If you have Crohn’s disease and have healthy children or
siblings, they could help unlock the key to what causes this
inflammatory disease, which primarily attacks the
gastrointestinal tract. A Canada-wide research project is trying
to find the cause of Crohn’s disease by following the healthy
siblings and offspring of those with the disease. The GEM
Project was among the topics of discussion at a Crohn’s/colitis
workshop held at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital Thursday, Nov.
15. Nova Scotia is a good place to look for volunteer subjects.
Kelly Phalen Kelly, a nurse practitioner from the Capital Health
district, told the audience that Canada has one of the highest
rates of incidence of Crohn’s disease in the world and Nova
Scotia has the highest incidence rates in Canada. “That makes us
have the highest reported [incidence] rates in the world,” she
said. The GEM study (which stands for genetics, environment,
microbial) hopes to help explain why. Brad MacIntyre is a
representative of the GEM study’s Halifax res