Physician-scientists at IU School of Medicine conduct ground-breaking research studies to understand Crohn's disease.

Crohn's Disease Research Studies

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people.

Investigators

Matthew Bohm, BA, DO

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Read Bio Matthew Bohm, BA, DO

Monika Fischer, MD

Professor of Medicine

Read Bio Monika Fischer, MD

Sashi Sagi, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Read Bio Sashi Sagi, MD

Open Research Studies for Crohn's Disease

Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Crohn's Disease

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Sashidhar Sagi, MD

Duration: 16 weeks

Patient Population: Adult patients with mild to moderate Crohn's Disease and on a stable dose of medication

Study Intervention: 3 self-provided vagal nerve stimulations per day for 16 weeks

Possibility of Placebo: None

Interested in this study? Please contact the IBD research team: iuibd@iu.edu

SPARC IBD

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Matthew Bohm, DO

Duration: All bio-specimen collections and chart reviews will continue until 2026

Patient Population: Any patient with either Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis

Study Intervention: Medical chart reviews and biological specimen collection.

Interested in this study? Please contact the IBD research team: iuibd@iu.edu

VIVID - 1

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Monika Fischer, MD

Duration: 1 year – Option to roll into the long term extension study VIVID-2

Patient Population: Adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease

Study Intervention: Mirikizumab vs Stelara vs Placebo

Possibility of Placebo: 2 in 11

Interested in this study? Please contact the IBD research team: iuibd@iu.edu

IBD QORUS

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Sashidhar Sagi, MD

Duration: Indefinite or upon withdraw

Patient Population: Any patient with either Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis

Study Procedures: Patient surveys before every office visit & medical chart reviews

Interested in this study? Please contact the IBD research team: iuibd@iu.edu

IN-CHARGE

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Monika Fischer, MD

Duration: 1 year (16 in person visits)

Patient Population: Adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease

Study Intervention: Oral BI 706321 + Stelara

Possibility of Placebo: Yes

Interested in this study? Please contact the IBD research team: iuibd@iu.edu

COMPASS

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Monika Fischer, MD

Duration: 3 years (2 in person visits)

Patient Population: Adult patients with newly (within 5 years) diagnosed Crohn's Disease and no disease-related complications.

Interested in this study? Please contact the IBD research team: iuibd@iu.edu

FibroScan® Study

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Sashidhar Sagi, MD

Duration: One time scan (1 in person visit)

Patient Population: Adult patients with Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis fasting for 2 hours prior.

Interested in this study? Please contact the IBD research team: iuibd@iu.edu

Closed Crohn's Disease Studies

Yellowstone

Principle Investigator: Monika Fischer, MD

Duration: 12 Weeks + potential to receive treatment for up to 4.5 years

Patient Population: Adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease

Study Intervention: Ozanimod (Oral)

Possibility of Placebo: 1 in 3
Diversity

Principle Investigator: Matthew Bohm, MD

Duration: 32-66 weeks + Long-term Extension (Approx. 8-13 clinic visits)

Patient Population: Adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease

Study Intervention: Filgotinib (Oral)

Possibility of Placebo: 1 in 3
Lattice

Principle Investigator: Monika Fischer, MD
Duration: Approximately 112 weeks

Patient Population: Adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease

Study Intervention: BMS-986165 (oral)

Possibility of Placebo: 1 in 4
Galaxi

Principle Investigator: Sashidhar Sagi, MD
Duration: 48 weeks + potential to receive up to 2 additional years of treatment

Patient Population: Adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease

Study Intervention: Guselkumab or Ustekinumab ( IV + Subcutaneous)

Possibility of Placebo: 1 in 5