Clinical Research Directory

Effect of Statins on Crohn's Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if statins work to prevent strictures in adults with Crohn's disease. The main question it aims to answer is: * Can statins reduce the formation of strictures in participants with stricturing Crohn's disease? Researchers will compare statins to a placebo (a look-a-like substance that contains no drug) to see if statins work to prevent strictures from forming. Participants will: * Take statins or a placebo every day for 6-12 months * Visit the clinic for lab tests twice after starting either statins or placebo * Complete questionnaires about symptoms and medications * Respond to monthly check-ins (via phone call) during participation

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.

Investigation of VAP-1 Expression and Tissue Blood Flow by PET-MRI in Patients With Crohn's Disease

This is an observational, single center, imaging study. The CD patients with active disease will be assessed by \[68Ga\]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 and \[15O\]H2O PET/MRE. Patients with high clinical suspicion of small intestine's CD in outpatient gastroenterology clinic of Turku University Hospital will be recruited. The patients must fulfil the eligibility criteria and give their signed approvement prior to their enrolment into the study. 20 patients with high suspicion of active small bowels CD will be enrolled to being evaluated for potential participation in this study. In patients with diagnosed small bowels CD, PET-MRE will be repeated 3 months after the initial imaging (and based on clinical diagnostic started medication) to verify disease remission/inadequacy of the treatment. Assessments for CD clinical disease activity will be performed at screening and \[68Ga\]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 and \[15O\]H2O PET/MRE assessments will be performed within a month for each patient. After PET/MRE all patients can be treated according to patients' needs with immunosuppressive drugs. Follow-up visits are organized at after PET/MRE imaging at gastroenterology outpatient clinic.