Welcome to the UIC BRIDGE CRC Study Page!

 

The purpose of the BRIDGE CRC Study is to learn more about how the Mediterranean Diet and weight loss may impact gut health and the risk for colorectal cancer among Black or African-American adults, who are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer.

Interested in learning more about or study or signing up to be a participant?

Contact us today!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible? Heading link

  • African-American/ Non-Hispanic Black obese adults ages 45-75
  • Live and plan to stay in Chicago for next 10 months
  • Speak English
  • Have access to a smartphone

Please contact us to check if you are eligible. Once we confirm your eligibility over the phone, you will come in for in-person screening visit at UIC. At this in-person visit, you will complete a consent form for the study. Then we will measure your height and weight and provide you with an at home stool collection kit. If you are eligible and still interested in enrolling, we will schedule you for a baseline research visit at UIC. If we find you are not eligible, you will be compensated $10 for your time plus reimbursement for parking or public transportation.

What are the steps involved in the study? Heading link

The study involves 3 clinical data collection visits and a 6-month long intervention.
You will be randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 study groups. Visit the “Study Groups” tab at the top of the page for more information. These groups will meet remotely for the intervention. Individuals selected for these groups will also receive one 1-on-1 sessions with a dietitian.
Each data collection research visit takes about 3 hours. There will be one visit before you start the study, one after you have participated for 3 months and one when you complete the study so around 6 months. In preparation for these visits, you will need to fast for 12 hours (nothing to eat or drink besides water for 12 hours before your appointment).  You will be asked to collect a stool sample within 48 hours of each of the visits using the kits provided. At this visit, you will:
1. Turn in your stool sample
2. Provide information about your dietary habits
3. Complete a scan to measure your body composition (this will involve lying still for about 13 minutes on a flat, open surface to measure your fat, muscle, and bone tissue)
4. Provide a blood sample
5. Complete questionnaires about health history, your family medical history, medications, prior surgeries, digestive symptoms, and physical activity
6. Have your weight and blood pressure measured
At the end of your visit you will be given a physical activity monitor (FitBit) to wear which you will keep. We will track you steps, heart rate and sleep for 7 days around each of the in-person study visits using an app on your phone.

What is the compensation? Heading link

After the first data collection point, you will receive $70, after the second data collection point (3 months into the study) you will receive $70, and after the last data collection point (6 months into the study) you will receive $100. You will also have the opportunity to earn additional $240 over the course of the intervention.