What is the GEM Project?
The Genetic, Environmental and Microbial (GEM) Project is a unique Canadian research study that will for the first time prospectively (looking forward) study a select group of people who are full healthy siblings of individuals diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. These individuals may be at an increased risk of developing Crohn's Disease.
This project has received funding from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) for the first six years of study. This first phase of the project is to identify people who have Crohn's Disease (Probands) but also have full siblings that are not diagnosed with it. During the first two years of the study, 5,000 siblings (Subjects) will be recruited. These Subjects will be followed for several years from the time they are recruited into the study. Each Subject will be asked to contribute blood samples for genetic analysis (G), provide urine samples and answer questions about their environment (E) and stool samples to study microbial exposure (M).
During the analysis phase, the collected samples and information from the questionnaires will provide important information about the cause(s) of Crohn's disease. This may allow for the development of new and better therapies or even a cure
