If you are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, participating in research is one of the best ways to actively participate in the search for a cure for inflammatory bowel diseases. New research helps both doctors and patients develop greater understanding of inflammatory bowel diseases, and design and trial new treatment options to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

For patients, the benefits of participating in research trials and studies include access to new treatments, including diet, medication, and surgical procedures, that may help improve your health.

Types of Research Opportunities

Research comes in all shapes and sizes. Different types of studies are conducted at different types of facilities, with different sized patient pools, with or without the use of medication, surgery, or other treatments, under professional supervision or through self-reporting of participants.

Before choosing a research opportunity to participate in, you should familiarize yourself with the different types of research being conducted.

• Research initiatives generally involve the collaboration of multiple research centers working together to create new resources that can be used in future research.
• Epidemiological studies focus on individual or group cases of disease 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 afflicted with the same disease.
• Clinical trials investigate the effects of a drug or other medical therapy on a group of people. These trials will likely require your participation in a treatment regimen, as well as frequent observation periods or reporting sessions with doctors and researchers.

Learn more about the many Current Research Studies to find opportunities to participate in research studies and trials.

Safety of Studies and Clinical Trials

While research supported by CCFA is conducted under thorough oversight to ensure the safety of participants, all research carries with it inherent risks.

All research opportunities listed by CCFA are required to provide official documentation that the trial has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the participating research facility, and each listing is reviewed by the Patient Education Committee of CCFA's National Scientific Advisory Committee.

However, except for studies funded by CCFA, 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 personal physician.

Interested in Posting a Clinical Trial

If you are interested in posting a trial to the CCFA Website, please review the Study Guidelines.  If the trial meets the criteria listed on the guidelines, then please contact us for more information.