Is there evidence of geographical clustering of IBD in the North East?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is there evidence of geographical clustering of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis in the North-East of England? Enabling work and pilot data collection.
IRAS ID
190199
Contact name
Robert Kennedy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) including Crohn's Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) are important causes of long-term ill health without known cause or cure. Most patients require surgery or drugs which impair the immune system.The newer ‘biologic’ drugs have a substantial cost burden to the health system. Current research focuses on genetic predisposition for a condition which is primarily non-genetic and on the bacteria present in the gut of these patients.
Geographical clustering has not been well studied in a large well defined group and if found might suggest risk factors for that environmental trigger, possibly through alterations to the normal gut bacteria. We want to establish a well-defined population of patients with IBD who have been seen at either of the two Foundation Trusts (Newcastle upon Tyne or Northumbria) and work with the Newcastle University, School of Biology to look for any evidence of geographical clustering, either at birth, at symptom onset or at time of diagnosis.
The North East of England has one of the most stable populations in the U.K. i.e percentage of people moving in or out of the area is very low. Therefore it is an ideal place for this study.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
16/WS/0256
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion