This paper discusses several aspects of the creation, establishment and maintenance of a multinational database conceming patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). lhe discussion is based on experience gained with the World Organisation of Gastroentcrology (OMGE) Research Committee's multinational survey of patients with IBD, comprising (in 1992) 4612 cases entered from 50 centres in 27 countries. The purposes of such a database are described, as are a number of practical problems in its creation and maintenance, such as deciding upon a (minimum) dataset, measured to maximize objectivity, and other difficulties in implementation. Finally, the benefits of th is type of research are discussed-and illustrated by highlighting some of the recent findings from the OMGE Research Committee's survey.