NCT06227598

Brief Summary

This study is part of the project funded by the Horizon2020 program for establishing the consortium Algae4IBD (https://algae4ibd.eu/), where Dept. of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies (DMMBM) University of Naples Federico II participates as a partner. It aims to promote the implementation of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO/FECCO) Directive and the benefit of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patient's wellness by finding innovative algae based novel small molecule therapeutics. A systemic approach to eco-innovation is adopted to create interconnections between sectors, value chains, natural resources, and relevant societal stewards. To this end, the consortium has set specific objectives to achieve holistic innovations, including technical, economic, health, and social factors that all work in concert. IBD included Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It is a class of chronic inflammatory disorders with complex pathogenesis. Despite the lack of a full understanding of its etiogenesis, many anti-inflammatory treatments have been developed over the last decades. However, not all patients may benefit from these treatments and some of them are refractory to the current therapies or experience relapse of the disease. Therefore, there is still an urgent need to find an innovative line of interventions for ameliorating these patients' overall quality of life. Algae4IBD consortium will form a bridge between innovation and market demands to prevent and treat inflammation, pain, and IBD. Bioactive molecule/compounds extracts from microalgae, cyanobacteria, and macro-algae (MiaCyMa) are an inexhaustible untapped natural source for products destined for IBD prevention and treatment (inflammation, pain, and the disease process associated with the gut's microbiome). The natural source potential is still more promising when considering extremophile strains for excellent metabolism systems. Moreover, the production of the natural source of biological materials should be sustainable. Indeed, the non-genetically modified organisms (GMO cultures offer numerous advantages such as reduced requirements of fresh water and land (no arable land is required), drastic reduction of nitrogen sources, and potential environmental threats. Algae4IBD concept will include a multi-step screening approach and feedback loops across the project steps to achieve its goals. Specifically, DMMBM is in charge with work package (WP) 4, task 4.4.2, which aims to characterize the activity of plant cell (algae) extracts named in this proposal as "natural compounds" of algae provided by the consortium in ex-vivo models, using bioptic samples derived from patients with IBD (patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD)), comparing them to samples derived from patients without UC and CD.

Trial Health

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
90

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for all trials

Timeline
3mo left

Started May 2024

Typical duration for all trials

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress88%
May 2024Sep 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 18, 2024

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 29, 2024

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2024

Completed
1.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2025

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2026

Expected
Last Updated

January 29, 2024

Status Verified

January 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

1.3 years

First QC Date

January 18, 2024

Last Update Submit

January 18, 2024

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • To evaluate the response of intestinal mucosa samples to treatments with natural compounds derived from algae in terms of release of pro-inflammatory factors (1), and epithelium barrier integrity (2)

    1. Release of pro-inflammatory cytokines using ELISA 2. Epithelium integrity measurement through transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) evaluation and Ussing chamber analysis. By multi-assay factor analysis we will integrate these data with the patients' clinical parameters, correlating among each other in parallel and giving one single output (outcome measure, in our case) explaining how the different data are assigned simultaneously to specific clinical characteristics, thus resulting as associated with, or predictive of, the clinical progression of IBD

    30 months

Interventions

Procedure: Additional biopsies collection We will recruit only subjects (UC, CD and NO-UC/CD) scheduled for the endoscopy and biopsies-collection according to the usual clinical practice. During the endoscopy we will collect 6 additional biopsies.

Eligibility Criteria

Age2 Years - 60 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)
Sampling MethodProbability Sample
Study Population

* : Ulcerative Colitis (UC) 1. subjects undergoing endoscopy and biopsies collection per standard of care 2. adult patients ≥2 and \<60 years 3. clinical and endoscopic evaluation (Mayo score≥2) * : Crohn's Disease (CD) 1. subjects undergoing endoscopy and biopsies collection per standard of care 2. adult patients ≥2 and \<60 years 3. clinical and endoscopic evaluation (Harvey-Bradshaw score ≥5 and overall simplified endoscopic score (SES-CD) \>2) * : NO UC/CD 1. subjects undergoing endoscopy and biopsies collection (≥2 and \<60 years) according to the normal clinical practice (as patients undergoing cancer surveillance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea) 2. subjects not affected by UC or CD according to the previously reported clinical and endoscopic evaluation criteria

You may qualify if:

  • SUBJECTS WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF UC OR CD:
  • subjects undergoing endoscopy and biopsies collection per standard of care
  • patients ≥2 and \<60 years
  • Additionally, for people with UC:
  • \- clinical and endoscopic evaluation (Mayo score≥2)
  • Additionally, for individuals with CD:
  • \- clinical and endoscopic evaluation (Harvey-Bradshaw score ≥5 and overall simplified endoscopic score (SES-CD) \>2)
  • SUBJECTS NOT AFFECTED BY UC OR CD:
  • subjects undergoing endoscopy and biopsies collection (≥2 and \<60 years) according to the normal clinical practice (as patients undergoing cancer surveillance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea) subjects not affected by UC or CD according to the previously reported clinical and endoscopic evaluation criteria All patients will sign the informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

  • SUBJECTS WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF UC OR CD:
  • \- subjects with UC or CD who do not have the previously described clinical and endoscopic evaluation criteria
  • SUBJECTS NOT AFFECTED BY UC OR CD (CONTROL GROUP):
  • subjects undergoing anti-inflammatory and/or immunosuppressive treatments for other diseases not related to UC or CD

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
CROSS SECTIONAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 18, 2024

First Posted

January 29, 2024

Study Start

May 1, 2024

Primary Completion

September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Last Updated

January 29, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-01