Omics-driven Research on the Gut-Oral Microbiome, Metabolome, Lifestyle, and Clinical Integration in Korean Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition that afflects approximately 5 million people worldwide, with 1.4 million in the US and 2.2 million in Europe. By 2030, it is predicted that up to 1% of the entire Western population will have this disease. Notably, IBD encompasses conditions like Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC). The emergence of this disease in non-Western countries is attributed to the rapid urbanization and industrialization which has led to the adoption of Westernized diets, an increase in the use of antibiotics early in life, and air pollution. These factors are suspected to induce changes in the gut microbiome, contributing to the rise of IBD. However, as an immune-mediated chronic intestinal disease, it is a multifactorial condition triggered by genetic mutations, gut microbial features, and environmental factors. Despite numerous studies, the exact causes remain insufficiently understood, emphasizing the importance of research and development to significantly benefit the health of the rapidly increasing patients. The study aims to construct a multi-omics analysis platform, including gut microbiome analysis, using biosamples collected from Korean patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their families. Through this platform, comparative clinical research will be conducted to elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease and develop potential biomarkers.