Propel a Cure for Crohn's Disease

09/03/2026

Researchers are continuing to uncover what may happen in the gut before disease develops.

New research from the University of Toronto is challenging the traditional focus on inflammation by identifying a potential immune defect involving , a gene strongly associated with Crohn’s risk.

The researchers found that when NOD2 was not functioning properly, fewer T cells were recruited to the gut’s lymph nodes and those cells were less effective at responding to infection. They propose that this impaired immune response, combined with a more permeable intestinal barrier, could contribute to the earliest stages of Crohn’s disease.

It’s another piece of evidence pointing to the importance of understanding what happens before chronic inflammation takes hold. It may also help explain why treatments that target inflammation work well for some patients but not others.

Read the full article below.

https://www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-researchers-identify-immune-defect-may-set-crohn-s-disease-motion

Crohn’s disease, a condition characterized by widespread inflammation in the gut, may arise from a weakened immune response, according to new research from the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.For the study, researchers led by Dana Philpott, a professor of immunology and labor...

09/01/2026

August was Short Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to recognize a serious complication that some people with Crohn’s disease may face after surgery.

Approximately 15% of patients with Crohn’s disease who undergo surgery eventually develop short bowel syndrome.

For many, this can mean lifelong challenges with nutrition, hydration, digestion and quality of life.

It’s another reminder of why preventing disease progression and reducing the need for repeated surgeries matters. At Propel a Cure, we’re funding research focused on changing the course of Crohn’s disease and finding better options for patients.

08/31/2026

Pillar Patient Advocates is seeking patients aged 65 or older who have been diagnosed with Colitis or Crohn’s Disease. The upcoming market research study involves completing a 60-minute online board activity for which $125 is paid in appreciation of one’s time and input. The purpose is to learn more about patient experiences and opinions while responding to various prompts.

To determine if you qualify, please complete our registration at https://www.research.net/r/prplcribd. A Patient Liaison will call you to go through a few screening questions. This study is for US residents only.

08/28/2026

Crohn’s disease patients deserve better. Today’s treatments can help, but they aren’t enough. We believe a cure is within reach.

Propel a Cure is a patient and caregiver-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to funding bold research that could get us there.

We keep our overhead low, so more than 98% of every dollar raised goes toward innovative research, including our ongoing projects exploring more targeted and potentially curative therapies.

We believe patients and caregivers should have a voice in the future of Crohn’s research and that bold ideas deserve a chance.

Help us fund the research that could change what’s possible for the next generation of people living with Crohn’s.

propelacure.org/donate

08/26/2026

Today, we’re continuing our spotlight on the new research projects supported by Propel a Cure’s $100,000 Trailblazer Grants.

At The University of Queensland’s Mater Research Institute, researchers are investigating the as a potential upstream driver of , a serious complication that affects approximately half of people with Crohn’s disease and for which there are currently no therapeutics.

The team will study the bacteria and metabolites they believe may protect against fibrosis and test whether restoring these protective factors in people with Crohn’s disease could help prevent or halt its progression.

These are the kinds of bold, early-stage ideas our Trailblazer Grants are designed to support. We’re proud to help researchers explore new possibilities for understanding and treating Crohn’s disease.

Help support our scientists and fund the next breakthrough. Donate at propelacure.org/donate

08/25/2026

Yesterday, we announced two new $100,000 Trailblazer Grants supporting bold new approaches to understanding and treating Crohn’s disease. Over the next two days, we’re spotlighting the research teams and the ideas these grants are helping advance.

Today, we’re highlighting Stanford University’s Kenneth Weinberg Research Team.

This team is investigating whether dysfunctional , the energy producers of cells, may contribute to inflammation and intestinal injury in some people with . Their project will also test a targeted, nonimmunosuppressive drug that could address the inflammatory and tissue-damaging processes associated with this dysfunction.

The project is supported through the generous partnership of the Mendez Family Foundation and other Propel a Cure donors.

Help support our scientists and fund the next breakthrough. Donate at propelacure.org/donate

08/24/2026

Breaking News: Propel a Cure has awarded two $100,000 Trailblazer Grants to research teams pursuing bold, new approaches to understanding and treating Crohn’s disease, laying the foundation for cures.

At Stanford University, the Kenneth Weinberg Research Team is investigating whether dysfunctional mitochondria, the energy producers of our cells, may contribute to inflammation and intestinal injury in Crohn’s disease. The team will also test a targeted, nonimmunosuppressive drug that could address the inflammatory and tissue-damaging processes caused by this dysfunction. This project is supported through the generous partnership of the Mendez Family Foundation and other Propel a Cure donors.

At The University of Queensland’s Mater Research Institute, researchers are exploring the role of the microbiome in driving fibrosis, a serious complication that affects approximately half of people with Crohn’s disease and currently has no therapeutics. The team will study the bacteria and metabolites that may protect against fibrosis and test whether restoring them could help prevent or halt its progression.

These are exactly the kinds of game-changing, early-stage projects Propel a Cure was created to support. Thank you for helping us invest in bold ideas that could change the future of Crohn’s research.

Help support our scientists and fund the next breakthrough. Donate at propelacure.org/donate

08/20/2026

Fatigue affects 77% of people with Crohn’s disease, according to a new study.

Researchers found that fatigue was associated with depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia, as well as changes in certain white blood cell populations.

The findings highlight the complex factors that may contribute to fatigue in Crohn’s disease and could help guide future approaches to identifying and treating it.

08/14/2026

Is an autoimmune condition? In this 1-minute interview highlight on findings from a Propel a Cure-sponsored study, Dr. Vincent van Unen explains how immune cell patterns his team identified suggest that some IBD patients may reflect a more autoimmune subtype of the disease, with others on the more chronic inflammatory part of the spectrum. To watch the full conversation, go to propelacure.org/videos.

08/13/2026

During a recent Propel a Cure-supported project, Dr. Vincent van Unen and his team for the very first time identified previously undiscovered immune cell patterns shared by both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis patients, linked to a gene known to influence risk. To learn more about why these conditions may share more similarities than we thought, watch our full-length interview at propelacure.org/videos.