Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Receives $4 Million from the Helmsley Charitable Trust to Advance Remission Strategies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Contact: Rachel Peifer
[email protected]

NEW YORK, NY – February 24, 2025- The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation has received a $4 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to improve remission rates in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This three-year grant will support the implementation of a treatment strategy called treat-to-target (TTT) in everyday clinical practice.

TTT is an approach that involves setting specific treatment goals, regularly monitoring progress, and adjusting treatment as needed to meet these goals. Unlike traditional symptom-focused treatments, TTT aims to address both symptoms and underlying inflammation, potentially reducing the risk of long-term intestinal damage and complications. Traditionally, treatment has focused primarily on managing symptoms. However, research shows that by not addressing the underlying inflammation, patients are at higher risk of long-term intestinal damage and complications. A TTT strategy aims to resolve both symptoms and inflammation to attain deep, sustained remission in IBD patients.

Despite the immense potential of TTT, there is a lack of guidance on how to implement it effectively and reliably in clinical practice. With the generous support of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Foundation's IBD Qorus® network of more than 60 care centers will focus on:

• Identifying common barriers to TTT implementation such as insurance prior authorizations, appeals, and access to care for required monitoring.
• Testing solutions to overcome these barriers.
• Assessing the feasibility and impact of a milestone-based TTT protocol in achieving remissions.

• Developing a practical implementation guidebook for IBD healthcare providers nationwide, offering recommendations for effectively incorporating the TTT strategy in various clinical settings. 

  This initiative aims to improve patient outcomes by promoting a more comprehensive and proactive approach to IBD treatment.

"This is the first time the treat-to-target strategy for IBD is being comprehensively explored in real-world practice outside of clinical trials," said Michael Osso, President & CEO of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. "By identifying practical solutions to overcome implementation barriers, we will accelerate the adoption of this promising approach and aim to improve outcomes for IBD patients nationwide. We are incredibly grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for its continued support of our mission to improve the lives of IBD patients.”

"The Helmsley Charitable Trust is committed to advancing patient care and disease management in Crohn’s disease," said Dr. Paul Scholl, Crohn’s Disease Program Director, of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "We believe this project has the potential to significantly improve the standard of care for IBD and we look forward to seeing its impact on patient outcomes."

IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and impacts 1 in 100 Americans. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has played a role in every major research and treatment breakthrough in IBD and has invested more than half a billion dollars in research to date and supported more than 2,500 research projects.

The grant period begins February 1, 2025, and will run through January 31, 2028.

IBD Qorus is also made possible by the support of Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly & Company, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., and Vectiv Bio.

About the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the mission of curing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life for the millions of Americans living with IBD. The Foundation’s work is dramatically accelerating the research process, while also providing extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public. For more information, visit http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org.

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning its active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley's Crohn's Disease Program has committed more than $600 million to date to support impactful ideas and mobilize a global community dedicated to improving the lives of Crohn's disease patients while pursuing a cure. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit helmsleytrust.org.