Promising Research

Table of Contents
Improving FODMAP Tolerance In IBS
Ferrocalm
Exploratory Research Into IBS
Personalised Probiotic Research
Personalised Nutrition Research
Device Research
IBS Research Forum
The Future For Research
Further Reading And References

Despite research into IBS needing substantial expansion and requiring management and direction, there are some promising studies ongoing, some of which are outlined below:

Improving FODMAP Tolerance In IBS

A promising 3 year study, reported in August 2022 specifically targets improving food tolerance, which is so important for IBS sufferers, not only for reducing or eliminating IBS symptoms, but also to increase an IBS sufferer’s ability to broaden their diet, which increases bacterial diversity in the gut, which, in turn, helps to guard against IBS and improve overall health.

When FODMAPs are fermented in the gut, they produce gases which can cause pain and bloating in IBS sufferers. This means that many IBS sufferers need to personalise their diets, avoiding foods that cause symptoms. Many of these foods are good for long term health.

A project led by University of Nottingham in collaboration with the Quadrum Institute in Norwich have funding to investigate the potential of a new cellulose based food supplement that could be added to the ingredients of foods high in FODMAPs by food manufacturers to improve tolerance to FODMAPs by reducing the gas production from them. This may also lead to dietary supplements for IBS patients. The aim is to enable IBS sufferers to eat foods that they would normally need to avoid. Through medical imaging and laboratory modelling the team can watch what happens to food when it is digested in the gut. The trials will also include human volunteers. (1a) (2a)

Ferrocalm

FX856, a friendly strain of live bacteria will undergo clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease patients in 2024. The trial will test its ability to help with stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation whilst patients are undergoing active flares.

The bacteria has already shown promise in animal models, by thriving during active inflammation delaying disease onset and reducing symptoms.

The product is currently available and has been approved for use as as a food supplement, but the trial will test its efficacy as a pharmaceutical treatment. 

It is also thought that the supplement could be useful to IBS sufferers and reduce symptoms in a similar way by reducing inflammation during active flares of IBS.

(3a)

Exploratory Research Into IBS

There are many solutions for the problem of IBS without anyone fully understanding all the mechanisms behind IBS symptoms. This is corroborated by the fact that it is a condition that is diagnosed when other conditions have been ruled out. In future, the illness of IBS may be split into a number of different or overlapping conditions. However, a deep exploration of what makes up IBS is required. This may emanate from historic research outcomes, in addition to spinning up new research areas to complete the picture.

In terms of exploration there are a number of promising clinical studies recorded on The International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. These are tabulated below:

Trial Details	Further Information
09/03/2022 Study on the Molecular Mechanism of Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Anxiety and Depression Based on Multi-omics Correlation Analysis China/ Tang-Du Hospital	Sequencing of intestinal mucosa, analyse peripheral blood to understand brain-gut axis dysfunction leading to anxiety and depression related to IBS and towards therapeutic treatments. (1)
13/01/2022 Precision Diagnostics of Functional and Organic Intestinal Pathology Based on Cellular and Molecular Profiling Russian Federation/ Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry	Measurement of metabolites in faeces, genetic and immunological profiling, the testing of rectal sensitivity to distension and measurement of intestinal pressure. (2)
15/10/2021 ConfocAl endomicroSCopy bAsed Diet Trial in IBS Belgium/ Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven	Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) used to monitor intestinal mucosal reactions when exposed to nutrients to understand these reactions – trigger nutrients eliminated for 4 weeks (3)
26/07/2021 Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy to Determine Influence of Food Antigens on Mucosal Integrity Germany/ University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School	Diluted food solutions are applied to the mucosa to identify changes in mucosa and permeability. Tissue samples taken to understand degree of inflammation. Biopsies presented with the food and studied in the lab. (4)
31/12/2019 31/08/2021 A study for a search of biomarkers of irritable bowel syndrome Japan/ Kurume University School of Medicine / Kirin Holdings Company, Limited	Biological samples of healthy subjects and IBS patients are compared (5) (6)
27/11/2020 Maastricht IBS Cohort: Phenotypical and genotypical characterization of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Netherlands/ Interne Geneeskunde	Large IBS patient study involving blood and faecal samples, symptom questionnaires and measurements of visceral perception and intestinal permeability. To create a biobank of biochemical, microbial and genetic factors for future studies. (7)
23/04/2020 Biomarkers of Diet-microbiota Interactions in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Canada/ McMaster University	Investigate bacterial production of histamine and its relationship to IBS symptoms. (8)
14/04/2020 Study of Inflammatory Markers and Symptom Severity in Personalized Nutritional Intervention in IBS Italy/ GEK Srl	A study of cytokines which are part of the immune system in response to specific diets. (9)
04/03/2020 Brain-Gut-Microbiota Interaction in IBS Norway/ Haukeland University Hospital	Investigations into the large span of components and processes involved in the gut/brain axis. (10)
21/02/2020 Brain and Gut Responses to Intragastric Administration of FODMAPs in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Belgium/ Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven	Use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to understand brain activity and abdominal MRI examination after administration of FODMAPs. (11)
16/12/2019 Genomic Resources for Enhancing Available Therapies (GREAT1.0) Study United States/ University of Pittsburgh	A research program for personalized medicine to understand the mechanisms underlying complex diseases by using biological samples. (12)
11/12/2019 Similarities and differences of pathophysiological mechanisms between abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea in China China/ Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College	Identify the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and differences of visceral hypersensitivity between abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort in IBS-D by detecting the expression of mast cells, specific nerve fibers and proteins related to pain in the intestinal mucosa and the differences in cerebral activation area and intensity using rs-fMRI in patients with IBS-D. (13)
06/06/2019 Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Control Volunteers: Diet Challenge United States/ Indiana University	Investigate the relationship between the bile acids, short chain fatty acids and bacteria within the intestines which may be impacted by stool bacteria composition in IBS patients compared to healthy individuals. (14)
13/09/2018 The relationship between pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome and microbiome Japan/ Kawasaki Medical School	Microbiome, food hypersensitivity or serum cytokine profile comparison between patients with irritable bowel syndrome and healthy controls. (15)
11/09/2018 Neurotrophic Factors, Tight Junction Proteins, and Cytokines in IBS Republic of Korea/ Seoul National University Bundang Hospital	Colonoscopic mucosal biopsy to evaluate the role of neurotrophic factors to the quantity of tight junction proteins and cytokines.  (16)
19/08/2018 Identification of IBS Metabotypes Based on Physiological Responses to Food Republic of Korea/ Uppsala University	Identify tolerance to specific food components in correlation to metabolites and gut microbiome data. (17)
06/08/2018 Microbiota Profiling in IBS Netherlands/ Wageningen University	Investigate differences in microbiota profiles and metabolite levels between mild and severe IBS patients, compared to matched healthy controls. (18)
01/04/2018 Modification of Neurotransmission of Brain-Gut Interactions. Japan/ Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine	Test hypothesis that brain-gut interactions in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is different from those in healthy controls using brain images of positron emission tomography (PET). (19)
29/01/2018 Understanding the effects of a multidisciplinary Gastroenterology and Hepatology Integrated Care Clinic approach in patients with chronic gastrointestinal disorders: a randomised controlled trial. Australia/ Princess Alexandra Hospital	Compare integrated care model which includes standardised assessment by a Gastroenterologist or Fellow, Psychologist, Dietician and Exercise Physiologist and a Primary Care Physician (GP) with routine care. (20)
07/12/2017 Pilot Study of the Physiological Effects of an Integrative Medicine Approach in Irritable Bowel Syndrome United States/ Thomas Jefferson University	Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) can highlight areas of inflammation. Use of FDG PET-MRI to sensitively evaluate inflammation before and after dietary measures. (21)
10/11/2017 Serum Levels of Apelin, Chemerin and Adiponectin Adipokines in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Healthy Subjects Iran/ Amir Abbasnezhad, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences	Investigate whether adipokines (cell signalling molecules or cytokines) are associated with IBS symptoms. (22)
31/10/2017 The content of SLC26A3 and NHERF4 were found in mucosa of acute Inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome China/ Xinjiang Shihezi University First Affiliated Hospital	Investigate the role and mechanism of PI3K/akt-nherf4-slc26a3 in the barrier of intestinal mucous barrier. (23)
14/07/2017 Assessment of autonomic nervous system function by using wearable device in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Japan/ Osaka City University	Analysis of the relationship between autonomic nervous system function and gastrointestinal symptoms. (24)
05/07/2017 Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Post-Infectious Functional GI Disorders United States/ Mayo Clinic	Study of changes in gastrointestinal permeability (movement of contents across the lining of the intestine) and transit (movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract) plus genetic risk factors with Post-Infectious Functional GI Disorders. (25)
04/07/2017 Describing movements of the large bowel in different bowel disorders in comparison to health and their role in moving bowel content Belgium/ KU Leuven	Characterization of colonic motility patterns in different functional bowel disorders compared to health and their role in moving content. (26)
07/06/2017 Effect of FODMAPs on Mucosal Inflammation in IBS Patients Canada/ Queen’s University	Measure how protease changes affect excitability of pain sensing neurons and correlate this with measurements of the metabolome and the microbiome for IBS-D patients consuming a high FODMAP diet. (27)
08/05/2017 The Influence of Emotional Stress on Brain Activity and Brain Functional Connection in the Patients with IBS Associated with ELA (early life adversity) China/ Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University	Explore the activation of brain regions under the stimulus of emotional pictures, compare the differences of the distribution, range and intensity of the excitatory area between the two groups of patients with IBS in different emotional picture stimuli, and understand the correlation between psychological status and differences in brain activity by using BOLD-fMRI in patients with ELA and IBS without ELA and normal subjects. (28)
24/02/2017 The Multi-disciplinary Treatment of Functional Gut Disorders Study Australia/ St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne	Comparing standard outpatient clinic treatment with multi-disciplinary clinic treatment for functional gastrointestinal disorders. (29)
16/12/2016 Reclassifying Constipation Using Imaging and Manometry United Kingdom/ University of Nottingham	Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to see the contractions of the colon in response to a dose of the laxative Moviprep and High Resolution Manometry (HRM) to measure the power and direction of the contraction using a pressure sensing catheter placed into the bowel. This is to understand different types of colonic contraction which may be weak, strong (associated with pain) or poorly coordinated. (30)
16/08/2016 Is There Any Correlation Between Plasmatic Zonulin and Expression of Intestinal Tight Junction Proteins in IBS Patients? France/ University Hospital, Rouen	To study whether plasmatic zonulin could reflect intestinal permeability in IBS patients. (31)
12/01/2016 Phenotyping IBS: Perceptions and Modulations of Visceral Sensations United States/ University of California, Los Angeles	Use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to observe differences in the brain between people diagnosed with IBS compared to healthy controls and people with ulcerative colitis, a disease group that has already been characterized.  (32)
07/01/2016 Confocal Endomicroscopy Utility (p-CLE) in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Ecuador/ Instituto Ecuatoriano de Enfermedades Digestivas	Evaluate the presence of microscopic inflammation in patients with IBS, using pCLE allowing future classification of IBS patients based on degree of inflammation. (33)
30/09/2015 Microbiota Community of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Episodes and Remission Phase China/ Shandong University	Compare differences in intestinal microbiota of IBS patients in episodes phase and remission phase with healthy controls. (34)
14/09/2015 Association Between High Faecal Calprotectin, Increased Intestinal Permeability and Visceral Hypersensitivity in IBS-D Patients France/ University Hospital, Rouen	Assess intestinal permeability via colonoscopy biopsy, test stool sample for calprotectin, check pain threshold with rectal barostat, record symptoms, anxiety and depression and quality of life scores in IBS-D patients. (35)
24/08/2015 Genetic Determinism of Epithelial Barrier Defects in Irritable Bowel Syndrome France/ Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice	Study relations between proteases activity (in stool and colonic biopsies supernatants), proteases inhibitors genes expression and mucosal cellular infiltrate (IBS patients and healthy subjects). Establish a correlation between proteases activity, mucosal micro-inflammation and symptoms. Evaluate proteases inhibitors therapeutic potential. (36)
19/07/2015 The Expression of the Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors in Colon of IBS China/ Shandong University	Evaluate the relationship between the ionotropic glutamate receptors and IBS symptoms. (37)
30/01/2015 Analyzing IBS to Identify Biomarkers and Microbiome Signatures United States/ Mayo Clinic	Understand the relationship between gut microbiome, vitamin D levels, host gene expression and IBS-D symptoms. (38)
30/01/2015 Gut Permeability, Sensitivity and Symptomatology United States/ Mayo Clinic	Understand the relationship between gut barrier function and the symptomatology and pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). (39)
25/01/2015 Caecal pH as a Biomarker for Irritable Bowel Syndrome United Kingdom/ Wingate Institute of Neurogastro-enterology	Measure the pH in the digestive tract using a wireless motility capsule at baseline as a marker of fermentation and in response to dietary changes in patients with diarrhoea predominant IBS and in response to linaclotide in those with constipation predominant IBS to ascertain the effect of these interventions on the microbiota and clinical outcomes. (40)
18/09/2014 Biomarkers for Intestinal Permeability in Patients With Constipation United States/ Mayo Clinic	Assessment of intestinal permeability, mucosal barrier function using existing biomarkers and explore novel biomarkers for measuring intestinal permeability in patients with constipation predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C). (41)
04/06/2014 Brain Imaging, Heart Rate Variability and Serum Fatty Acid in Subjects With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Taiwan/ Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital	Identify whether the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are related to the thickness of cortex or inflammation status of the body. (42)
14/01/2014 Campylobacter Enteritis and Post-Infective Bowel Dysfunction (PI-BD): Role of Antibiotics and Microbiota United Kingdom/ University of Nottingham	Determine the impact of antibiotic use on the risk of developing long term bowel symptoms after infection with the germ Campylobacter. (43)
31/07/2013 Visceral Sensitivity in IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Belgium/ KU Leuven	Collection of blood, feces samples, sample of nasal mucosa and biopsies (rectum and colon descendens), questionnaires and performance of rectal sensitivity measurement (barostat), MR scan of brain and transit measurement of colon. (44)
29/07/2013 Measuring Nerve Activity in Small Human Intestinal Biopsies in IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Belgium/ KU Leuven	Move a significant step forward in the current knowledge on human ENS (enteric nervous system) in IBS by establishing a live imaging method to record enteric nerves activity in small intestinal biopsies from humans. (45)
27/11/2012 Treatment Protocol United States/ National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)	Assess standard care for IBS patients, whilst taking samples from IBS patients and their relatives to assess IBS running in families. (46)
09/10/2012 Is the Expression of the GLUT5 Specific Fructose Transport Protein Abnormal in Patients With Fructose Intolerance? Switzerland/ Brain-Gut Research Group	Investigate the expression of the fructose transport protein GLUT5 in the small intestine in patients with functional GI disorders and fructose intolerance compared to matched healthy controls. (47)
20/09/2012 Endomicroscopy, IBS and Food Intolerance Germany/ University of Schleswig-Holstein	Investigate whether endomicroscopy will allow the detection of an allergic reaction of the gut after exposure of the 5 major allergens (48)
28/06/2012 Assessment of Small Intestinal Bowel Epithelial Gaps in Irritable Bowel Syndrome China/ Shandong University	Determine whether the density of epithelial gaps in terminal ileum of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is different from that in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and normal controls by confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE). Evaluate the relationship between the density of epithelial gaps and IBS subtypes, and visceral hypersensitivity. (49)
17/05/2012 Neuroimaging and Biomarkers in Chronic Visceral Pain United States/ University of California, Los Angeles	Use neuroimaging based biomarkers of IBS to examine which of these physiological measures show changes from Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training or MBSR. (50)
28/03/2012 Gut Peptides and Intestinal Permeability in Celiac Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Italy/ Azienda Ospedaliera Specializzata in Gastroenterologia Saverio de Bellis	Pattern of intestinal permeability and the GI peptides concentration will be compared in celiac patients, IBS patients and healthy controls. (51)
13/02/2012 Small and Large Bowel Transit Tests Using MRI (Study 1) United Kingdom/ University of Nottingham	Test whether anxiety speeds up transit through small bowel by measuring both small and large bowel transit times using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). (52)
16/12/2011 Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome (PI-IBS) Belgium/ Katholieke Universiteit Leuven	Identification of factors predisposing for Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome (PI-IBS) development after an episode of traveller’s diarrhoea. Identification of systemic (serum) and local (biopsy) changes in infectious and immunological activity during infection and correlation with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms, persisting after traveller’s diarrhoea. (53)
14/12/2011 Multi Modal Imaging: An MRI Study to Investigate Differences in the Structure and the Function of the Brain at Rest. United States/ University of California, Los Angeles	To identify structural and functional brain differences in persons with chronic pain conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS, Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome(CVS) and vestibulodynia / vulvodynia, plus Inflammatory Bowel Disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease). Compare differences between these conditions and matched healthy control subjects. (54)
23/09/2011 Effect of Pentoxifylline on Tight Junctions (TJs) of Intestinal Mucosa in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Spain/ Hospital Universitario de Canarias	To evaluate the effect of treatment with pentoxifylline (PTX) in patients with IBS related to clinical response and modulation of the components of the epithelial barrier at the level of intestinal mucosa. (55)
16/09/2011 Genetic Contribution of Pain and Inflammation in IBS United States/ University of Florida	Identify facets of candidate genes that may be involved in modulation of pain and inflammation in irritable bowel syndrome. (56)
09/08/2011 Ileocecal Sphincter Reflex by Cecal Distension During Colonoscopy United States/ Northwell Health	Measure the pressure of the ileocecal valve in patients with and without irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to test the hypothesis that patients with IBS may have a defective ICV pressures and may have small bowel bacterial overgrowth. (57)
15/07/2011 Presence of Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES) in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)-patients. Netherlands/ Maxima Medisch Centrum	ACNES-syndrome is sometimes misinterpreted as IBS. Quantify the number of ACNES-patients within a IBS-diagnosed patient population to aid more alertness among medical professionals by using a validated questionnaire towards better recognition of the syndrome. (58)
03/05/2011 1H-19F Gastrointestinal MRI in Health and IBS Switzerland/ University of Zurich	Use of a newly developed combined proton (1H) and fluorine (19F) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) framework to analyse meal induced and pathology related alterations in small intestinal motor activity, gas distribution and anatomy of healthy volunteers and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). (59)
24/02/2011 An Assessment of Cognitive Function in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Ireland/ University College Cork	Explore whether the disruption of this brain-gut axis is facilitated by an increased degradation of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway. This metabolic abnormality has the potential to impact on both GI and CNS signalling through its effects on serotonergic signalling and the impact of metabolites like kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid on cognitive processes respectively. (60)
19/01/2011 MAPP Investigation of Pelvic Floor-Brain Neurobiologic Axis in IC/IBS and IBS United States/ Augusta University	Explore bidirectional signalling between the cortex, and the pelvic floor/gut is deranged in patients with IC and in IBS. Consequently, they will demonstrate hyperexcitability of the pelvic floor/brain axis as evidenced by shorter latencies and increased amplitudes for both the afferent anorectal-cortical evoked potentials and efferent cortically-induced (magnetic) anorectal motor evoked potentials. Unlike patients with IC alone, patients with IBS will also demonstrate anorectal visceral hypersensitivity and anorectal sensory-motor dysfunction. (61)
15/11/2010 Microbe-Gut Interaction in Microscopic Colitis and Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Sweden/ Örebro University, Sweden	Elucidate the pathophysiological link between the environment in the colon (mainly the microbiota), the local immune system and activation of the enteric nervous system in patients with post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS) and microscopic colitis (MC) with special emphasis on microbial-mucosa interactions and evaluation of the effect on the immune activation/response as well as how afferent gut-brain signalling leads to abdominal discomfort. (62)
01/10/2010 Genomics and Neural Function in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Japan/ Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine	Explore the factors which determines neural response to stimuli in controls and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). (63)
25/05/2010 Immunological Change and the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Taiwan/ Chang Gung Memorial Hospital	Investigate the immunological changes in the children with IBS. (64)
25/04/2010 Assessment of Gastric Emptying Speed in Patients Who Experience Diarrhea Following a Trigger Meal United States/ Money, Mary E., M.D., Washington County Hospital	Measure how fast the food empties from the stomach when a person with IBS-D consumes a “regular diet”, compared to a meal with a “triggering substance” by swallowing a radio frequency capsule with the different meals. (65)
18/02/2010 The Role of Intestinal Inflammation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) United States/ University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	Determine whether sub-clinical mucosal inflammation occurs in patients with IBS-D by identifying alterations in mucosal markers for inflammation (inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-related mediators). Investigate whether the identifiable alterations in inflammatory markers are associated with specific abnormalities in intestinal motor and sensory functions that are relevant to the pathophysiology of IBS. (66)
18/02/2010 Serine Proteases in Gastrointestinal Function and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) United States/ University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	Assess serine-protease activity in patients with IBS-D. Explore a possible mechanism by which these proteases can lead to alterations in intestinal physiology and symptoms in these patients. (67)
01/02/2010 Altered Faecal Protease Activity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients in China China/ Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine	Investigate whether the faecal supernatants of diarrhoea-predominant IBS have a substantially higher serine protease activity. (68)
08/12/2009 Abnormal Expression Proteins, Mitochondrial DNA and miRNA of Irritable Bowel Syndrome China/Chinese PLA General Hospital	Screen the related proteins and miRNA in IBS in order to reveal the possible clues or molecular mechanism for this disorder. (69)
07/12/2009 A Cohort Study of Intestinal Microbiota among IBS patients (CO-MIC study) Netherlands/ Wageningen Universiteit	Study the diversity and functionality of intestinal microbiota of patients with IBS over time in comparison with asymptomatic controls. (70)
11/08/2009 Comparing of the Gastrointestinal Motility in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Patients With Healthy Volunteers Denmark/ University of Aarhus	Magnetic Tracking System (MTS) is a new minimal invasive technic that allows motility studies of the whole human gastrointestinal tract. Use of MTS, to compare the motility of the small intestine and the colon in patients with IBS-D, IBS-C and healthy volunteers. (71)
06/08/2009 Effect of Asimadoline, a Member of a New Medication Class, on Acute Attacks of Pain in Irritable Bowel Syndrome United States/ Mayo Clinic	Asimadoline reduces visceral sensitivity in experimental animal models and has been tested for its effects on gastric sensorimotor function in healthy individuals. It reduces pain sensation in response to distensions that correspond to pressures frequently encountered in the human colon. Study Asimadoline effects on pain and gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)  (72)
18/06/2009 Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Participates in Visceral Hyperalgesia in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Patients China/ Shandong University	Investigate the role of BDNF in colonic hyperalgesia in IBS patients. (73)
15/04/2009 Assessment of Colonic Permeability by Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy China/ Shandong University	Evaluate the efficacy of confocal laser endomicroscopy in assessment of colonic permeability against conventional sugar absorption test. (74)
16/10/2008 Maastricht IBS Cohort Netherlands/ Maastricht University Medical Center	Set up a cohort of at least 400 IBS patients in order to identify different patient subgroups according to phenotypical and genotypical patterns. Set up a biobank for future translational studies on the pathophysiology of IBS, in order to identify genetic factors to unravel the pathogenesis of IBS and to provide novel therapeutic targets. (75)
26/08/2008 Effects of the Soluble Mediators of Mastocytes on the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier and of the Enteric Nervous System During the Syndrome of the Irritable Bowel France/ Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice	Investigate paracellular permeability in colonic biopsies of IBS patients and the ability of soluble factors from colonic biopsies to reproduce in vitro these alterations. (76)
31/07/2008 Autonomic Profiles in Pediatric Patients With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS),Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Functional Abdominal Pain (FAP) or Chronic Nausea United States/ Medical College of Wisconsin	Gather preliminary data to characterize autonomic function in children and adolescents with functional gastrointestinal disorders. (77)
09/06/2008 Effects of Butyrate on Colonic Health of Patients With Diarrhoea Predominant IBS and UC in Remission Netherlands/ Maastricht University Medical Center	Study effects of butyrate on inflammation and parameters of colonic defence and mucosal integrity of the distal colon in patients with diarrhoea predominant IBS (D-IBS) and patients with ulcerative colitis in remission (UCrem) using rectal enemas. (78)
06/10/2005 Chronic Gastrointestinal Sequelae of an Acute Outbreak of Bacterial Gastroenteritis in Walkerton Ontario Canada/ McMaster University	Investigate exposure to bacterial infection leads to development of post infectious irritable bowel syndrome which is associated with an increase in intestinal permeability and immune activation with low grade intestinal inflammation and that this sequence of events will trigger inflammatory bowel disease in genetically susceptible individuals. (79)
13/09/2005 Cerebral Resonance Magnetic Imaging During Rectal Distention France/ University Hospital, Rouen	Investigate cerebral response by magnetic resonance imaging after rectal stimulation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome compared to healthy subjects and to patients with digestive organic disease, since irritable bowel syndrome could be a problem of cerebral integration of visceral stimulation. (80)
31/07/2003 Brain Imaging and Pain in Irritable Bowel Syndrome United States/ University of Florida	Examine the mechanisms, including brain imaging of placebo analgesia. (81)

Further Reading And References

(1a) Beatrice Wihlander: IBS food supplement launch: Researchers land £2M funding for microbiome analysis, nutrition insight, 12 Aug 2022 

(2a) Quadrum Institute: News: £1.8m study into IBS food supplements launches, 11th August 2022

(3a) University of Bristol Press Release: New gut calming innovation to bring relief to IBS sufferers, issued 2 March 2023

(4a) Dr Jenny Bailey, CEO of University of Bristol spin out Ferryx: New gut calming discovery to bring relief to IBS sufferers, University of Bristol, 2-Mar-2023