Promising Therapeutics For Ulcerative Colitis
In 2017, the Rainin Foundation awarded $100,000 to researchers in the technology (MAST) program at Cedars-Sinai to investigate and develop a novel antibacterial/anti-inflammatory method to treat ulcerative colitis. This funding supported Dr. Ali Rezaie and his colleagues to determine the efficacy of this method in in vitro and in vivo experiments. The safety of this modality was also assessed in animal models.
In 2021, the Rainin Foundation awarded researchers at Cedars-Sinai an additional $283,927 to conduct a small clinical trial of their method to treat ulcerative proctitis.
Monitoring Gut Motility
The Rainin Foundation awarded a grant of $250,000 to G-Tech Medical in 2016, which was followed up with additional funding of $159,100 in 2017 to enable continuing improvements to GutCheck, a medical device that could transform how gastrointestinal motility is monitored.
G-Tech Medical’s device, dubbed an “EKG for the gut,” is a wireless, wearable patch system. It could transform how doctors monitor changes in gut motility and how patients with gastrointestinal disorders understand their disease. The aim is to improve care and therapeutic outcomes for patients and reduce costs by monitoring gastrointestinal tract activity continuously and non-invasively over several days. While it has a number of applications, the ultimate goal of the system is to help quickly target the best treatment for IBD patients.
Innovations Symposium
The Foundation’s annual event brings together clinicians, researchers and trainees from around the world to exchange ideas and collaborate to advance IBD research.
