Outcomes
With GI as our why, we’re addressing the most challenging unmet research and medical needs to support better outcomes for patients everywhere. Our work includes:
Robarts Histopathology Index
Development of the Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI), a valid, freely available instrument that exhibits highly consistent inter-observer reliability and is responsive to change in disease activity
MAGNIFI-CD
Development and validation of MAGNIFI-CD, a magnetic resonance-based outcome measure for the radiologic assessment of peri-anal fistulizing CD activity
Investigator-Initiated Studies (IIS)
Our leaders design and execute large-scale, investigator-initiated clinical trials to answer critical clinical questions, establish new standards of care, and shape regulatory thinking.
Landmark Studies:
REACT
Real-world, cluster randomized trial showing that early combined immunosuppression reduced surgeries, hospitalizations, and complications versus usual care
REACT-2
Follow-on cluster trial comparing an enhanced algorithm guided by endoscopic healing to a conventional step-care approach
STATIC
Randomized, open-label non-inferiority trial asking whether stopping aminosalicylates in patients in remission is as safe as continuing therapy over 24 months
VERDICT
Large, multi-country randomized study evaluating whether a composite target (steroid-free symptomatic, endoscopic, and histologic remission) leads to fewer UC-related complications than symptom control alone
VECTORS
Large, multi-country randomized study evaluating whether a composite target (steroid-free symptomatic, endoscopic, and histologic remission) leads to fewer UC-related complications than symptom control alone
Our Partnerships
We also participate in collaborations to advance the future of GI research, including the ongoing STAR consortium, focused on transforming the treatment of Crohn’s disease strictures and developing diagnostic tools, as well as a partnership with the International Bowel Ultrasound (IBUS) Group to pioneer the integration of IUS in IBD clinical trials and make continuous efforts to understand and quantify its utility in disease and outcomes monitoring.
Our scientific leadership has led to 200+ peer-reviewed publications in the last 5 years.
Medical R&D
Our commitment to medical research and development is what makes us different. From endoscopy central reading, medical imaging, and histopathology to precision medicine and beyond, it’s the foundation upon which we built our services and how we advance GI patient care.
Endoscopy and central reading
We established the gold standard for central reading in IBD research; our Clinical Imaging Management System (CIMS®) ensures standardized video acquisition, quality control, and expert gastroenterologist assessment
Histopathology
The Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI) has become a leading tool for histology assessment in ulcerative colitis (UC); through collaborations like the VERDICT trial, we are working to integrate histological assessment into regulatory endpoints
Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Fibrostenotic and Fistulizing Crohn’s Disease
We developed the Magnetic Resonance Novel Index for Fistula Imaging in Crohn’s Disease (MAGNIFI-CD), a validated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment for perianal CD; we continue to advance MR enterography (MRE) endpoints for fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease (FSCD) trials
Patient-reported outcomes
The Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire for Crohn’s Disease (SIQ-CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (SIQ-UC) were developed following the FDA guidance for patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument development
Publications
Explore peer-reviewed IBD related publications and other GI work from our teams and collaborators.
