Research

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?

Ketogenic and very-low carbohydrate diets are used for epilepsy and obesity management, and have become increasingly popular as a weight-loss diet over the past couple of decades. There are a range of ketogenic and very-low carbohydrate diets, such as the keto diet, carnivore diet, and Wahls Paleo Plus diet. They are currently being researched as a potential treatment for a range of conditions, including autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Many people with autoimmune diseases have been inspired by this early research and others sharing their experiences on social media, and have tried a ketogenic or very-low carb diet in the hopes of improving their autoimmune condition. Their experiences represent an untapped resource for more information on the effects of ketogenic and very-carb diets on autoimmune diseases, particularly for understudied ones. Therefore, we are conducting a survey of these people, and asking them how they have implemented the diet, and if they have experienced any changes in their symptoms or general health. The survey aims to systematically gather and analyse their experiences to provide further insight into this topic.

This survey is part of a wider research project on the same topic. This project includes a systematic review (a special type of literature review) which collates and analyses all previous research on the topic, and a clinical trial planned for next year. The results of the survey will help to inform the design of the clinical trial, as well as be published in an academic journal.

Who can Participate?

Participants should be 18 years or above, diagnosed with an autoimmune condition (including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), and have tried a ketogenic or very-low carbohydrate diet.

Your Role in this Study

Take the survey here.

This study has been approved by the University of Nottingham's Research Ethics Committee (REB #FMHS 161-0426).

Primary Contact
Joseph Whittaker
joseph.whittaker@nottingham.ac.uk

Principal Investigator
Gordon Moran
University of Nottingham

What is this Study About?

The purpose of this study is to better understand how anxiety impacts the lived experiences of people with chronic physical health and pain conditions. 

Who Can Participate?

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Currently reside in Canada or the United Kingdom
• Diagnosed with at least 1 chronic physical health or pain condition 

Your Role in this Study

• Complete one anonymous online study (approximately 35 minutes).
• Provide general information (e.g., age, gender, physical and mental health diagnoses).
• Complete five questionnaires about anxiety, worry, pain, and symptoms related to living with chronic physical health or pain conditions.
• Read a series of brief scenarios, imagine yourself in each situation, and answer follow-up questions about your feelings and perceptions.

As a token of appreciation, you will have the opportunity to enter a draw to win one of three Amazon gift cards valued at $50, $30, or $20 CAD (GBP equivalent to be provided for UK participants). 

This study has been approved by the University of Ottawa's Research Ethics Board (REB #H-05-26-12909).

Primary Contact
Dalainey Drakes
dalainey.drakes@uottawa.ca

Principal Investigator
Dalainey Drakes
University of Ottawa

What is this Study About?

This study examines how teens with chronic illness and chronic pain, their parents, healthcare providers and allied health professionals communicate about pain. The goal is to inform the development of a digital app to improve teens’ pain communication and, ultimately, their pain management

Who can Participate?

1. Teens aged 13–15 living with chronic illness and chronic pain
2. Teens aged 16–19 living with chronic illness and chronic pain
3. Parents or caregivers of teens with chronic illness and chronic pain
4. Healthcare providers and allied health professionals who treat teens with chronic illness and chronic pain
5. Currently living in Canada
6. Able to read and speak English or French 

This study has been approved by the Concordia University Human Research Ethics Committee (REB #30023090).

Primary Contact
Kayla Iasenza
kayla.iasenza@concordia.ca

Priniciapl Investigator
Nicole Alberts
Concordia University

What is this Study About?

The SHIFT-IBD Study is being conducted at multiple medical centers across Canada to evaluate how well guselkumab (Tremfya) works for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who haven't responded well enough to ustekinumab.

Who can Participate?

IBD patients who had inadequate response to ustekinumab and switched therapy to guselkumab.

Your Role in this Study

Patients will begin guselkumab based on their doctor's decision. If eligible, they may be invited to participate in the study, which involves monitoring symptoms, test results, and overall health over the course of one year.

Guselkumab will be given according to local medical guidelines. Doctors can adjust the treatment as needed, just like in routine care.

Researchers believe that switching to guselkumab may be as effective as other advanced treatments. For those who saw some improvement on ustekinumab but not enough, guselkumab may offer better symptom control-without worsening results on medical tests like endoscopy.

The goal is to explore better treatment options for people whose IBD has not been well controlled with current therapies.

This study has been approved by the Advarra Research Ethics Board (REB #Pro00090978).

Primary Contact
Katy Staikin
kstaikin@tidhi.ca

Priniciapl Investigator
Dr. Laura Targownik
TIDHI Innovation Inc.

Principal Investigator
Dr. Mark Silverberg
TIDHI Innovation Inc.

What is this Study About?

Get involved in rheumatology research being conducted at the University of Cambridge!  

Researchers at the University of Cambridge are conducting groundbreaking research to better understand patient experiences of flares in autoimmune diseases.  

Led by Melanie Sloan, Cambridge academic and patient advocate, and supported by a team of leading experts, this study aims to improve understanding of disease flares to improve early recognition and care.  

Who can Participate?

Participants must be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and be over 18 years old.

Your Role in this Study

To take part, you need to complete a survey which asks about how you define flares in your disease, what triggers and prevents flares and the order of symptoms in flares. It should take about 45 minutes to complete, and you can pause or stop at any time.   

Everyone who takes part can choose to be entered into a prize draw to win one of four £50 amazon vouchers when the survey closes, which will likely be in early June.   

Please click on this link https://bit.ly/4kOQeyg to take part.  

This study was approved by the University of Cambridge Research Ethics Committee (REB # PRE.2025.009).

Primary Contact
Martha Piper
mp2196@cam.ac.uk

Principal Investigator
Melanie Sloan
University of Cambridge