The PROTECT study is a multi-center prospective cohort study of standardized medical therapy (mesalamine or corticosteroids) in newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis in children and adolescents. It is funded by the National Institutes of Health (
NIH) through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (
NIDDK). The study is conducted in collaboration with Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (
CCFA) using its Pediatric Research Organization for Kids with Intestinal Inflammatory Diseases (
PRO-KIIDS) Network.