please contact our Development Department at 800-932-2423, extension 248.

Current research initiatives include:

The DNA and Cell Line Bank

CCFA spearheaded the effort to study genotypes and phenotypes by establishing the DNA and Cell Line Bank. This bank will contain DNA and cell lines (via blood samples) from patients nationwide. This valuable information will serve as a much-needed resource for biomedical researchers around the world. This material is essential to unraveling the mysteries of IBD's origin and development.  The collection is slated to be available to researchers by September 2007.

The Clinical Research Alliance

In 1999, CCFA launched the Clinical Research Alliance, a network of major medical centers and smaller, local facilities. The centers are collaborating for clinical studies on the management and treatment of IBD. As a result, key studies are being performed more efficiently and with larger groups of patients.  The Clinical Alliance provides opportunities for nationwide enrollment into quality multi-center trials of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Find out more about the Clinical Research Alliance...