Two Foundation-Funded Studies Validate Real-Time IBD Inflammatory Biomarker
Published: February 15, 2024
Contact: Rachel Peifer
[email protected]
New York, NY [February 15, 2024]— In collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and funded by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, two pivotal studies highlight the potential of IBD Aware, a sweat sensing wearable device created by EnLiSense CCM, that offers the first solution for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of IBD through the power of sweat-sensing technology.
“Longitudinal Assessment Of Sweat‑Based TNF‑Alpha In Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using A Wearable Device,” was published in Nature Scientific Reports, and “Longitudinal Monitoring Of IL-6 And CRP In Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using IBD-AWARE” was published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
The studies involved measuring inflammation markers CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 in subjects' blood and sweat continuously in subjects with and without IBD. Researchers found a correlation between sweat and blood markers, demonstrating the device's potential for monitoring inflammatory diseases. Additionally, the device accurately distinguished between individuals with and without inflammation. Sweat measurements in both studies revealed significantly higher IBD biomarker levels in patient groups, with TNF-α levels being twice as high in patients compared to non-patients.
“These validation studies mark a crucial first step in introducing this transformative biosensor technology to the IBD community, reflecting our unwavering commitment to bridging the gap between pioneering research and tangible impact," said Andres Hurtado-Lorenzo, PhD, Senior Vice President of Translational Research & IBD Ventures at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. “The importance of continuous monitoring of inflammatory markers relevant for IBD in sweat cannot be overstated, as it has the potential to decrease the invasiveness of endoscopy and the need for fecal sample collection. This novel biosensor offers a minimally invasive means to monitor inflammatory markers in real time, which has never been possible in IBD. This groundbreaking research started with the vision we had for our Novel Technologies initiative focused on biosensors. We are proud to have enabled this novel biosensor research in IBD and to have created a path that advances this bioengineering research from academia to industry, to develop innovative products that will revolutionize IBD management.”
“This clinical validation is a testament to over a decade of pioneering research in non-invasive sweat-sensor technology by EnLiSense. The IBD Aware device represents a major leap forward, offering clinicians and patients unprecedented insights into a disease state, treatment timing and effectiveness, symptom management, and dietary adjustments – aspects previously inaccessible in real-time,” said Dr. Shalini Prasad, PhD, Professor and Department Head, Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas and Co-founder of EnLiSense.
These studies were funded by a grant from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (Novel Technologies Initiative Award ID 695759 and 611587, PI: Shalini Prasad) and by a grant from National Institute of Health (Award ID K23DK129835, PI: Robert P Hirten).