Participate in Research

Participate in research

Have you been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis? We invite you to participate in research to help find cures for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).


We are always working on new research to not only find cures, but to better understand IBD and to develop and test new treatment options.

 

Explore our patient research communities to connect with other people that are involved in IBD research and to learn more about opportunities that might interest you.

 

Benefits of Participating in Research

There are several benefits for patients that take part in research trials and studies. You may have access to new treatments and diagnostics that may improve your health and quality of life, including diet modifications, medication, and surgical procedures.

 

By participating in research and clinical trials, you will be helping other patients with IBD who would benefit from advanced research and new treatments.

Explore Research Categories

Research comes in all shapes and sizes. Studies and trials are conducted at many different types of facilities with varying numbers of patient participants.

 

Studies can involve medications, surgery, diagnostic tests, or even investigations on the role of diet, while others may focus on understanding the emotional impact of IBD. The research may be done under professional supervision, or you may be asked to self-report your own findings, a type of research called Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO).

 

It’s important for patients and their caregivers to know that participation in research is completely voluntary. You can choose to leave the study or trial at any time, even if you’ve already enrolled.

 

Before you choose to participate in a research opportunity, take the time to learn about the different types of research and how they are conducted.

  • Research initiatives typically involve collaboration between multiple research centers that are working together to create new resources that can be used in future research projects.

  • Epidemiological studies focus on individuals or groups of patients. This research is conducted to answer questions about causes and risk factors, how symptoms present and progress, and what genetic traits or environmental conditions might be shared by a population living with the same disease.

  • Clinical trials investigate the effects of a medication or other medical therapy. You will be one participant in a group of patients. These trials will likely require you to start a treatment regimen. You will also be working with doctors and researchers who will observe you and ask you to report back to them on how the treatment is going.

Safety of Studies and Clinical Trials

Clinical trials and other research featured and/or supported by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation are conducted under thorough oversight by an institutional review board (IRB). All research, however, carries some form of risk.

 

Here’s what we do to ensure the safety of everyone who participates in one of our research initiatives:

  • All research opportunities listed by the Foundation are required to provide official documentation that the trial has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the participating research facility.

  • Each research listing is reviewed by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation's National Scientific Advisory Committee.

  • Except for studies funded by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, we do not endorse or ensure the scientific merit of the trials we list. If you are considering participating in a study, you should discuss the opportunity with your physician.