As part of World IBD Day, IHU Infiny and Nancy CHRU held a conference on cutting-edge progress and emerging prospects in patient care.
in his opening speech, Professor Christian Rabaud, interim director of IHU Infiny, introduced the Institute and highlighted its three main goals: helping people with IBD live as normal a life as possible, speeding up diagnosis and easing the burden of care, and supporting long-term solutions to move closer to a cure.
Mireille, regional representative of AFA Crohn RCH Lorraine, then presented the association, which has been supporting people with IBD for 43 years through many local and national actions. A strong partner of IHU Infiny, AFA follows its research and care activities closely and actively supports its work.
Current Innovations and Future Directions in IBD Care
Dr Marie François, gastroenterologist at Nancy University Hospital, shared a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and treatment options for IBD.
She began with key figures: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis now occur at similar rates (48% and 52% respectively), with a slight female predominance.
Over the past 20 years, IBD cases have increased significantly, especially among young people—15 to 20% of diagnoses are now in children and teens. This rise is linked to both genetics (over 150 risk genes identified) and environmental factors, with smoking identified as a major aggravating factor in Crohn’s disease, contributing to higher rates of complications, recurrence, and surgical intervention.
Dr. François then outlined therapeutic approaches, focusing on the benefits of biotherapies in reducing inflammation and improving quality of life. She emphasized the importance of personalized treatment, tailored to each patient’s profile and response to medication.
Her talk concluded with a look at promising new research, including clinical trials exploring targeted therapies that could further improve outcomes for IBD patients.
On 19 May, we had the privilege of organising a patient conference in collaboration with the AFA Crohn RCH Association and Nancy CHRU. These valuable exchanges reinforced the vital link between research, clinical care, and patient support, showcasing the resources dedicated to improving the daily lives of those affected by these conditions.
