Crohn's disease is under control within two weeks. Maintenance therapy also is designed, based on the patient's aggressive genotype. She is started on a regimen similar to the patient's maintenance therapy, and told to avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and similar compounds. At the birth of each child, genotyping is performed, and high-risk individuals are started on preventive therapy identical to his sister. My ultimate dream is that we, our children, and their children will not have to suffer anymore.
Unrealistic dreams lead to frustration.
It is of no benefit to patients if the answers remain in a test tube. An area that I felt needed immediate attention was a substantial increase in the level of research funding. In addition, we are funding general research resources that are designed to improve the efficiency of clinical and basic IBD investigators around the world. I'm convinced that the availability of these increased funds and resources will attract an ever-increasing number of talented investigators to study IBD at both the basic and clinical research levels. Facilitating basic and clinical research also has been fostered by sponsoring workshops in targeted areas, bringing together scientists working in IBD and those working outside the field to cross-fertilize each other.