Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $3 Million Grant to Research Epithelial Healing in Crohn’s disease

New York, NY (December 11, 2024) – The Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded a grant of $3,035,566 to support groundbreaking research on Crohn’s disease, to be led by a collaborative team of leading researchers across three institutions. Louis J. Cohen, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Parakkal Deepak, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology), Washington University School of Medicine; and Andres J. Yarur, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, will serve as co-investigators.

This grant will fund an investigation aimed at better understanding how glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists can be used to treat people with Crohn’s disease. Known as GLP-1 agonists, and sold under brand names including Ozempic and Wegovy, this class of drugs has become widely available in recent years for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The collaborative project, titled “The Use of GLP-1R Agonists to Promote Epithelial Healing in Crohn’s disease,” will last three years.

Crohn’s disease is a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease that affects millions of people worldwide, often leading to significant illness and a decreased quality of life. Current treatment options are limited, and many patients experience inadequate relief from symptoms and complications. The innovative research funded by this grant aims to explore the potential of GLP-1R agonists to promote healing in the intestinal epithelium, a thin, protective layer of cells, potentially offering new hope to those affected by this chronic condition. 

The grant will fund a clinical trial in which patients are given a GLP-1R agonist for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, in marked contrast to traditional therapies that target inflammation. The investigators will take samples from patients and, in the laboratory, study the mechanisms through which GLP-1R agonists affect the cells of the intestine.

“This study really is an incredible example of collaborative work across institutions taking science from the bench to the bedside, and back to the bench, in order to improve the lives of patients with Crohn’s disease through a treatment strategy that breaks from the traditional focus on inflammatory pathways,” said Dr. Cohen.

Drs. Cohen, Deepak, and Yarur, all physician-scientists, will leverage their expertise in gastroenterology and translational medicine in this team approach to elucidate the mechanisms by which GLP-1R agonists can aid in tissue repair and enhance gut health, ultimately paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies for Crohn’s disease.

“We are immensely grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for its generous support,” said Dr. Cohen. “This grant not only empowers our research team to pursue promising avenues for epithelial healing in Crohn’s disease, but also signals a commitment to improving the lives of patients living with this challenging condition.”

Dr. Deepak added, “Our research could potentially lead to transformative therapies that enhance epithelial healing and improve patient outcomes, addressing a critical need in the treatment landscape for Crohn’s disease.”

Dr. Yarur emphasized the importance of collaboration in this research, stating, “Working together across institutions allows us to leverage diverse expertise and resources, enhancing the potential impact of our findings.”

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