INTERCEPT: Shifting from late diagnosis to early(er) detection and prevention

Despite growing awareness, Crohn’s is often diagnosed late, limiting the effectiveness of treatments and preventing certain intervention strategies. But what if we could detect it before symptoms even appear?

Crohn’s disease does not start at diagnosis – it begins much earlier in a preclinical phase. In this ‘silent phase’, biological changes occur before symptoms emerge. By identifying these early warning signs, we could:

• Understand what triggers inflammation.
• Identify high-risk individuals before the disease develops.
• Enable early, targeted treatment to prevent progression.

This is where INTERCEPT comes in. The project focuses on revolutionising early detection through biomarker validation.