Gut bacteria transplants show promise for children with stubborn Crohn's

NCT ID NCT05321745

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 10, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether repeated fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) from healthy donors, combined with a special liquid diet, can safely help children aged 2–16 with active Crohn's disease that hasn't improved with standard treatments. The goal is to see if this approach can reduce inflammation and bring about remission. The trial tracks both clinical and endoscopic healing, while monitoring for side effects.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) plus partial enteral nutrition (PEN)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for children with Crohn's disease who have not responded to standard therapies.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study. FMT carries risks like infection or abdominal pain, and the approach may not work for all children.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 40 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Mar 2022

Expected to finish

May 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

2 to 16 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: Aged 2-16 years and without genetic diseases; All refractory pediatric with mild-to-moderate CD; Mild-to-moderate CD, defined by the pediatric Crohn's disease activity index (PCDAI) \>10 and ≤40 and Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (SES-CD) \> 3 were enrolled in the study; refractory CD, defined by children who failed conventional treatment (hormone, immunosuppressant, biologics) Exclusion Criteria Children who were treated by PEN (80%) less than 8 weeks; follow up less than 3 months; known contraindication to all FMT infusion method such as nasoduodenal tube insertion, oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD), enteroscopy, colonoscopy, enema and Fecal capsule; unwilling to give informed consent/assent

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

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  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Tongji Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China

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