Clinical Research at Gastroenterology East
Our research team is committed to exploring and improving new approaches and treatments for various gastrointestinal conditions. We are involved in several clinical trials and research projects, which we hope will contribute to the advancement of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents in the field of gastroenterology.
For Patients
If you are interested in participating in any of the research trials below, please reach out to our research team to learn more about possible next steps. Clinical research trials take place at The Oregon Clinic Gastroenterology East at Gateway location.
IBD Research Studies
If you have been diagnosed with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) such as Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease, you may be eligible to participate in several clinical trials using new medical treatments currently seeking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. These treatments include intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC), and oral medications.
Click on a study name to learn more. If you are interested in participating, submit an interest form at the bottom of this page or reach out to our team at [email protected].
Crohn’s Disease:
Ulcerative Colitis:
Colorectal Cancer Screening Research Studies
If you are about to undergo a screening colonoscopy, you may be eligible to participate in a study to help identify markers in the blood stream that might predict the risk of polyps or colon cancer.
Click on a study name to learn more. If you are interested in participating, submit an interest form at the bottom of this page or reach out to our team at [email protected].
Liver Disease Research
If you have been diagnosed with a liver disease, such as Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), you may be eligible to participate in a clinical research trial that is trying to learn more about a new investigational treatment for patients with PBC.
If you are interested in participating, submit an interest form at the bottom of this page or reach out to our team at [email protected].
- AFFIRM (coming soon)
Our Research Team
Principal Investigator
Dr. Phillip Kiyasu has been involved in clinical research since the early 1990s and has been the founding Director of Clinical Research at GIE for the last 20 years. He retired from clinical practice in July 2025, and since has been able to spend more dedicated and high-quality time overseeing clinical trials and research activities at GIE.
Sub-Investigators
Dr. Sidharth Bhardwaj currently serves as a sub-investigator for colon cancer screening and IBD clinical trials. Through his participation in these studies, he is committed to helping bring innovative diagnostic and treatment options to patient care in gastroenterology.
Dr. Donald Lum serves as the Director of Inflammatory Bowel Disease for GIE. He has been a member of the research team for the past two years and has been a sub-investigator for the IBD clinical trials. Dr. Lum serves as the physician champion for IBD Qorus (Crohn’s Colitis Foundation Quality Improvement program) and co-hosts the IBD Frontier’s educational conference for Portland, OR.
Dr. Branden Tarlow has a research background spanning molecular biology, cancer biology, liver regeneration, and gastrointestinal disease, including time spent at Genetech, OHSU, and Stanford University. He is actively involved in clinical trials across hepatology and gastroenterology, with the goal of expanding patient access to emerging therapies and advancing research within community-based practice.
Iris Campos Servin received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Portland State University. She joined the GIE research team in May 2026, bringing experience in cancer early detection research and community engagement. She is honored to continue working towards improving patient outcomes by helping support innovative health research.
Angelina Kobenko brings 7 years of gastroenterology experience to her role as a Clinical Research Coordinator. She has collaborated closely with patients, physicians, and study teams to help bring promising new treatments and therapies to patients. Passionate about high-quality clinical research, Angie is committed to ensuring every study is conducted with exceptional care, patient safety, and attention to detail.
Laura Nakata received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and minored in Chemistry at the University of Portland. She brings past research experience in foregut surgery and sleep medicine, and clinical experience in dermatology, ophthalmology, cardiology, general surgery, neurology, and emergency medicine. Laura is passionate about patient care and excited to assist with the development of new medications and screening tests.
Diane Snelson has been with GIE research team since January 2024. She has been an Independent Clinical Research Coordinator since 1995. She has happily continued doing “her little part” in helping to bring new treatments for various diseases, to the people that need it most.
Janelle Donaldson graduated from nursing school at The University of Portland in 2019. Past clinical experience has included inpatient oncology/telemetry at the Portland VA Medical Center and camp nursing in Maine. Janelle has been with GIE for the past five years and currently is the clinical nurse for hepatology.
Jennifer Liddell has been a nurse for 30 years and has experience in a number of clinical settings including labor and delivery, maternal fetal medicine, women’s health, oncology, and gastroenterology. She has been involved in multiple research projects including labor and delivery, high risk pregnancy care, dermatology, and oncology.
Diana Vdovtsov brings nursing experience in neurology critical care and gastroenterology to her role as a clinical research nurse. She is passionate about bridging the gap between evidence-based research and patient-centered care.
Frequently Asked Questions
All medications and diagnostic tests available in the United States undergo rigorous research studies to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States. Clinical studies help determine whether new treatments might be safe and effective for specific diseases.
Researchers follow strict regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved in a research study. Government agencies ensure the rules and regulations are being followed. These studies are monitored by government and regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and other health and regulatory authorities in countries around the world.
In addition, the studies must adhere to the ethical and safety standards of an Institutional Review Board (IRB), as well as the sponsor, which typically is responsible for the design and conduct of the study.
Some side effects of an investigational treatment are not always known. The specific risks and potential for unknown risks will be discussed with our team and described in detail in a study consent document which you will be asked to sign before taking part in the study.
Placebos are inactive substances that are made to look identical to the investigational medication used in a clinical study. They allow researchers to learn whether the outcomes of a study are related to the medication being studied rather than the “placebo effect”. To prevent bias, the patients and study staff are “blinded” and are not told which treatment is a placebo.
Each study is different, and some will have a placebo group, and some will not. Most studies with a placebo group allow patients on placebo to move to the group receiving active medication if they do not improve during the study.
- Access to new treatments.
- No cost (no insurance required).
- Compensation for time and travel.
- Help make a difference—contributing to current and future knowledge in healthcare, which can impact current and future generations of patients.