UVA student’s ‘gut bacteria’ discovery could change Crohn’s Disease treatment

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - A new discovery from an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia could improve the way Crohn’s Disease is treated.

Rebecca Pierce found children with relapsing Crohn’s had a persistent disruption of their microbiomes, even after inflammation was successfully controlled by treatment.

Microbiomes are the collection of micro-organisms in our guts.

”Based on that we concluded that perhaps the differences in the gut microbiota, [or] the gut bacteria, might be an underlying cause of disease in the potential intervention source for the future,” Pierce said.

Pierce says this latest discovery could be key to helping doctors develop better ways to treat or possibly even cure Crohn’s.

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