Introduction

In recent years, the number of people diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) has risen sharply, especially in regions with high urbanization and lifestyle stress. UC is a chronic and relapsing autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum. Patients often suffer from symptoms such as abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, bloody stools, fatigue, and weight loss. These not only take a toll on physical health but also severely impact mental well-being and quality of life.

Although there are several treatment options currently available—including 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics—real-world application reveals significant challenges:

• High risk of side effects: Long-term use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants can result in severe immune suppression, increasing the chances of infections, liver damage, osteoporosis, and metabolic disturbances.
• Unpredictable or poor drug responses: Many patients do not respond to initial therapies or lose responsiveness over time, often developing drug resistance or allergic reactions. This requires frequent changes in treatment plans, leading to psychological and economic stress.
• Exorbitant medical costs: Among available treatments, biologic drugs—such as monoclonal antibodies targeting inflammatory cytokines—have shown great effectiveness but are prohibitively expensive. This imposes a heavy burden on both public healthcare systems and patients' families. Furthermore, biologics can also cause serious adverse effects such as immunogenic reactions or increased risk of malignancy.
• Lack of localized therapy: Most current therapies act systemically, affecting the whole body instead of focusing on the site of inflammation. This not only reduces treatment precision but also leads to unnecessary systemic side effects.

Despite these challenges, public awareness of UC remains relatively low. Many people do not fully understand the connection between gut health and the immune system, nor are they familiar with the limitations of current treatments. In particular, the therapeutic potential of synthetic biology—an emerging field with growing relevance in medicine—has not been widely recognized by patients or the general public.

To address these issues, our iGEM team has designed a novel therapeutic strategy: genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria that can secrete anti-IL-23 antibodies directly in the gut. IL-23 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in the UC inflammatory pathway by promoting the activation of Th17 cells. By targeting this cytokine at the source of inflammation, our strategy aims to suppress immune overactivation locally, reduce treatment costs, and minimize systemic side effects.

Our vision is to create a safe, targeted, and cost-effective UC treatment platform using probiotics. This method also holds promise for treating other inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, in the future.

Our Vision

Building a Safe, Targeted, and Cost-Effective UC Treatment Platform

To address these issues, our iGEM team has designed a novel therapeutic strategy: genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria that can secrete anti-IL-23 antibodies directly in the gut. IL-23 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in the UC inflammatory pathway by promoting the activation of Th17 cells. By targeting this cytokine at the source of inflammation, our strategy aims to suppress immune overactivation locally, reduce treatment costs, and minimize systemic side effects. Our vision is to create a safe, targeted, and cost-effective UC treatment platform using probiotics. This method also holds promise for treating other inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, in the future.

Clinical Insight

Consulting Medical Experts to Understand Real Needs

To ensure that our solution responds to actual clinical needs, we consulted Dr. Wu, a gastroenterologist at China Medical University. She shared valuable insights about the realities of UC treatment in Taiwan. For patients with severe UC, biologics are available—but only after National Health Insurance approval, which typically takes at least six months. During this waiting period, patients are often left with basic medications that provide limited relief. This gap in care helped shape the direction of our project, reinforcing our belief that a safe, fast-acting, and locally delivered therapy could provide critical support during the approval process.

Public Engagement

Probiotic Dessert Workshop: Where Science Meets Flavor

We’ve also been working on ways to engage the public in more approachable settings. One of our most memorable outreach events was a probiotic dessert workshop held on campus. Participants learned to make and taste yogurt-based desserts while we shared tips on gut health and introduced our project in a fun, casual atmosphere. This hands-on activity turned out to be an effective way to promote both science and wellness—students left with not only full stomachs, but also a better understanding of how probiotics and synthetic biology can play a role in everyday life, all of which will be explained in detail in the Education section.

Global Dialogue

Cross-Cultural Exchange to Tackle a Global Challenge

In addition to local outreach, we recognize the importance of public engagement and international dialogue. Therefore, we actively reached out to iGEM teams from other countries—NCKU, University of Macau, ETH Zurich, University of Hamburg, and VIT University—to exchange ideas, learn how different cultures view chronic illnesses, and understand global variations in treatment access. Through these interactions, we aim to refine both our scientific model and our outreach strategy to be more inclusive and impactful.

But beyond technical refinement, our cross-border collaboration serves a deeper purpose. Ulcerative colitis is not a disease limited to one country or one healthcare system—it is a growing global challenge, and thus demands global solutions. By connecting with other iGEM teams, we are not just sharing data or project designs; we are exchanging social perspectives, ethical considerations, and human experiences behind this disease.

For example, teams in different countries face diverse barriers: some wrestle with high treatment costs, while others focus on public misinformation or healthcare accessibility in rural areas. Through dialogue, we gain a broader understanding of how synthetic biology can be tailored to fit different cultural, economic, and medical contexts. This allows us to approach our own project with greater empathy and adaptability.

Moreover, these exchanges have opened doors for joint outreach initiatives, collaborative videos, and global educational resources. They inspire us to think not only as students in our own lab, but as part of a global community of young scientists tackling real-world problems together. Our hope is to create ripple effects—not just in how we treat ulcerative colitis, but in how we educate, communicate, and collaborate across borders.