Morning Light for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Morning Light Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Pilot Clinical Trial
This work explores if morning light can help people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) feel better and manage their symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141629 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, continue to experience symptoms like fatigue, depression, and poor quality of life, even with current treatments. This happens because IBD can disrupt the body's natural 'body clock' or circadian rhythm, which can worsen inflammation and gut function. We are looking into whether morning light treatment, which helps reset and stabilize the body clock, could improve these symptoms and overall disease activity. This approach aims to offer a new, gentle way to support IBD management alongside existing therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, who experience ongoing symptoms.
Not a fit: Patients whose IBD symptoms are fully controlled by current therapies or who do not experience circadian rhythm disruptions may not see additional benefit from this treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a simple, affordable, and low-side-effect way to improve symptoms like fatigue, mood, and overall quality of life for people living with IBD.
How similar studies have performed: No previous studies have specifically explored the therapeutic benefits of morning light treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, making this a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burgess, Helen Julia — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Burgess, Helen Julia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.