About the Very Early Onset IBD (VEO-IBD) Program

At the VEO-IBD Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), your child will receive care from gastroenterologists and immunologists with expertise in VEO-IBD, all in one place. We are researching VEO-IBD to uncover underlying genetic and immunologic reasons that may contribute to the development of the disease and may help with providing new treatment options. Our team uses cutting edge technologies to identify these factors that may be driving the disease in your child and then attempts to develop an individualized and targeted therapy that can help improve your child’s quality of life.

Research into VEO-IBD at CHOP uses advanced sequencing technology to identify the genes, including genes associated with primary immunodeficiencies, that may play a role in the development of the disease. One of these techniques, advanced genetic sequencing, provides a method to identify some of the underlying genetic causes of VEO-IBD and may allow for targeted therapy in these children. We also study the different bacteria and other organisms in the intestinal tract of children with VEO-IBD and combine this information with the genetic information to provide a comprehensive understanding of each child’s disease.

VEO-IBD requires significant additional investigation before its causes are fully understood and a standard of care can be established. At CHOP, the VEO-IBD team has established a VEO-IBD registry. The goal is to eventually establish a standard of care for this disease and significantly improve quality of life for our patients.

“It was a relief to be able to put our confidence in a doctor who specializes in early onset Crohn's. chop is a fabulous place. you know you're in good hands there.”