Details of Research

Contact: Joanne Stempak, Project Manager
416-586-4800 ext 8399
joanne.stempak@sinaihealth.ca

Primary Investigator: Mark Silverberg, MD
Enrolment: Ongoing

Objective: The objective is to understand how diet and other biomarkers may affect the gut microbiome in IBD.

Expectation: This research will lead to a better understanding of why the disease occurs, easier diagnostic tools that may avoid the need for colonoscopies, better therapies or even a cure.

Eligibility: Anyone who has a confirmed diagnosis of IBD (either Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis) and has a scheduled colonoscopy for their routine care. Also, anyone who does not have IBD (i.e. Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis) or have a family history of IBD, has a scheduled colonoscopy and is willing to participate as a healthy control.

Participation:

• Participation involves:
  • Providing us with information regarding your family history and disease specifics
  • A small blood sample for research purposes
  • Providing us with permission to review your medical information regarding IBD
  • Filling in a 4-day food diary prior to your sample collection and scheduled colonoscopy
  • If you are scheduled to have a colonoscopy already as part of your routine clinical care, you may be asked if you're willing to provide tissue biopsies for research purposes during your colonoscopy
  • If you are willing, you may be asked to provide a stool sample which can be collected at home
• All study supplies are provided by us.
• You may not have to see any physicians at Mount Sinai Hospital, if you are not already scheduled to have a colonoscopy performed by your physician.

We would like to sincerely thank all of our study participants. This research couldn't be possible without your cooperation.

Please contact Joanne Stempak (phone 416-586-4800 x8399) if you are interested in participating in this study.