GLOBE-OFG Study
GLycomics for Oral health and Biomarker Evaluation in OroFacial Granulomatosis
Duration: 12 months
Partners: UCL, Newcastle University, Ludger Ltd, Avenna Ltd
Investigators:
- Andrew Smith (UCL – Study PI)
- Saskia Inniss (UCL – Postgrad researcher)
- Stefano Fedele (UCL – PI on ORION study)
- Nina Skorytchenko (CEO- Avenna Ltd)
- Daryl Fernandes (CEO – Ludger Ltd and CSO – Avenna Ltd)
Funded under: UCL BRC 2025 Theme: Oral & Dental Medicine – Novel Diagnostics
Orofacial Granulomatosis (OFG) is a chronic inflammatory disorder marked by oral swelling and granulomas—features it shares with Crohn’s Disease (CD). Around 60% of OFG patients show bowel inflammation, with many later developing CD. Yet, no predictive diagnostic currently exists.
Audit data from UCLH identified:
93 OFG patients (median diagnosis age: 23 ±18 years)
61% had co-existing IBD
22% developed IBD after OFG
Average IBD diagnosis delay: 2.8 ±2.4 years
This overlap highlights an unmet need for early diagnostic and prognostic tools to better manage OFG and its progression to IBD.
Aims
Primary: Develop a patient-friendly, blood-based diagnostic for OFG
Secondary: Identify glycomic biomarkers predictive of progression from OFG to CD
Cohort (n=40):
10 OFG-only patients
10 OFG + CD patients
10 CD-only patients
10 Healthy controls (age- and sex-matched)
Sample Collection:
Blood via Avenna’s Precision Blood Collection Kits
Saliva for cytokine profiling
All samples stored at -80°C (UCL Eastman)
Analysis:
Serum glycomics via Ludger Ltd’s pipeline (mass spectrometry)
Salivary cytokines (IL-6, CXCL9, CCL3) via ELISA
Integration of glycomic and immune profiles
- Enables non-invasive, early OFG diagnosis
- Supports risk stratification for Crohn’s Disease development
- Lays groundwork for personalised interventions
- Advances biomarker discovery in oral–gut axis diseases