Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
Director: Sean Fine, MD, MS
FOR PATIENT REFERRALS, PATIENT APPOINTMENTS AND ALL CLINICAL MATTERS PLEASE CALL: 401-649-4030
The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) center provides comprehensive and highly personalized multidisciplinary care for patients with both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. The center is on the forefront of individualized patient care, education of trainees, and translation research. Our digestive specialist work closely with colorectal surgeons, nutritionist, dieticians, and behavioral specialist to help address all the facets of the disease. The center also offers a unique program that works closely with pediatric gastroenterologist and pediatric population with IBD to ensure a smooth and easy transition of care to adult IBD providers. We also specialize in the care of pregnant mothers with IBD and managing their disease throughout the pregnancy. Lastly, the center is a site of ongoing investigational research for new medications and treatments for the management of IBD.
OSCCAR, or the Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry, was a population-based study designed to capture each new case of inflammatory bowel disease diagnosed in Rhode Island. It was the first of its kind and one 
of very few such cohorts in the world. The goals of the study included: 1) describing the incidence rates of CD and UC; 2) describing disease outcomes; and 3) identifying factors that predict disease outcomes. Over 400 patients were enrolled.
The study sought to develop and maintain a population based, prospective inception cohort of IBD patients in the state of Rhode Island to determinine the incidence rates of CD and UC in Rhode Island and extrapolate these rates to the general US population. By defining the natural history of IBD in the setting of contemporary treatment practices in the US, data was obtained to identify clinical, subclinical and genetic factors associated with disease progression in CD and UC including risk factors for steroid resistance in IBD.
The knowledge gained from OSCCAR assists with the creation of treatment algorithms for IBD. Furthermore, it established a biobank of samples that will remain a valuable resource that will continue to provide resources and insight into areas of future research.