Unlocking the Future of IBD Diagnosis: Keratin 7 and the Quest for a Noninvasive Test

In a significant leap forward for the medical community, researchers at Åbo Akademi University in Finland are on the brink of a breakthrough in diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) thanks to a novel approach involving keratin 7. Spearheaded by Assistant Professor Diana Toivola and her InFLAMES research group, this initiative has recently secured a combined funding boost from Business Finland and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, propelling the project towards the development of a patient-friendly diagnostic test.

IBD, encompassing conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, poses a growing health challenge, affecting approximately 1% of Finland's population. The complexity of its symptoms, which overlap with other intestinal ailments, underscores the urgent need for precise biomarkers. Enter keratin 7—a protein discovered by Toivola's team to be present in IBD patients but absent in healthy individuals, offering a beacon of hope for better disease identification.

The journey towards commercialization received a significant financial injection at the end of 2023, with Business Finland contributing over 470,000 euros and the Novo Nordisk Foundation adding another 127,000 euros. This support not only validates the project's potential but also enables the engagement of commercialization experts like Jaakko Korpela, who joined the initiative with a wealth of experience in bringing academic innovations to market.

The team aims to harness these resources to navigate the intricate regulatory landscape of clinical testing, develop the assay, and forge partnerships with diagnostic manufacturers. The goal is a rapid, noninvasive stool-based test for IBD, a vision bolstered by promising results from recent studies in knockout animal models demonstrating the reliability of measuring keratins in stool samples as a reflection of intestinal health.

This groundbreaking research at Åbo Akademi University epitomizes the transformative potential of combining scientific inquiry with commercial acumen. By focusing on keratin 7 as a biomarker for IBD, the project promises not just to advance diagnostic techniques but also to bring tangible benefits to patients worldwide. As the team moves closer to commercializing this noninvasive test, they underscore the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in solving some of healthcare's most pressing challenges.