Researchers from Case Western Reserve University have received a $6.75 million federal grant to study a recently discovered cause of inflammatory bowel disease.

The grant will fund research into the role the innate immune system plays in causing Crohn’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the intestines. The innate, or nonspecific, immune system is the body’s first line of defense against invading organisms.

Previously, Case researchers have found a deficit of disease-fighting cells in the innate immune systems of mice suffering from a type of Crohn’s disease, according to a statement from Case.

The research is led by Dr. Fabio Cominelli, chief of the division of gastrointestinal and liver disease at Case’s School of Medicine and director of the Digestive Health Institute at University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to study this unique mouse model of IBD and make important discoveries that can be directly applied to improve patient care and developing novel therapeutic modalities for this devastating disease,” Cominelli said in the statement.

The grant comes from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

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