Precision diagnostics to transform management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

A Queensland-based precision microbiome company has unveiled two major developments that underscore its growing role in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) management.

The first is the release of Microba Life Sciences’ new clinical results for MetaPanel gastrointestinal pathogen test, and the second is the signing of a strategic clinical partnership with the Brisbane-based Colonoscopy Clinic and its wholly owned partner, Integrated Gut Health.

Two independent clinical studies, led by Australian gastroenterologists Associate Professor Jake Begun and Associate Professor Graham Radford-Smith, have demonstrated strong evidence for MetaPanel’s value in managing IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The studies found that 40% of IBD patients experiencing disease flares tested positive for a gastrointestinal (GI) pathogen, with more than 60% of these pathogens likely to be missed by current routine diagnostic methods.

Associate Professor Graham Radford-Smith, a leading authority on IBD and gastroenterologist at both Integrated Gut Health and the Colonoscopy Clinic, stated “These results are compelling, both as a clinical use case for MetaPanel, and for the future of precision medicine in gastroenterology. For clinicians like myself managing complex IBD cases, the ability to detect pathogens missed by routine testing could transform how patients are treated – with the potential to avoid the side effects of unnecessary therapeutic escalation, enhance responsiveness to IBD therapies, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.”

Under the newly announced partnership, Microba and the Colonoscopy Clinic will collaborate on integrating both MetaPanel and MetaXplore testing into routine care protocols. The private practice sees over 10,000 patients annually, offering a significant opportunity to measure real-world impact at scale.

The collaboration will also involve joint clinical research and publication initiatives to quantify improvements in patient outcomes and support the development of a next-generation model of care in gastroenterology, centred on precision diagnostics.

Associate Professor Dan Worthley, Gastroenterologist at the Colonoscopy Clinic, said “We’re seeing an increasing number of patients with chronic and complex gastrointestinal symptoms where standard testing and colonoscopy isn’t giving us the full picture.

“Microba’s testing provides a new lens into hidden pathogens, the microbiome and gastrointestinal function which is delivering new outcomes for patients. Partnering with Microba enables us to lead a shift in Gastroenterology practice toward more precise, data-driven care – and ultimately better outcomes for our patients.”

With over 7 million people worldwide living with IBD – including 180,000 Australians – and the microbiome playing an increasingly recognised role in disease management, MetaPanel fills a critical gap in diagnostic precision.

MetaPanel is the world’s first NATA-accredited metagenomic diagnostic test capable of detecting 175 GI pathogen targets in a single analysis, including those frequently missed by traditional methods. The test was launched last year in partnership with Sonic Healthcare, following the introduction of MetaXplore the year prior.

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