Surgical technique to reduce acid reflux after sleeve gastrectomy
Official title: Mechanistic and clinical outcomes of a surgical innovation aimed at minimizing GERD associated with vertical sleeve gastrectomy (INNOVATE-VSG)
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11195060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests a modified sleeve gastrectomy designed to lower new or worsening acid reflux in adults with obesity who are having bariatric surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $314,753 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK138047-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with BMI between 30 and 50 kg/m2 who are planning to undergo vertical sleeve gastrectomy and can attend UC Irvine follow-up visits are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not having sleeve gastrectomy, those outside the specified BMI range, or patients needing a different bariatric procedure are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to either a conventional sleeve gastrectomy or a modified version that preserves key stomach structures and recreates the valve at the top of the stomach. The trial enrolls about 40 adults with BMI 30–50 kg/m2 and follows them for 12 months after surgery. Doctors will track reflux symptoms, objective reflux measures, and anatomical changes to understand why the modified operation might reduce GERD. The study team at UC Irvine will collect follow-up data and report whether the surgical changes reduce new or worse reflux and related risks like Barrett’s esophagus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the modified surgery could reduce the chance of developing or worsening acid reflux and lower long-term risk of Barrett’s esophagus after sleeve gastrectomy.
How similar studies have gone: Some surgeons have proposed technical changes to lower reflux after sleeve gastrectomy, but randomized clinical evidence is limited so this approach remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Ninh T — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Ninh T
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A safer sleeve surgery to reduce reflux after weight-loss surgery
A new version of vertical sleeve gastrectomy is being tested to lower the chance of acid reflux and reduce the risk of Barrett’s esophagus in people considering or having weight-loss surgery.
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New surgical method to reduce acid reflux after weight loss surgery
This study is testing a new type of weight loss surgery that aims to help people with obesity who also struggle with acid reflux, to see if it can reduce their reflux symptoms while helping them lose weight.
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Reducing over-alertness and stress responses that worsen acid reflux
This work tests whether calming excessive vigilance and automatic stress reactions can help adults with GERD have fewer symptoms and better quality of life.
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A clinician-scientist team is testing a repurposed HIV drug, fosamprenavir, combined with sodium alginate, to relieve persistent GERD symptoms in older adults who don’t respond well to standard acid-suppressing therapy.
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.