The Environmental Enteric Dysfunction Biopsy Initiative (EEDBI) Consortium: mucosal investigations of environmental...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pediatric Health
• Microbiome Research

Background:

• Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is an acquired upper small bowel disorder linked to impaired child growth and neurocognitive development.
• Despite its impact, EED research has historically lacked direct investigation of the affected upper small bowel tissue.
• A resurgence in EED research necessitates standardized approaches to study the condition's pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a collaborative platform for investigating EED using upper small bowel biopsies.
• To standardize methodologies across multiple international EED cohort studies.
• To facilitate high-level analyses answering key questions about EED pathogenesis and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• The Environmental Enteric Dysfunction Biopsy Initiative (EEDBI) Consortium was formed in 2016.
• Integrated data from three independent EED biopsy cohorts in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Zambia.
• Included comparison groups from two US centers undergoing endoscopy for clinical reasons.
• Detailed descriptions of cohort recruitment and standardized procedures for tissue analysis.

Main Results:

• The Consortium provides a unified approach to EED research, pooling resources and data.
• Standardized histological, morphometric, immunohistochemical, and transcriptomic analyses of EED tissue are detailed.
• Exploration of relationships between EED pathology, enteric pathogens, and biomarkers is enabled.

Conclusions:

• The EEDBI Consortium represents a significant advancement in studying EED, enabling multi-center, standardized investigations.
• This collaborative effort addresses the critical need for direct upper small bowel tissue analysis in EED research.
• The described methodologies and cohorts lay the groundwork for future discoveries in EED prevention and treatment.