Northeast Ohio Research Initiative

Thanks to the support of caring individuals like you, the advances we have made in treatments and research-and the over 80 experimental therapies currently in the pipeline – are bringing us closer and closer to a world without IBD.  And the dollars we raise from the Northeast Ohio Research Initiative are just the beginning.

 Your decision to join the Northeast Ohio Research Initiative is a true investment in a cure.  Local, Northeast Ohio projects currently being funded by CCFA include:

 Research Fellowship Award to Rekha Rani, Ph.D. at Case Western Reserve University.  Project title: Immunoregulatory role of estrogen in experimental IBD.   Research Award: $195,000

 Genetics Award to Bo Shen, M.D. at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.  Project Title: Genetic and Serum and Fecal Biomarkers for Prediction of Chronic Puchitis.  Research Award: $75,000

Established in 1995 by local donors, CCFA's Northeast Ohio Research Initiative has generated major support of IBD research in our region.  Over the past two years alone, CCFA has directed approximately $450,000 to support local research!  This funding has strengthened Northeast Ohio's position as one of the foremost research areas for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.  Furthermore, the cutting-edge research funded by CCFA's Northeast Ohio Research Initiative is often awarded additional funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

The guiding mission of the CCFA is to stimulate and encourage innovative research in the basic biomedical and clinical sciences, which is likely to increase our understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, therapy, and prevention of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as inflammatory bowel diseases or IBD). In addition, the Foundation offers training awards to encourage the early developmental stages of individuals with research potential for a career of independent basic and/or clinical investigation in IBD.

On the off chance that in any given year CCFA's National Scientific Advisory Committee would not award any research dollars to Northeast Ohio research projects in a given year, our board of directors and key donors would meet to determine the best course of action– likely selecting a regional project to allocate our funds to for that year.     

Each year, we are challenged to raise more money to fund promising research projects.  Simply put, the more dollars we raise, the more research projects we fund, and the sooner we find a cure.  Help us get one step closer to a cure and better treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by giving to CCFA's Northeast Ohio Research Initiative