Clinical Research Directory

Personalized Risk Estimation for Crohn's Disease (PRE-Crohn's): Implementation and Feasibility

The aim of this study is to develop and assess the feasibility and effect of a web-based, personalized risk-estimation for Crohn's disease (PRE-Crohn's) tool on behaviors and biomarkers associated with risk for Crohn's disease in unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We hypothesize that personalized risk disclosure via the PRE-Crohn's educational tool is both feasible and successful in modifying behaviors associated with Crohn's disease risk and normalizing pre-clinical disease biomarkers when compared to standard Crohn's disease education. Broadly, completion of this project will also help elucidate the role of lifestyle and dietary factors in pre-clinical Crohn's disease development in high-risk individuals, and provide novel insight into potential strategies for disease prevention in this population.

Family Members At INcreased-risk for Developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease

First-degree relatives of people with inflammatory bowel disease ("IBD," including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) have an increased risk for developing IBD themselves. This study will follow unaffected first-degree relatives (who do not have IBD) over time to understand if their behaviors, diet, and biomarkers for IBD can help predict who gets IBD and if IBD can be prevented in these high-risk individuals. Participants will be asked once per year to complete a questionnaire and have their blood, stool, and urine collected. The anticipated length of the study (registry) is approximately 10 years or longer. Parts of this study, such as the questionnaires and stool and urine collection, may be done from home, while other parts, such as the blood draw, will need to be done from Massachusetts General Hospital.