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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Physician-scientists at IU School of Medicine conduct ground-breaking research studies to understand irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research Studies

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort, often reported as cramping, along with diarrhea, constipation, or both. IBS is diagnosed when a person has abdominal pain or discomfort at least three times per month for the last three months without other disease or injury that could explain the pain. The pain or discomfort of IBS may occur with a change in stool frequency or consistency or may be relieved by a bowel movement. IBS is often classified into four subtypes based on a person’s usual stool consistency: 1) IBS with constipation (IBS-C), 2) IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), 3) Mixed IBS (IBS-M), and 4) Unsubtyped IBS (IBS-U).

Open Research Studies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There are no open studies at this time.
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Closed Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research Studies

Enrolling: No

Principle Investigator: N/A

Primary Outcomes Measured: Lactase activity (µmol/min/g) will be assessed from small bowel biopsy specimens.

Secondary Outcomes Measured: 

  1. Symptom severity will be assessed using the lactose assessment tool
  2. The small intestinal microbiome will be assessed by 16S allele PCR sequencing and Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing
  3. Maldigestion status will be assessed by hydrogen breath test
  4. The fecal microbiome will be assessed by 16S allele PCR sequencing and Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing

View this study on clinicaltrials.gov

Enrolling: No

Principle Investigator: N/A

Primary Outcomes Measured:

  1. Early adverse life events
  2. Prevalence of PTSD
  3. Change in weekly number of complete spontaneous bowel movements
  4. Change in abdominal pain

Secondary Outcomes Measured:

  1.  Presence of IBS or functional constipation
  2. Existence and severity of psychological comorbidities
  3. Health-related quality of life
  4. Constipation-related symptoms
  5. Constipation-related quality of life

View this study on clinicaltrials.gov

Enrolling: No
Principle Investigator: N/A
Primary Outcomes Measured:

  1. Total and individual fecal bile acid excretion
  2. Total fecal excretion of short chain fatty acids
  3. Fecal microbial population and community from stool

Secondary Outcomes Measured:

  1. Fecal excretion of individual short chain fatty acids
  2. Stool characteristics

View this study on clinicaltrials.gov