OPTIMIST Study
Purpose of Optimist study
The goal of this pilot observational study is to determine if specific microbiome signatures can predict therapeutic responses in adult patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), living in British Columbia, Canada.
The main questions this study seeks to answer are:
- How do microbiome profiles differ between active and quiescent CD and non-IBD controls?
- Can microbiome signatures across different sample types (fecal, intestinal washings, and intestinal epithelial biopsies) predict response to therapy in CD?
Researchers will compare microbiome signatures in patients with active and inactive CD as well as non-IBD controls to see if there are any microbial signatures that predict response to therapy.
What is involved
Control and IBD participants in Phase 1 will:
- Provide stool samples both before the colonoscopy and two weeks after (using an at-home collection kit provided by the research team).
- Agree to have several samples collected during the colonoscopy for research purposes (blood, biopsies, intestinal wash).
- Complete an online questionnaire about their gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Record their diet using a provided food diary template for three days prior to the second stool collection.
IBD patients enrolled in Phase 2 will:
- Provide stool samples at 4, 8, and 12 months after the initial colonoscopy.
- Record their diet using the provided food diary template for three days before each stool collection.
- Answer questions related to gastrointestinal symptoms at 4, 8, and 12 months post-colonoscopy.
- If another colonoscopy is scheduled as part of care, agree to have several samples collected during the procedure.
Learn more
- Visit ClinicalTrials.gov For More Information
- To inquire about participation, email studies@ibdcentrebc.ca
Interested in Helping Transform Crohn’s Disease Care Through Microbiome Research?
Your support will help us determine whether specific gut microbiome signatures can predict how adults with Crohn’s disease respond to therapy by comparing individuals with active disease, inactive disease, and non-IBD controls. Funds raised will support participant recruitment, the collection of biological samples, microbiome analyses, and the development of tools to identify microbial patterns associated with treatment response.
Together, this research aims to improve personalized approaches to Crohn’s disease care.