The Helmsley Foundation awarded a research grant of approximately ten million shekels to researchers from Soroka Medical Center and Ben Gurion University of the Negev for the study of Crohn’s disease. As part of the research, an application will be developed that will enable the acquisition and practice of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness skills among patients with Crohn’s disease.
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Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease in which the immune system attacks the intestinal tissue and causes uncontrolled inflammation that can affect many parts of the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus. The disease can also be manifested in organs outside the digestive system in inflammations of the skin, joints and eyes, liver complications and more.
Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s disease, are common among young people and significantly affect the health, economic, mental and social aspects of their lives. It is of utmost importance to improve the quality of treatment, maintain a normal quality of life and function, and prevent complications that may be caused by the disease.
The research will be led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from “Soroka” and Ben Gurion University of the Negev, among them: Dr. Doron Schwartz and Prof. Emeritus Shmuel Odes from the Institute of Gastroenterology at “Soroka” and the Faculty of Health Sciences; Prof. Orly Sharid and Prof. Emrita Ward Salonim-Nevo, From the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Dan Vilanchik from the Department of Communication Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences; Prof. Alon Monsongo from the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics in collaboration with Prof. Kobi Moran-Gilad from the Health Department; Prof. Dan Greenberg from the Department of Health Policy and Management; and Professor Emeritus Michael Friger of the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences.
The group is part of a national research group (Israeli IBD Research Nucleus – IIRN) that studies Crohn’s disease and its partners are the Bilinson, Sheba Tel Hashomer, Rambam and Shaare Zedek medical centers.