Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Aug. 21, 2026

Research

Mayo Clinic has made important contributions to the treatment of IBD over the years, including pioneering ileoanal anastomosis (J-pouch surgery) and laparoscopic surgery for ulcerative colitis.

Mayo Clinic researchers conducted the first clinical study of mesalamine and discovered that genetic differences significantly affected the way patients metabolized this widely used IBD medicine as well as the IBD drugs azathioprine and mercaptopurine.

Mayo Clinic's inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) serum and tissue biobank involves all Mayo Clinic campuses. Research into serological and genetic markers may lead to individualized diagnosis and treatment.

Researchers in the Enteric Neuroscience Program at each Mayo Clinic campus investigate the biology of the neuromuscular system of the gastrointestinal tract. They are conducting numerous clinical trials related to IBD and other conditions.

Publications

See a list of publications about inflammatory bowel disease by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

  1. Kellerman RD, et al. Inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2026. Elsevier; 2026. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  2. Goldman L, et al., eds. Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  3. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/about/index.html. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  4. Chung RT, et al., eds. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2026. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  5. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: A guide for parents. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  6. Kliegman RM, et al. Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  7. Yao D, et al. New progress of small-molecule drugs in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Chinese Medical Journal. 2024; doi:10.1097/CM9.0000000000003026.
  8. Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR (tofacitinib): Drug safety communication — Initial safety trial results find increased risk of serious heart-related problems and cancer with arthritis and ulcerative colitis medicine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/xeljanz-xeljanz-xr-tofacitinib-drug-safety-communication-initial-safety-trial-results-find-increased?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  9. Crohn's disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease. Accessed May 5, 2026.
  10. Nimmagadda R. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. May 10, 2024.
  11. Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Oct. 9, 2024.