NEWS Björn Schröder's research group has received SEK 6 million in grants from the Erling Persson Foundation for research on the intestinal microbial modulation of mucus in ulcerative colitis.
Björn Schröder, professor and research groupl leader.
ImageMattias Pettersson
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon that is becoming increasingly common in industrialized countries. Because the exact cause of the disease is still unknown, current treatments are primarily focused on symptom relief rather than offering a cure. Notably, people with ulcerative colitis often exhibit an imbalanced gut microbiota and deficiencies in the protective mucus layer.
The research in Björn Schröder's group at the Department of Molecular Biology and the Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden – MIMS focuses on the sticky mucus layer that covers the surface of the intestine and protects against the billions of microorganisms, which could otherwise lead to infections and inflammation. The project aims to elucidate the interaction between this gut flora and mucus defects that have been observed in people with ulcerative colitis. The research is carried out in collaboration with researchers at the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Department of Food and Nutrition Science to study the impact of bacteria and diet on the course of the disease. The hope is to identify which bacteria are beneficial for mucus function and thus eventually lead to the development of a new generation of probiotics to prevent and treat ulcerative colitis.
The project will run for three years.
