Crohn's & Colitis Foundation launch global IBD registry to accelerate international research

The launch of the Global IBD Registry (GLIDE) brings together registries and research platforms from across the world, creating a unified data resource to advance understanding and improve care for people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, in collaboration with an international consortium of leading inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) researchers, has announced the launch of the Global IBD Registry (GLIDE), a new initiative designed to securely connect IBD registries worldwide.

By creating an integrated global research platform underpinned by strong privacy and data security, GLIDE will allow investigators to analyze patient data at scale and address complex, unresolved clinical questions. The registry aims to generate insights that will improve care for the millions of people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

A key part of the US contribution is IBD Plexus^®, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s comprehensive research platform. IBD Plexus integrates clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes, enriching GLIDE with high-quality multimodal data that can inform study design, accelerate the development of new treatments, and enhance understanding of disease progression.

Angela Dobes, MPH, Senior Vice President of IBD Plexus at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and GLIDE Co-Chair, commented in the launch announcement:

“GLIDE draws on our proven experience operating country-specific registries and deep expertise in IBD to advance rigorous, collaborative research. By combining advanced data-sharing technologies with strong privacy safeguards, GLIDE creates new pathways for collaboration, connecting information once siloed across countries and institutions.”

Dobes has also emphasized in a Guest Column for The Evidence Base that, “IBD Plexus accelerates innovation across the entire drug development continuum from biomarker discovery to post-marketing studies by breaking down traditional silos and providing researchers with streamlined access to richly annotated, standardized datasets.” This foundation of integration and accessibility supports the role of IBD Plexus within GLIDE’s global efforts.

Supporting the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, founding members of GLIDE include organizations and institutions spanning Spain, Denmark, Israel, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

Professor Jane M Andrews, MBBS, PhD, Chair and Medical Director of Crohn’s Colitis Cure (CCCure) in Australia and New Zealand, and GLIDE Co-Chair, welcomed the initiative’s reach:

“We have a foundational group encompassing a huge proportion of the globe, covering diverse populations and varied healthcare systems. We are committed to overcoming barriers in sharing patients' valuable data responsibly, to learn faster at scale and optimize outcomes for those living with IBD.”

GLIDE’s first phase will focus on technology strategy, data harmonization, and project development, with collaborative work groups ensuring robust technical solutions and interoperable data standards.