Clinical Research Directory

Virtual Dietetic Interventions in Patients With Coeliac

This clinical study is exploring whether a pre-recorded, on-demand webinar led by specialist dietitians can be as effective as traditional one-on-one appointments in helping people newly diagnosed with coeliac disease learn to follow a gluten-free diet. Coeliac disease is a serious, life-long condition where eating even tiny amounts of gluten, a substance found in wheat, barley, and rye, can cause damaging symptoms and long-term health problems. The only current treatment is sticking to a strict gluten-free diet, which can be difficult without proper support and guidance from dietitians. The number of people being diagnosed with coeliac disease in the UK is growing, and this is placing extra pressure on NHS dietetic services, which are already stretched. Many patients currently face long waits or do not get any dietetic support at all. To address this, the research team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals has developed an on-demand, first-appointment webinar to provide immediate access to trusted dietary information, with the aim of improving patient care and saving NHS resources. In this study, adults newly diagnosed with coeliac disease at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals will be asked to join one of two groups: one group will receive their first dietitian appointment through the new on-demand webinar, while the other group will have a traditional face-to-face or phone appointment with a dietitian. Both groups will complete short questionnaires to measure their knowledge about the gluten-free diet, their symptoms, how well they are following the diet, and their quality of life, both before and after receiving their dietary support, and again after six months. Blood tests will also be used to monitor health markers. The main goal of the research is to find out if the first-appointment webinar is just as effective as traditional appointments in helping patients understand and follow a gluten-free diet, feel satisfied with the support they receive, and achieve good health outcomes. If the study shows that the webinar approach is as good as traditional care, it could mean quicker, easier, and more consistent access to essential dietary support for people with coeliac disease, both locally and across the UK. Hypothesis: The study hypothesis is that a dietitian-led, on-demand, pre-recorded webinar for a first appointment is as effective as traditional one-to-one consultations (face-to-face or by phone) in helping newly diagnosed coeliac patients achieve the same standard health outcomes, dietary knowledge, and satisfaction with care.

Efficacy of Symprove Probiotics in Coeliac Disease

Coeliac Disease (CD) is a lifelong autoimmune condition where eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) causes damage to the small intestine. It affects around 1 in 100 people. Most individuals feel better and their gut heals after switching to a strict gluten-free diet. However, up to 1 in 5 people with coeliac disease continue to experience unpleasant gut symptoms-such as bloating, pain, and diarrhoea-despite following the diet and having a healed intestine. These ongoing symptoms can be very distressing and impact daily life. This study investigates whether a food supplement called Symprove, a probiotic drink containing live good bacteria, can help relieve these ongoing symptoms. Scientists believe that in some people with coeliac disease, the community of bacteria in the gut (called the microbiota) becomes unbalanced, even after going gluten-free. This imbalance (known as dysbiosis) may lead to inflammation, irritation, and symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study is to test whether Symprove can help correct this imbalance and reduce symptoms. Participants will take Symprove daily and their symptoms, quality of life, and gut bacteria (measured from stool samples) will be monitored over time. The study hopes to answer three key questions: Can Symprove reduce gut symptoms in people with coeliac disease who are in remission? Does it work by restoring a healthy balance of gut bacteria? Are people with more severe imbalance (dysbiosis) more likely to have symptoms? If successful, this research could offer a safe, non-drug option to improve life for coeliac patients who continue to suffer symptoms despite avoiding gluten. It could also help suggest that gut bacteria play a role in ongoing symptoms and are a target for future treatment.

A Phase 2a/b Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Amlitelimab in Adults With Nonresponsive Celiac Disease

This is a Phase 2a/b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 6-arm study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amlitelimab in adult participants with non-responsive celiac disease (NRCD) who are on a gluten free diet (GFD) with and without simulated inadvertent gluten exposure (SIGE). The primary purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) amlitelimab in male and female participants (aged 18 to 75 years, inclusive) with NRCD. The study will assess the effect of amlitelimab when compared to placebo on gluten induced changes in the intestinal mucosa as measured by the villous height to crypt depth (Vh:Cd) ratio. The effect of amlitelimab on participant-reported celiac signs and symptoms along with the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of amlitelimab will also be studied. Study details include: The study duration will be up to 48 weeks (including a 16-week safety follow-up period) with 10 visits for participants who opt not to enter the optional long-term extension. The study duration will be up to 172 weeks (including an 8-week safety follow-up period) with 22 visits for participants who enter the optional long-term extension. The double-blind placebo-controlled treatment duration will be up to 28 weeks.

Validation of the CDAT in the Polish Paediatric Population

The English version of the Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT) will be translated into Polish using the "forward-backwards-forward" translation model, with the author's consent (already obtained by the applicants). The Polish translation will be performed by two native bilingual speakers of Polish and English. Both translations will be compared and standardised. The Polish version will then be translated into English by two native bilingual speakers of English who are unfamiliar with the original English version. The translation and original will be compared to clarify discrepancies and ensure conceptual equivalence between the versions. The agreed-upon translation will be culturally adapted, if necessary. The items will be reviewed by five experts, and an I-CVI of at least 0.78 will be considered satisfactory content validity. In the next step, 10 coeliac disease (CD) patients aged 10 years and older and 10 caregivers/parents of CD patients under 10 years of age will be asked to rate the clarity of each statement on a Likert scale \[1 = unclear to 5 = very clear\]. Questions with a mean score \<4.0 will be rephrased and re-evaluated. Internal consistency analysis using Cronbach's alpha and the mean inter-item correlation (AIC) will be used to assess reliability. Convergent validity will be assessed by comparing scale scores with serological marker levels. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) will be conducted, taking into account the SRMR fit index.

Supporting Children and Young People to Live Well With Coeliac Disease: A RCT

Managing a strict gluten-free diet is crucial for children and young people with coeliac disease. However, this can have adverse effects on psychological well-being and quality of life. Despite appeals from families, clinicians, and researchers, psychological support is not routinely provided to these families. A feasibility project (NCT06007898) adapted existing self-help psychological resources used for food allergy, gastrointestinal disease, and type one diabetes to cater to families dealing with coeliac disease. This feasibility randomised controlled trial was conducted with 100 families and highlighted the viability and acceptability of this self-help resource. This pilot study was conducted in consultation with caregiver(s), clinicians, and CYP living with coeliac disease. These consultations confirmed a lack of support in this area and the enthusiasm for self-help psychological interventions. We will now run a full randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention for caregiver(s) of CYP with coeliac disease in supporting the appropriate management of the gluten-free diet, alongside psychological wellbeing. For this trial, 172 families will complete well-being and quality of life questionnaires, along with assessments of their child's gluten-free dietary management. Families will be divided into groups receiving the psychological resources either immediately or after a five-month delay. Follow-up questionnaires will be administered at one, two, and five months for all families, regardless of intervention access. Feedback on the resources and research participation will be gathered. The expectation is that these self-help psychological resources for parents will enhance gluten-free diet management, quality of life for coeliac children and young people, and well-being for parents.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Coeliac Disease: a Series of Studies

This investigation examines the most important cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., metabolic parameters, body composition) and their changes in coeliac disease. The series of studies allow to assess body composition and cardiovascular risk-related metabolic parameters of newly diagnosed and treated coeliac patients in their complexity and to test if they change during therapy. The interventional part of the investigation aims to answer the question if a dietary intervention mitigates the unfavorable effects of unbalanced diet.