Investigating Underrepresented Groups with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Summary

There have been major advances in our understanding of the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the past decade. However, genetic studies to date have primarily included individuals of White ethnicity and working age (15 to 64 years).

​Ethnic minorities comprise over 11 million people in the UK population, and rates of IBD are increasing among these groups—yet they have historically been underrepresented in research. In addition, IBD is becoming more common in older adults (over 60 years), driven by an ageing population and a rise in older-onset IBD. The lack of research in these groups limits our understanding of IBD and reduces our ability to provide effective care for everyone.

​Our recent study, using data from the NIHR IBD Bioresource, analysed clinical information from over 30,000 IBD patients across the country and uncovered unique disease patterns in South Asian patients. To gain deeper insights, we plan to link genetic and clinical data from the IBD Bioresource. This will help us identify genes associated with more severe disease, as well as those that may influence how people respond to treatment. These findings could reveal new insights into how IBD works and pave the way for personalised treatment through genetic testing.

​We will also turn our attention to older adults with IBD, to better understand how the disease develops and how patients respond to treatment, using both genetic and clinical data. This is especially important because there is currently little evidence to guide the management of IBD in older people, including how well treatments work and what risks they may carry.

​By focusing on under-represented groups—including ethnic minorities and older adults—we hope our research will support a more personalised and inclusive approach to IBD care, and highlight the urgent need to address these gaps within IBD research.