Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a lifelong condition that affects more than 320,000 people in Canada, the highest prevalence worldwide. Symptoms are unpredictable and many patients experience recurring disease flares despite treatment. In British Columbia, the burden is growing, particularly among immigrant communities, where South Asian populations face a much higher risk after adopting Western diets. While diet and environment are known to influence IBD, current care cannot reliably predict flares or identify which food-related exposures drive disease activity.

This project aims to better predict, understand and ultimately prevent IBD flares by uncovering how diet interacts with gut microbes and the body. Led by Dr. Deanna Gibson at the University of British Columbia, the study will use an integrated multi-omics approach to look at gut bacteria, their activity and the small molecules they produce. By combining these data with dietary information and health records, the team will develop tools that support earlier diagnosis and more personalized care.

The researchers will analyze stool and blood samples from people with IBD and healthy participants, including recent immigrants, alongside detailed diet surveys. Diet and microbiome data will be securely linked with provincial health records through Health Data Platform BC, with machine learning used to identify patterns between diet, microbial activity and clinical outcomes.

The project will deliver validated biomarker panels and predictive models that could warn of upcoming flares and identify high-risk individuals. For British Columbia, this work has the potential to improve quality of life for patients, support more equitable care for immigrant communities, reduce hospitalizations and lower long-term healthcare costs through earlier and more targeted interventions.