Membership Leverages the Foundation’s IBD Plexus®, Patient Data and Biosamples to Advance Research in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Zurich, Switzerland 21 July 2026 – Polaroid Therapeutics (PTx), a Swiss biotechnology company advancing evidence-based antimicrobial polymer and wound care technologies, announced a membership with theCrohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s IBD Plexus. The Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding cures and improving the lives of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which impacts approximately 1 in 100 Americans. IBD Plexus, the Foundation’s research accelerator, houses the most comprehensive collection of IBD patient data and biosamples in the world. The membership opens access to longitudinal, de-identified patient-level data and biosamples from one of the world’s most comprehensive real-world IBD research resources, supporting PTx’s research in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
IBD Plexus links clinical, multi-omic, and patient-reported data from people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) across major cohorts, including SPARC IBD, IBD Qorus, RISK, and IBD Partners. By integrating these datasets, IBD Plexus has become one of the world’s most comprehensive resources for IBD research, enabling investigators across industry and academia to study the disease at scale. The membership positions PTx alongside leading IBD researchers and reflects the company’s commitment to a rigorous, evidence-driven approach to advancing care for patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
“Industry participation in IBD Plexus is essential to translating real-world data into better outcomes for patients,” said Angela Dobes, Senior Vice President, IBD Plexus, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.” We welcome Polaroid Therapeutics as a data-driven member of our research community and look forward to the contributions this collaboration will enable.”
“Advancing care for people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis depends on the right data. IBD Plexus, which the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has built as the most comprehensive real-world IBD research platform available, gives our team the patient-level data and biosamples to pursue rigorous, patient-centered research. It’s a powerful foundation for the predictive and disease-control tools we’re building to help patients stay ahead of their disease,” said Ran Frenkel, CEO and Co-founder of Polaroid Therapeutics.
About Polaroid Therapeutics
Polaroid Therapeutics is a Swiss-based biotech start-up in the development of innovative antimicrobial technology. Incubated and developed by Polaroid, the brand that pioneered the complex chemistry and technology behind analog instant photography. Polaroid Therapeutics’ mission is to create human-centric medical solutions built on its scientific and technological advancements.
Founded in 2022, PTx has developed APT™ (Antimicrobial Polymer Technology), a platform that enables controlled antimicrobial performance through structural design rather than chemical release. APT™ integrates proprietary polymer chemistry that can be adapted across multiple formats and clinical contexts, reflecting the company’s focus on responsible innovation, regulated evidence, and long-term antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship.
About the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and IBD Plexus
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the mission of curing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life for the millions of Americans living with IBD. The Foundation’s work is dramatically accelerating the research process, while also providing extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public.
Media Contacts
Polaroid Therapeutics: Itai Frenkel, Marketing and Operations Manager, polaroidtx@ragency.com