Participate in Research

Research studies help find new methods for diagnosing, treating, managing, and preventing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Even the most promising scientific findings must first be proven to be safe and effective before they can be used in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

If you are interested in learning more about participating in a research study or clinical trial, speak with your doctor.

For Researchers recruiting patients for study participation

Are you a researcher looking to promote your research study among patients with Crohn's or colitis? Crohn’s and Colitis Canada currently promotes studies conducted by scientists affiliated with academic institutions who have demonstrated proof of ethics approval. Promotion will be via our website or social media accounts (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn). At this time, we cannot promote research study recruitment via email. 

To submit a request to have your study promoted by Crohn's and Colitis Canada, complete the online form HERE. Our research programs team will review your request and connect with you about next steps.


Participate in Research icons

Active studies recruiting participants: 

  • What is this Study About?

    The IMAGINE Network is currently recruiting healthy individuals along with persons with inMammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Our goal is to recruit 8,000 subjects and will study how three important variables (genes, diet and mental health) impact the gut microbiome and, in turn, how together they impact the disease course.


    Who can Participate?

    Adults or children with IBD or IBS or healthy subjects


    This study has been approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (REB #3000).


    Primary Contact
    Aida Fernandes
    fernaa19@mcmaster.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Paul Moayyedi
    McMaster University
  • What is this Study About?

    Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lifelong chronic inflammatory condition that requires ongoing interactions with the healthcare system. However, not everyone may feel safe accessing and receiving IBD-related care or communicating openly with their provider. One such marginalized group of individuals who may not feel comfortable are those who identify as transgender or gender diverse.

    The purpose of this multidisciplinary, patient-oriented, pilot qualitative study is to explore care experiences and expectations in transgender and gender diverse individuals who live with IBD.


    Who can Participate?

    Individuals who are Canadian adults 18 years or older; are diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; and who self-identify as transgender or gender diverse are invited to participate.


    Your Role in this Study

    Individuals will have an opportunity to be interviewed virtually (via Zoom) either individually or in a group setting.

    The goal of this project is to allow individuals a supportive place to share their experiences regarding accessing and receiving IBD-related care and to understand what strategies would encourage a comfortable and safe IBD-related healthcare space for individuals who are transgender or gender diverse.


    This study has been approved by the University of Saskatchewan's Research Ethics Board (REB #4455).


    Primary Contact
    Natasha Tooke
    natasha.tooke@usask.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Noelle Rohatinsky
    University of Saskatchewan
  • What is this Study About?

    Fibrosis (thickening and scarring) within the intestinal tract is common in patients with Crohn’s Disease. There are currently no approved therapies for treating fibrosis in the intestinal tract and therefore there is an urgent need for safe and effective antifibrotic therapies in fibrostenotic Crohn’s Disease. This oral therapy is hoping to be able to change that and help relieve stricturing Crohn’s Disease without having patients undergo surgery.


    Who can Participate?

    Patients age 18 and older with stricturing Crohn’s Disease. Patients must be living in Toronto, ON and able to travel.


    Your Role in this Study

    This study lasts for about 16 weeks and consist of a screening period, treatment period and safety follow-up.

    Screening period (can last up to 35 days): Participants will come on site to go over their medical history, current and past medications, do an ECG (electrocardiogram), and colonoscopy. Patients will also go off site to Mount Sinai Hospital to complete an MRI for the intestines and an echocardiogram

    Treatment period (last 12 weeks): Participants will come on site every 2-4 weeks for a doctor and nurse to do an assessment on their health and do an ECG. Participants will also be given study medication. At the final 12 week visit, participants will undergo a colonoscopy and ECG on site and an MRI and echocardiogram at Mount Sinai Hospital again.


    This study has been approved by the Advarra Research Ethics Board (REB #SSU00224057).


    Primary Contact
    Mindy Xu
    mxu@tidhi.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Dr. Mark Silverberg
    TIDHI Innovation Inc.
  • What is this Study About?

    Background

    As medical options for IBD continue to grow, the spectrum in characteristics of medications also broadens; examples of these characteristics include mechanism of action, mode and frequency of administration, efficacy in achieving treatment targets, efficacy on other diseases, and side effects. In addition, targets in IBD management continue to advance, and now include normalization / resolution of symptoms, blood and stool biomarkers, growth, endoscopy, quality of life, and absence of disability. Given the broadening spectrum of treatment options and targets, understanding child and parent perspectives and preferences on treatment characteristics and targets in pediatric IBD is essential to guide clinicians and their patients along the process of shared decision-making.

    Although numerous pediatric gastroenterology societies provide guidelines on management of pediatric IBD, unique preferences of physician / children / parents yield a variety of options and strategies. In addition, there are limited data on child and parent preferences around treatment characteristics and especially treatment goals / targets in pediatric IBD.

    Objectives
    1. To explore child and parent perspectives on treatment characteristics, goals/targets, and decision-making in IBD management;
    2. To describe the known perspectives and preferences of children with IBD and their parents on these topics;
    3. To measure child and parent preferences of the above topics.

    Impact

    Our study will provide an innovative, comprehensive, and multidimensional evaluation of child and parent perspectives and preferences regarding treatment characteristics and targets along with decision-making in pediatric IBD. Our study findings will provide essential knowledge to guide clinicians and empower children and parents as they partner together in the IBD management decision-making process.


    Who can Participate?

    Children/youth with IBD between 11 and 18 years of age, in all of Canada. Parents of children/youth with IBD between 8 and 18 years of age, in all of Canada.


    Your Role in this Study

    Methods

    This will be a three-phase study. Phase 1 will address Objective #1 through a qualitative interview study where children with IBD between ages 11 and 18 years and their parents will be interviewed using a guide focussed on understanding perspectives on this topic. Phase 2 will address Objective #2 with a scoping review that will identify, characterize, and summarize key findings in the existing literature related to this topic as well as identify research gaps in existing literature. Phase 3 will address Objective #3 using a quantitative survey, which will include discrete-choice experiments. Phase 1 and 2 are already completed. We would appreciate Crohn's and Colitis help with promoting our study so that we can complete Phase 3.

    Phase 3 is the development and distribution of a quantitative survey to measure child and parent preferences on treatment characteristics and treatment targets in the management of pediatric IBD. The qualitative work and scoping review will provide the foundation for developing the quantitative survey, including identifying attributes that will inform the discrete-choice experiments. Discrete-choice experiments are a quantitative technique for eliciting preferences from participants without directly asking them to state their preferred options. The discrete-choice experiments will present participants with a series of alternative hypothetical scenarios containing a number of attributes, each of which may have a number of levels. . Participants will state their preferred choice between several competing scenarios, each of which consists of a combination of these attributes and/or levels. The discrete-choice experiments provide information on the relative importance of each attribute. The quantitative survey will be developed using the Dynamic Computer Interactive Decision Application (DCIDA) and all data will be anonymous. The target enrolment for Phase 3 will be 300 children with IBD (ages 11-18 years) and 300 parents of children with IBD (ages 8-18 years) across Canada.


    This study has been approved by The University of Calgary's Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (REB# REB20-1332_MOD8).


    Primary Contact
    Karis Barker
    karis.barker@ucalgary.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Jennifer deBruyn
    University of Calgary
  • What are these Studies About?

    The purpose of the DUET-UC study is to see if the combination therapy of two biologics (guselkumab [Tremfya] and golimumab [Simponi]) is safe and effective for treating participants with moderately to severely active Crohn’s/UC disease. Study treatment with the combination therapy will be compared with each individual biologic and placebo (no study drug).

    The purpose of the DUET-CD study is to see if the combination therapy of two biologics (guselkumab [Tremfya] and golimumab [Simponi]) is safe and effective for treating participants with moderately to severely active Crohn’s Disease. Study treatment with the combination therapy will be compared with each individual biologic and placebo (no study drug).


    Who can Participate?

    DUET-UC

    You are eligible to participate in this study if you:
    • live in Toronto, ON
    • are between ages 18-65 (inclusive)
    • live with moderate to severe Crohn’s/UC disease and are not responding to your current biologic treatment

    DUET-CD

    You are eligible to participate in this study if you:
    • live in Toronto, ON or Okanagan, BC
    • are between ages 18-65 (inclusive)
    • live with moderate to severe Crohn’s Disease and are not responding to their current biologic treatment

    Your Role in these Studies

    These studies will last approximately 5 years and consist of a screening period, study treatment period, and long term extension:
    • Screening period (can last up to 8 weeks): participants will come on site to go over their medical history, current and past medications, sign the informed consent, do an electrocardiogram (ECG), and do a colonoscopy.
    • Treatment Period and Long Term Extension: participants will come on site once a month to receive study treatment and meet with our physician and nurse to review their health.
    • Please note: questionnaires, stool samples, and blood are also done as part of these studies.

    These studies have been approved by the Advarra Research Ethics Board (REB #Pro00064659) and the Interior Health Research Ethics Board (REB #2022-23-071-E).


    Toronto, ON (DUET UC & DUET CD)

    Primary Contact
    Mindy Xu
    mxu@tidhi.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Vivian Huang
    TIDHI Innovation Inc.


    Okanagan, BC (DUET CD)

    Primary Contact
    Pleun van lersel
    pleun@medicalartsresearch.com

    Principal Investigator
    Sarah Robbins
    Medical Arts Research Group
  • What is this Study About?

    We are looking to understand more about the challenges that young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face when managing their IBD. Ultimately, we hope that the results of this study will contribute to improving the care that young adults with IBD receive.


    Who can Participate?

    You are eligible to participate in this study if you meet the following criteria:
    • Are currently between 18-25 years old.
    • Have a confirmed diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.
    • Have an Alberta Personal Health Care Number (ULI) and receive IBD care in the province of Alberta.

    Your Role in this Study

    As a participant, you will complete a 20-minute questionnaire designed to collect information on your disease history, disease knowledge, medication and appointment adherence, and the impact of your IBD on your life. This survey will also ask questions on your role in IBD disease management and opinions on your relationship with your IBD care team

    As a token of our appreciation, upon completion of the questionnaire and confirmation of your IBD diagnosis by our study coordinator, you will be eligible to receive a $10 electronic gift card.

    Link to survey: https://redcap.link/YAICE


    This study has been approved by the University of Calgary's Research Ethics Board (REB #REB20-0979_REN3) and the University of Alberta's Research Ethics Board (REB #Pro00099184).


    Primary Contact
    Alison Bihari
    bihari@ualberta.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Karen Kroeker
    University of Alberta
  • What is this Study About?

    The purpose of the study is to learn about the type of healthwork, which is a term that describes all of the often invisible everyday activities that require time and effort, that women do to take care of their autoimmune diseases. Another aim of this research is to study how healthwork is coordinated and organized by various institutions.

    By participating in this study, you will help the research team learn about the healthwork of women with autoimmune diseases, and how it is coordinated and organized by various institutions.


    Who can Participate?

    Those identifying as women over the age of 18 who self identify as having trouble making ends meet.


    Your Role in this Study

    This study consists of an ethnography of the healthwork of women with autoimmune diseases. An ethnography is an approach to research that involves interviewing people and gathering documents and other materials that can be used to help understand how healthwork is coordinated and carried out.

    If you consent to participate in this study, you will be asked to take part in 1 interview (in-person, over the telephone, or on Zoom), where you will be asked questions about the healthwork that you do to take care of your autoimmune disease. The choice of in-person, telephone or Zoom interview is yours.

    Interviews will be audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed by the research team. Audio recording of the interview is required for participation this study; however you may withdraw your data from the study at any time by contacting Dara Gordon at dara.gordon@mail.utoronto.ca.  

    During the interview you will be asked if you are aware of any documents or forms that may be relevant to the study, which you will be asked to share with the researcher if you are comfortable.  

    If you decide to participate in an interview, you will be asked to do the following:
    • Participate in one 30 to 60-minute interview.
    • Provide copies of any documents or forms that you feel would be relevant to the study, that you feel comfortable sharing.

    This study has been approved by the University of Toronto's Reserach Ethics Board (REB #45334).


    Primary Contact
    Dara Gordon
    dara.gordon@mail.utoronto.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Dara Gordon
    University of Toronto
  • What is this study about? 

    The global prevalence of IBD continues to rise. Despite substantial advances in therapeutics, IBD has no cure, leads to reduced quality of life, and causes significant personal and societal burden.

    We need to improve treatment of IBD and continue to search for a cure. Simultaneously, prediction and prevention of new cases is a critical goal.

    Over the past few years, research into the pre-diagnostic stages of IBD has expanded significantly.

    Investigators have been able to identify biomarkers that may predict IBD, and inflammatory pathways altered many years preceding clinical diagnosis. This means that while we are still far away from finding a preventive strategy for IBD, we are making major advances. Therefore, it is essential that we also start to understand the degree of acceptance that individuals at risk for developing IBD, and parents (in the case of children), would have for undergoing predictive tests and/or preventive treatments.

    As of today, the strongest risk factor for developing IBD is a family history of IBD, especially a first-degree relative (FDR). Therefore, we have developed a survey for persons at risk for IBD, those with an FDR at risk for IBD, or those with an FDR (parent, sibling or child) with IBD.


    Who can Participate? 
    • You are concerned about your child/children developing IBD, because either you and/or your partner have IBD and are either becoming a first-time parent or have an healthy child
    • You are concerned about your healthy child/children developing IBD, because you already have another child/children diagnosed with IBD.
    • You don't have IBD but are concerned about your risk of developing IBD because you have a 1st degree relative diagnosed with IBD (mother, father, sister or brother, or child)

    Your Role in this Study

    This survey will take 10-15min to complete, and the information collected is important for us to understand patient preference and acceptance of potential IBD prevention initiatives.

    Link to survey here: https://redcap.link/Prediction_Prevention_IBD


    This study has been approved by the Hospital Beatriz Ângelo's Research Ethics Board (REB #242/2023_MJH/CMO/NO)


    Primary Contact
    Dr. Joana Torres
    joana.torres@hbeatrizangelo.pt 

    Principal Investigator
    Dr. Ken Croitoru
    Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto

    Please note: This is a survey developed by Dr Joana Torres and Portugal trying to assess preferences for prediction and prevention of IBD, in collaboration with Dr Ken Croitoru. All data is de-identified and anonymised.
  • What is this study about?

    We want to test if fasting for certain hours daily can help with weight loss and improve gut inflammation. We are asking patients with Crohn’s disease who struggle with weight to participate in this 12-week study.


    Your Role in this Study

    If you join this study, you could be put into two groups. The first group does not fast and eats as usual. The second group is the group that will fast.

    The fasting group fasts for a certain number of hours 6 days a week. They will eat their regular diet during their eating window. They will also meet with a registered dietitian (RD) online. The RD will teach the patient how to fast and help answer questions. The research assistant will call patients every two weeks to discuss changes in medications, disease symptoms and how well the patient is doing with the fasting.

    The other group will be asked to eat their regular diet over the 12-week study. At the end of the study, they will get to meet with the RD and do the fast as well. The research assistant will call patients every two weeks to discuss medication changes and disease symptoms.

    Both groups will complete surveys at the start and end of the study. These surveys will ask about your quality of life and physical activity levels.


    Who can Participate?

    We are recruiting patients who:
    • are located in Calgary, AB or Kelowna, BC;
    • are 18-70 years of age;
    • struggle with their weight;
    • and are affected by Crohn's disease.

    This study has been approved by the University of Calgary's Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (REB21-1539_REN1).


    Primary Contact
    Munazza Yousuf
    munazza.yousuf1@ucalgary.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Maitreyi Raman
    University of Calgary
  • What is this study about?

    The purpose of this study is to understand the genetic factors that might be contributing to inflammatory Bowel Disease in individuals of Black or Hispanic/Latinx ancestries. We hope our findings will help in personalizing treatments for IBD.


    Your Role in this Study

    Participants will be asked to:
    • donate one tablespoon of blood and/or saliva sample
    • complete a questionnaire about their IBD history
    • provide access to their medical records

    Who can Participate?

    Participants must:
    • Self-identify as African American or Black or;
    • Self-identify as Hipanic/Latinx;
    • Have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis;
    • Be willing to donate blood and/or saliva sample;
    • Be willing to give the study access to your medical records.
    All ages are welcome, and participants must have confirmed (via medical records access) IBD. They will also receive compensation for their time after completing all study procedures. The study is located at the Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON.


    This study has been approved by the Mount Sinai Hospital Research Ethics Board (REB# 02-0234-E).


    Primary Contact
    ibd.research@sinaihealth.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Mark Silverberg
    Mount Sinai Hospital
  • What is this study about?

    The Toronto Immune & Digestive Institute is inviting you to participate in a study to determine the best treatment target(s) in management of Ulcerative Colitis (UC).  Disease activity and response to therapy in UC are assessed through patient reported symptoms, endoscopy, biopsy, and biomarkers. In this study, most participants will be treated with a Health Canada approved biologic Entyvio and randomized to different treatment groups which differ by treatment target.  


    Who can participate?

    UC patients who are 18 years or older with active symptoms of UC. There are other criteria that you will need to meet to qualify for the study, which the study team will discuss with you. The study team will also discuss the potential benefits and risks of being involved in the study and explain what participating would mean for you.


    Your role in this study

    To determine whether you can take part in the study, you will be invited to go to our clinic to undergo medical tests and assessments. This visit will occur up to 4 weeks before the start of study treatment. If you qualify and enter the study, you will be asked to return to our clinic to receive infusions every 4-8 weeks depending on the group you are in and undergo an assessment approximately every 16 weeks for 2 years (9 visits). Your participation is voluntary. You are allowed to leave the study at any time. Participation can be stopped if you or your study doctor have concerns or if you change your mind about being in the study. You will not be paid for taking part in this study. However, you may be reimbursed for travel to and from the study center and for parking expenses. There will be no charge for any study-related treatment or care.

    This study has been approved by Advarra's Research Ethics Board (REB# MOD01412585).

    Primary Contact
    Lindsay Cochrane
    lcochrane@tidhi.ca

    Principal Investigator
    Mark Silverberg
    Toronto Immune and Digestive Health Institute

  • Canada has among the highest incidence rates of Crohn's and colitis in the world.
  • 1 in 140 Canadians lives with Crohn’s or colitis.
  • Families new to Canada are developing these diseases for the first time.
  • Incidence of Crohn’s in Canadian kids under 10 has doubled since 1995.
  • People are most commonly diagnosed before age 30.

Other Areas of Interest