What is Crohns?

What is IBD?

Almost 2 million Americans suffer from two of the most chronic and debilitating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. In addition, the annual incidence of new cases of IBD is 4 to 6 per 100,000 population.

About 80,000 New Jersey residents suffer from IBD which usually starts during their second and third decades of life. Approximately half of them are women and at least 10% are children. Many people hide the fact that their children suffer from IBD. Famous Americans, public figures who reveal details of almost all areas of their lives, hide the fact of these diseases in their closest kin. Wider public education would help bring them "out of the closet." IBD can drastically affect the quality of your life. However, when properly treated, the victims of even the most severe forms of these diseases can, and do live vital and long lives.

Despite the devastation that these diseases may bring to patients and their families, IBD's are often poorly treated and poorly diagnosed. Children with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis need highly skilled treatment in order to grow into healthy, functioning adults.

Research in these diseases has made significant progress during the recent years, but needs greater impetus and resources. This center is a major step in this direction.