University of Colorado Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Biobank

Access to patient-derived tissue is the cornerstone of translational biomedical research. The University of Colorado IBD Biobank delivers this critical infrastructure, offering well-defined patient and healthy control samples to researchers across the University of Colorado campus and our collaborative network.

Originally founded by Dr. Mark Gerich under the GI & Liver Innate Immunity Program (GALIIP), the IBD Biobank has proudly served the scientific community for over 10 years. Today, our capabilities are significantly enhanced through strategic partnerships, allowing us to expand our reach and provide unparalleled value to biomedical investigators.

We offer streamlined access to a robust repository of high-quality biospecimens from patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other GI disorders as well as healthy controls, paired with comprehensive, deeply annotated clinical metadata:

Led by Director Mark Gerich, MD, and Associate Director Calen Steiner, MD, MS, the Biobank is operated by a dedicated team of clinical and laboratory professionals. Our staff ensures rigorous, expert collection and processing of all samples. Equally important, they serve as a trusted bridge to our patients—ensuring that individuals are not only aware of the opportunity to participate, but are fully informed, empowered, and supported throughout the consent and donation process.

By bridging the gap between the clinic and the bench, the IBD Biobank fosters vibrant scientific collaboration, offers cost-effective access to vital human materials, and provides the essential foundation needed to translate basic scientific observations into life-changing clinical discoveries.