HONG KONG, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- An international consortium led by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)'s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) and the University of Calgary in Canada has conducted a global epidemiological study on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). It found that this chronic gut condition follows a four-stage epidemiological evolution across different regions of the world. Analysing data from more than 500 epidemiological studies across 80 regions in the past century, the team generated a machine-learning model for classification of stages which enables health-care systems to prepare for the growing burden on healthcare arising from the prevalence of IBD. Results of the study have been published in the leading scientific journal Nature.
Epidemiological model informs trend of IBD burden for the next 20 years
The Global IBD Visualization of Epidemiology Studies in the 21st Century (GIVES‑21) consortium, led by Professor Gilaad Kaplan of University of Calgary and Professor Siew Ng of CU Medicine, synthesised data from 522 population-based studies across 82 geographical regions over the past century. They observed differences in IBD incidence and prevalence across various geographical areas over the past century suggest that epidemiological patterns shift through time.
To further explore the trends and characterise the epidemiology of IBD independent of geography and time, researchers developed a machine-learning model that classifies regions by epidemiologic stage, maps spatiotemporal transitions across stages and models a theoretical prevalence stage for the next two decades. They also demonstrated a stage where IBD prevalence reaches equilibrium. (Please refer to Table 1 for details.)
Professor Gilaad Kaplan, Professor of Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine, the University of Calgary, said: "Our analysis, drawing on a century's worth of historical epidemiologic data, enables health authorities to tailor interventions – whether clinical, policy driven or preventive."
Incidence rapidly rising in China and Malaysia while Japan and South Korea seeing an acceleration in prevalence
Study data showed epidemiological stages vary among regions in Asia. Japan and South Korea, which underwent rapid industrialisation in the latter half of the 20th century, have reported prevalence exceeding 0.1%, placing them on the brink of transitioning towards stage 3. In contrast, nations like China and Malaysia, which industrialised later, entered stage 2 more recently.
Dr Joyce Mak, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CU Medicine, said: "Today, we stand at a critical juncture as we address the alarming rise in IBD in newly industrialised countries such as China and Malaysia. This increase is not just a statistic; it represents the health and well-being of millions of people. As these nations embrace rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, we must prioritise public health initiatives, enhance awareness, and invest in research to understand underlying causes of this disease."
Professor Siew Ng, Croucher Professor in Medical Sciences at CU Medicine, Director of the Microbiota I-Center (MagIC) and New Cornerstone Investigator, said: "Our GIVES‑21 consortium is conducting epidemiologic surveillance studies in low- and middle-income countries, as the disease is evolving in these regions. We are seeing a paradigm shift of IBD accelerating in these regions and we will need to prepare our clinical infrastructure and personnel to manage this complex and costly disease. We are planning research to focus on preventive strategies targeting the gut microbiome, diet and environmental exposures to reduce disease incidence."
This study was supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the International Organization for the study of IBD (IOIBD), and contributions from over 30 international partners.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
A global study led by CUHK and the University of Calgary charts four-stage evolution of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. and Braidwell LP participate as new investors
Stephen Williams, MD, Ph.D. joins as Chief Scientific Officer
Rebecca Chambers and Frank Witney, Ph.D. appointed to Board of Directors
FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alamar Biosciences, Inc. ("Alamar"), a leader in precision proteomics dedicated to advancing the early detection of disease, announced the close of an oversubscribed convertible notes financing, bringing in more than $50 million of new capital. Accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. and Braidwell LP joined the financing as new investors. Existing investors, including Illumina Ventures and Sands Capital, also participated. The financing will support the continued commercial advancement of Alamar's precision proteomics platform.
"We deeply appreciate the continued support from our existing investors and are excited to welcome our new partners," said Dr. Yuling Luo, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Alamar. "Their confidence in our vision and strategy underscores the transformative potential of our work. This investment will enable us to accelerate innovation and continue to expand the reach of our platform, unlocking the full value of precision medicine and early disease detection."
Leadership and Board Expansion
Alamar also announced key additions to its executive leadership team and board of directors to support the company's continued growth and commitment to operational excellence.
To further strengthen its scientific leadership, Alamar welcomes Dr. Stephen Williams as Chief Scientific Officer. Steve brings more than three decades of experience in precision medicine and biomarker innovation. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at Standard BioTools and SomaLogic, and previously spent 18 years at Pfizer in senior leadership roles. A recognized leader in the scientific community, he has served on the NIH National Advisory Council for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, helped launch the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, and co-founded the FDA-FNIH-PhRMA Biomarker Consortium.
Alamar has also appointed Rebecca Chambers and Dr. Frank Witney as directors to its board. Rebecca, Chief Financial Officer at Veracyte, brings deep financial and healthcare leadership experience from her current role as well as previous positions at Outset Medical, Illumina, Myriad Genetics and Life Technologies. Frank, an operating partner at Ampersand Capital Partners, adds over three decades of life sciences leadership experience, including serving as President and CEO of Affymetrix and Dionex Corporation, and currently sits on the boards of Revvity, Cerus Corporation, Standard BioTools, and several private companies.
"I am thrilled to welcome Steve to our leadership team, and Rebecca and Frank to our board of directors," said Dr. Yuling Luo. "Their deep expertise and diverse perspectives will be invaluable as we accelerate our mission to unleash the power of our Precision Proteomics platform, to enable broad impacts across health and disease. This is an exciting moment for Alamar, and we look forward to the impact their leadership will have on driving innovation and growth."
About Alamar Biosciences, Inc.
Alamar Biosciences is a privately held life sciences company dedicated to powering precision proteomics to enable the earliest detection of disease. Leveraging its proprietary NULISA™ technology and the ARGO™ HT System, Alamar's platform is designed to deliver ultra-high sensitivity and addresses key limitations of existing technologies to deliver precision proteomics. For more information, please visit alamarbio.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Alamar Biosciences Announces Close of Oversubscribed Convertible Notes Financing and Expansion of Leadership Team
Alamar Biosciences Announces Close of Oversubscribed Convertible Notes Financing and Expansion of Leadership Team
Alamar Biosciences Announces Close of Oversubscribed Convertible Notes Financing and Expansion of Leadership Team
Alamar Biosciences Announces Close of Oversubscribed Convertible Notes Financing and Expansion of Leadership Team
