by Katie Dineen, B.S. Biology, Business Development Manager, Preclinical Research Services

The Short Story

A nationwide Korean study revealed that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—especially Crohn’s disease—have a significantly higher risk of developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

This link between gut inflammation and lung fibrosis is more than a medical curiosity. It’s a signal to drug developers that systemic inflammation crosses organ systems — and an opportunity to develop therapies with broader impact. That’s why MLM’s IPF and IBD models are designed to accelerate your next drug discovery program.

Translating Complex Biology into Actionable Data

At MLM, curiosity drives capability. Our preclinical toolbox includes validated models for both IBD and IPF, enabling sponsors to study conditions independently or in tandem:

■ IBD models: DSS-induced colitis (ulcerative colitis) and TNBS-induced colitis (Crohn’s disease)

■ Fibrosis models: Bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Paired together, these models let researchers explore the gut–lung axis and answer pressing translational questions:

■ How does intestinal inflammation influence fibrotic progression in the lung?

■ Which cytokines and biomarkers overlap across tissues?

■ Can novel therapies targeting inflammation or fibrosis provide dual benefit?

Our scientists bring the models to life with:

■ Cytokine profiling (serum, BALF, colon homogenates)

■ Histopathology and image analysis for colon and lung

■ Custom biomarker assays tailored to your study endpoints

■ PK/PD evaluations linking exposure to multi-organ response

Why Sponsors Choose MLM

Many CROs can run preclinical studies. MLM goes further:

■ Agility: A lean, responsive team that adapts seamlessly to your SOPs

■ Direct access to experts: PhD-led project management teams guiding your program from design through data interpretation

■ Customization: From off-the-shelf to fully bespoke model development, we align each study with your unique therapeutic hypothesis

The Bigger Story

IBD and IPF are reminders that inflammation is not confined to a single organ. Diseases cross systems. So should research.

By leveraging MLM’s IBD and IPF preclinical models, sponsors can accelerate discovery, expand indications, and build stronger translational evidence for clinical development.

At MLM Medical Labs, we believe these unexpected disease connections aren’t roadblocks — they’re launch points for innovation

👉 Contact us here

👉 Or explore our portfolio of in vivo disease models