Perceptions to, and Acceptance of, FMT as Treatment in IBD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding patient’s perceptions and acceptability of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
IRAS ID
310517
Contact name
Tariq Iqbal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
RRK 7702, University Hospitals Birmingham Organisation Data Service Code
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis involves an ‘auto-immune’ inflammation in the gut triggered by a disturbance in the pattern of bugs in the bowel.
A derangement (dysbiosis) in the number and type of bugs in the bowel (microbiome) causes the body to mount a defensive response which results in chronic inflammation.
Currently all licensed treatments for IBD involve medications which are designed to damp down the immune response. There are no medicines to reverse microbiome dysbiosis because we don’t understand in detail what constitutes dysbiosis.
Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) involves the transfer of donated faeces from healthy individuals into patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Prior research shows effectiveness with no significant concerns regarding safety so far in patients with IBD. The results suggest that treating patients closer to the time of diagnosis is more effective that giving FMT at a later stage.
Whether FMT is an acceptable treatment for patients with IBD at any stage of their disease, including as an initial therapy, is not known. Patients perceptions towards FMT as a treatment for IBD requires further exploration.
This is important to support future research in the use of FMT as an initial treatment, to help assess the positioning of FMT in relationship to existing therapies, and to identify patient concerns.
Patients with a diagnosis of IBD will be provided with written information regarding FMT prior to their NHS clinic appointment. Following the appointment the clinical researcher (in the same clinic room) will ask the patient if they have read the written information on FMT, and if they would like to participate in the study. If they have read the information and are keen to participate, the participant would be consented by a clinical researcher and sign the consent form before completing the questionnaire.REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/1211
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion