The RHU i-DEAL is supported by the French government and managed by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency) as part of the France 2030 programme, under the reference ANR-23-RHUS-0016.
The call for RHU projects seeks to support translational research initiatives with significant socio-economic impact in health or clinical research. These projects may build upon fundamental research in biology, epidemiology, social sciences, or health economics.
Issues and objectives
Development of a Digital Monitoring Pathway for IBD Patients
Early detection of inflammatory and fibrotic lesions depends on an appropriate control strategy and close monitoring of symptoms. To address this, i-DEAL will develop a simple tool for at-home monitoring of disease flare-ups. The application will integrate non-invasive markers (without biological sampling) and will use an algorithm to identify at-risk patients as early as possible. These patients will then have access to home ultrasound scans to confirm flare-ups and assess the severity of the disease (complicated or uncomplicated CD).
Despite the ongoing efforts of the international research community, there is still no validated tool capable of accurately locating and characterizing inflammatory and fibrotic complications. i-DEAL will tackle this challenge by adapting four new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences for the intestine (multiparametric MRI). These innovations will enable the implementation of a personalized, imaging-guided approach (precision medicine AND precision surgery), significantly improving patient care.
In summary, the goal of the i-DEAL RHU is to support a return to a normal life for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). To achieve this, i-DEAL will establish the foundation for a unique integrative patient pathway that combines early at-home detection of active/complicated CD and new personalized treatment strategies guided by imaging.
Workpackages
Coordinator: Bénédicte CARON, Gastroenterologist, Nancy University Hospital
- Philippe JOLVET, ALIAE
- Sabeur ARIDHI, University of Lorraine, Loria
- Slim OUNI, University of Lorraine, Loria
- Anne BUISSON, AFA Crohn RCH
- Docaposte
Development of a conversational tool with a virtual healthcare professional, a ‘video diary’ designed to predict CD flare-ups using vocal and visual markers, along with a decision support algorithm and a medical device to assess the risk of flare-ups.
Coordinators: Freddy ODILLE (Inserm-IADI) and Valérie LAURENT (PUPH Radiology, Nancy University Hospital)
Point-of-care ultrasound, new MRI sequences enabling deep mapping of lesions, MRI protocol, and a 3D visualization tool for perianal CD.
Coordinator: Nelly AGRINIER, PUPH in Public Health, DU UMR 1319 INSPIIRE
- Cédric BAUMANN, PUPH in Public Health, UMR 1319 INSPIIRE, Director of the School of Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine, Maieutics, and Health Professions.
The project involves evaluating the diagnostic performance of each component of the device and the imaging tests, developing the i-DEAL tertiary prevention program, assessing the beta version of the i-DEAL program through a pilot study, and designing the protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of the i-DEAL program.
Coordinator: Nancy University Hospital
Disseminate the results to the scientific community and ensure the economic valorization of the outcomes of the i-DEAL project.
Coordinator: Laurent PEYRIN-BIROULET, Nancy University Hospital
Scientific coordination of the project, legal and administrative management, and logistical support for meeting organization.
Partners
The i-DEAL RHU is bringing together a multidisciplinary academic and industrial consortium to tackle three key challenges : the early and widely accepted assessment of IBD flares at home, the early detection of lesions, and the comprehensive evaluation of inflammatory and fibrotic lesions.
Governance
Professor Laurent PEYRIN-BIROULET, as Project Leader, is responsible for defining and overseeing the scientific strategy of the RHU i-DEAL. He chairs and coordinates both the Executive Committee (COMEX) and the Monitoring Committee (CoSUI).
The Clinical Research and Innovation Department (DRCI) of the Nancy University Hospital manages the administrative and financial coordination of the RHU, operating under the guidance of the COMEX.
