Assessing the use of a capsule sponge device as a screening tool to identify signs of the precancerous condition Barret’s oesophagus in patients with heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion symptoms.
Recruiting
Open to: All Genders
Age: Mixed
Medical Conditions: Barrett’s oesophagus
Study Summary
Oesophageal cancer is a poor prognosis cancer, and the current clinical pathways are ineffective for early diagnosis. The capsule sponge test provides a quick, less invasive method to test for signs of Barrett’s Oesophagus and early cancer and we now need to understand the impact of the capsule sponge test on mortality before adopting this test into a national population-based targeted screening programme.
This study aims to:
1. Conduct a trial of targeted screening using the capsule sponge test to evaluate the effect on oesophageal adenocarcinoma-associated illness and death
2. Establish a biobank of samples and data with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease for use in other research studies
3. Establish a cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease who are willing to be contacted regarding further research studies such as behavioural studies, lifestyle interventions, and chemopreventive medications to reduce the risk of progression of the disease.
The recruitment end date is 31st December 2026.
Study Details
Participants will join the Heartburn health programme and will receive regular newsletters and be invited to join future research studies. Some participants will also be invited to join the BEST4 Screening Trial and offered a capsule sponge test in their local area.
More information can be found on Be Part of Research at NIHR – https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/trial-details











