Research & Clinical Trials

The Division of Gastroenterology has an active research program focusing on health care services, gastrointestinal cancer (particularly screening and prevention), inflammatory bowel disease and endoscopy.

Department members have expertise in clinical research particularly in health services and outcomes research. We have expertise in a variety of methodologies, including but not limited to, randomized controlled clinical trials, observational studies (including the use of large administrative databases) and qualitative research. We currently employ 3 full-time research coordinators.

We are actively involved in research at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and have partnered with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and Cancer Care Ontario. We have received support both from peer-reviewed grants and from industry, including Canadian Institutes for Health Research, National Cancer Institute (USA), Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, Ontario HIV Treatment Network, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

Visit our research showcase to learn more about our researchers and their work.

Examples of ongoing trials include (click on each to learn more):

• Cancer
  • Polyp Prevention Study and Extension studies
    Aspirin and Folic Acid in the Prevention of Large Bowel Polyps: Observational Trial, Folate Extension Trial
  • Pilot Evaluation of Fecal Immunolochemical Test in Ontario
    A pilot study of the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) for colorectal cancer screening, intended to inform new provincial initiatives
  • Increasing the uptake of colorectal cancer screening in Ontario
    A randomized controlled trial of directly mailed fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits vs mailed invitation alone
  • The TRACE Anal Cancer Screening Study: Progression and Transmission
    A longitudinal study of a cohort of HIV infected men who have sex with men
  • Treatment of Anal Dysplasia: Acceptability and Outcomes
    A pilot study to evaluate community based screening for anal cancer in a population of men who have sex with men
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • GEM Project
    A multidisciplinary Human Study of the Genetic. Environmental and Microbial Interactions that Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Pyramid Project (Humira Registry)
    A Non-interventional registry study of Humira (Adalimumab) in subjects with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. (Closed to new enrollment)
• Endoscopy
  • Qualitative Assessment of the University of Toronto simulator-based endoscopy curriculum
    A focus group study of surgical residents learning endoscopy at U of T
  • Assessing quality of colonoscopy
    Validation of colonoscopy data elements from the Colonoscopy Interim Reporting Tool (CIRT) and from Ontario Health Administrative Databases
  • Improving the quality of colonoscopy
    Development and pilot testing of an endoscopist audit and feedback tool derived from health administrative data