PhD thesis on IBD by Noortje Festen

Eleanora (Noortje) Festen, MD, graduated cum laude on April 6, 2011 with her PhD thesis: Shared genetic background of inflammatory diseases of the bowel.

Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases with a relatively high prevalence in Western countries. Patients are usually bound to strict diets and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. This thesis describes research into the genetic factors involved in Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease. A screen for variants in genes in the innate immune system was used to identify new risk genes for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It was also found that there is overlap in genetic risk between these diseases and celiac disease. The findings are relevant for our better understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases and to further research in therapeutic treatments.

Copies can be requested from the department or here. 

Her supervisors were Prof. Cisca Wijmenga, Prof. Jan Kleibeuker and Dr. Rinse Weersma from the Depts of Genetics and Gastroenterology, UMCG.

She will continue her clinical training as a gastroenterologist in the UMCG and will combine this with further research work.