Researchers led by Feng and Chen unveiled a plasma proteomic signature that identifies individuals at high risk of developing Crohn’s disease as early as 16 years before clinical onset. The study used large longitudinal cohorts and mass‑spectrometry based profiling to derive protein biomarkers that preceded diagnosis by many years. The paper suggests proteomic screening could enable earlier surveillance and intervention, and underscores plasma proteomics as a scalable approach to long‑lead disease prediction.