Wearable biosignal measure for abdominal pain in people with IBS

OIME - Objective Integrated Multimodal Electrophysiological Index for the Quantification of Visceral Pain

Not applicable Interventional University of Connecticut · NCT06381921

This trial will see if a wearable biosignal index from EDA, ECG, and EMG can measure belly pain and track treatment response in adults with IBS.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 50 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Connecticut Academic / other
Locations1 site (Storrs, Connecticut)
Trial IDNCT06381921 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The study collects telemetric biosignals (electrodermal activity, ECG, and EMG) from both healthy controls and people with IBS while they experience cutaneous and visceral pain to train a machine learning model that produces an Objective Integrated Multimodal Electrophysiological (OIME) index. In the first part, autonomic and muscular activity data are paired with reported visceral pain to build and train the OIME model. In the second part, an ambulatory trial in IBS participants uses the wearable system to validate the OIME index as a biomarker and to monitor pain changes during the IBS-PPSM intervention. Data collection is remote/ambulatory with site coordination at the University of Connecticut.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–50 with a clinician diagnosis of IBS by Rome III or IV criteria who currently report abdominal pain, can read and speak English, and have daily access to a computer and the internet.

Not a fit: People outside the 18–50 range or with excluded conditions such as other chronic non-IBS pain disorders, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, serious mental health conditions, regular opioid or illicit drug use, or who are pregnant/recently postpartum are not eligible and would not benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide an objective, wearable way to measure abdominal pain and help personalize and monitor treatment for people with IBS.

How similar studies have performed: Related work using wearable biosignals and machine learning for pain has shown promising but mixed results, and an integrated OIME biomarker for visceral pain is relatively novel and not yet established.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants need to be diagnosed with IBS by a healthcare provider according to Rome-III or -IV criteria, with a current report of abdominal pain.
* Men and women 18-50 years old
* Able to read and speak English
* Daily access to a computer with internet access.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Other chronic pains that are usually not comorbid with IBS, e.g., diabetic neuropathy, myofascial pain, low back pain, peripheral neuropathy etc.
* Celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease
* Diabetes mellitus; d) Serious mental health conditions
* Women during pregnancy or within 3 months post-partum period
* Self- reported Regular use of opioids or other illicit substances.
* Participants who have had COVID-19 should be fully recovered, and will be asked if their medical provider has made any restriction on activities.

Where this trial is running

Storrs, Connecticut

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Abdominal Painvisceral painirritable bowel syndromeautonomic and muscular activitiesbiosignalspersonalized pain self-management
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.