Research in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), together known as the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), has truly seen a revolution in the last 5-10 years. This book examines how these genetic discoveries have led to the identification of biological functions not previously associated with IBD pathophysiology (e.g. autophagy), how multiple genetic risk factors for IBD converge on given biological functions and that together the identified variants in these genes have predisposing and protective roles (e.g. the multiple variants in the receptor for the IL23 cytokine and its signaling cascade), and how having such a large number of known genetic risk factors has changed our understanding not only about the genetic and molecular overlap between CD and UC, but also between these diseases and other chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g. psoriasis,  multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and many others).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects 1% of people worldwide. This condition is partly inherited, and genetic research has made enormous progress during the last few years, providing important insight into disease pathogenesis. This book provides a concise but complete overview of existing knowledge, with particular focus on the molecular and genetic mechanisms at the basis of IBD.

Invited experts, at the frontline of IBD research, introduce basic concepts in the pathophysiology of IBD and its two major forms Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, provide a historical perspective and highlight latest discoveries of IBD genetic research, describe how this information has helped to unravel novel pathogenetic pathways, and formulate a vision for future investigations and their clinical application in IBD.

State-of-the-art information contained in this book is an exceptional resource for all those in the biomedical field with a specific interest in IBD, including basic scientists, gastroenterologists, GI specialist doctors and research nurses, but also medical and biomedical students.