Living with a gastrointestinal or liver condition can sometimes mean trying different treatments, managing symptoms over time, and working with a healthcare provider to find an approach that works. For some patients, a clinical trial may provide another option to consider.
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate potential new treatments and help researchers understand how well they work, what side effects they may have, and which patients they may benefit.
For someone living with a chronic GI or liver condition, finding a treatment that works can affect much more than their symptoms. It can make it easier to manage day-to-day activities, spend time with family and friends, work, travel, or simply feel more in control of their health. While a clinical trial cannot guarantee that a treatment will work, it may give eligible patients an opportunity to try an investigational approach when they are looking for additional options.
In 2025, GI Alliance entered into a strategic partnership with Iterative Health to expand its clinical research program. The partnership is helping increase access to clinical research in community-based settings and support the development of new treatment options.
What Can Patients Gain From a Clinical Trial?
For someone whose current treatment is not providing enough relief or who has limited treatment options, a clinical trial may provide an opportunity to try a treatment that is still being studied. Patients can discuss the potential benefits and risks of a study with their healthcare provider and research team before deciding whether to participate.
Clinical trials can also give patients a more active role in their care. Depending on the study, participants may have regular visits, testing, and conversations with a research team about their health and how they are responding to the treatment. These visits also give patients opportunities to ask questions and learn more about their condition.
Clinical research can have an impact beyond the individual patient. Treatments used in healthcare today were once studied in clinical trials. By participating, patients can help researchers learn more about potential treatments and contribute to the development of future options for people living with the same condition.
Clinical trials are not right for everyone, and each study has specific eligibility requirements. Patients interested in research should talk with their healthcare provider or research team to determine whether a particular study may be appropriate for them.
Expanding Access to Research in the Community
For some patients, traveling to a research site can be a barrier to participating in a clinical trial. GI Alliance is working to make research opportunities more accessible through its network of gastroenterology practices.
GI Alliance currently has 20 active research sites, with eight additional locations being developed. Nearly 3 in 4 GI Alliance clinics are within 30 miles of a research site, giving many patients the opportunity to participate in research closer to home.
The research program includes studies of gastrointestinal and liver conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, primary sclerosing cholangitis, C. difficile infection, MASH, NASH, and cirrhosis. Currently, 30 clinical trials are actively enrolling across the research program, with additional studies expected to begin before the end of 2026.
Supporting Patients Throughout the Study
GI Alliance’s research program is supported by more than 200 research professionals, including board-certified Principal Investigators, Sub-Investigators, Clinical Research Coordinators, site managers, and other team members.
Taking part in a clinical trial involves more than receiving a study treatment. Research teams help coordinate visits and testing, collect information required for the study, answer questions, and monitor participants throughout the trial.
For patients living with GI or liver conditions, participating in a clinical trial can be an opportunity to explore a treatment that is still being studied, take an active role in their care, and contribute to what researchers learn about future treatment options.
