Pediatric Gastroenterology

IBD Research & Clinical Trials

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IBD researchers at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital enjoy the advantages of being part of a major research university, collaborating with colleagues in a number of different disciplines. In exploring new means of IBD diagnosis and treatment, they have made advances that have helped create standards of IBD care.

Our research work ranges from basic science laboratory to clinical trials. Current research includes study of the role of vitamin D deficiency as a possible contributor to disease development, and supplementation as a means of modulating the immune system. Physician-scientists also investigate the intestinal bacteria present in IBD patients and ways of influencing how the body recognizes and reacts to these bacteria. UCLA researchers are also developing new PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) imaging modalities that will detect very early signs of an immune response to allow earlier intervention. For patients who seem to have exhausted all pharmacologic therapies, UCLA is offering a pediatric stem cell program. New medications are being evaluated and a pediatric IBD program study coordinator helps enroll appropriate patients in clinical trials of promising new drugs before they are widely available in the community.

Contact Us

Clinical Research Coordinator
UCLA Department of Pediatrics
Division of Gastroenterology
10833 Le Conte Ave., 12-453 MDCC
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone: (310) 206-0688
Fax: (310) 206-0203

Clinical Trials

  • Study Title: Risk Stratification and Identification of Immunogenetic and Microbial Markers of Rapid Disease Progression in Children with Crohn's Disease
    • Description: Identification of markers in your body to study how Crohn's Disease progresses
    • Background: Does your child have belly pain, diarrhea with or without blood, an elevated sedimentation rate or an inability to gain weight? Your child may be eligible to participate in a paid registry study or clinical research study at UCLA.
    • Learn more: Study Flyer
  • Study Title: Vitamin D Supplementation as Non-Toxic Immunomodulation in Children with Crohn's Disease
    • Description: A Study of the effects of Vitamin D supplements in children with Crohn's Disease
    • Purpose: To determine the effects of Vitamin D supplementation on the signs and symptoms of children and adolescents with Crohn's disease.
    • Who can participate? We are looking for children ages 8-18 with a diagnosis of mild to moderate Crohn's disease.
    • What does the study involve? The study consists of five 1-hour visits over a 6 month period. Procedures include free medical exams, blood, urine and stool samples, recording symptom and diet history, and daily intake of vitamin D.
    • Learn more: Study Flyer
  • Study Title: Predicting Response to Standardized Pediatric Colitis Therapy: The PROTECT Study
    • Description: To determine the safety and effectiveness of two standardized treatments called mesalamine (Pentasa®) and prednisone in children with newly diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis.
    • Who can participate? We are looking for children ages 7-17 with newly diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis.
    • What does the study involve: The study consists of the collection of blood, stool, colonic tissue that will be obtained at diagnosis, and subsequently following the initiation of therapy at weeks 4, 12 and 52. Additional clinical evaluation will take place at pre-specified time points over two years and up to five years of follow up depending on time of patient enrollment.
  • Study Title: Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Crohn's Disease Treatment
    • Description: For sever Crohn's disease there is experimental treatment called "high dose immunoablation" followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study removes over-active lymphocytes (immunoablation) and replaces them using blood stem cells that have been taken from the patient's own body. The aim of the study is to reset or reprogram the patient's immune system.
    • Background: Unfortunately some Crohn's disease patients fail to respond to the best clinical treatment, and some only experience temporary benefit. If your child has exhausted all pharmacological therapies for the treatment of Crohn's disease, they may be eligible to participate in our pediatric stem cell study.
  • Study Title: The Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Biobank
    • Description: The UCLA Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases conducts laboratory and clinical research designed to understand the causes and improve treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This study defines and establishes a repository for enrolling participants and the subsequent collection, use and/or storage of samples and data to be associated with and/or housed in the IBD biobank.
    • Background: The samples and data collected will be used for approved scientific studies on IBD pathogenesis, mechanism of medication and risk profiling of IBD patients. Coded samples and data may also be shared with other established investigators in compliance with the distribution and access restrictions described in this study.