GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)GERD-REVIVENCT07638423
Endoscopic Injection of Autologous Fat-Derived Cells (SVF) for Adults With Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). (The GERD-REVIVE Pilot Study)
A study testing Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic Injection in people with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS.
Trial summary
The purpose of this pilot clinical study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of an innovative endoscopic treatment for adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that does not respond adequately to standard medications. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- What is being tested?
- Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic Injection
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jul 2026to Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults 18-75 years; actionable GERD per Lyon 2.0 (e.g., AET >6% off therapy; or LA grade B-D, peptic stricture, Barrett's) and compatible symptoms. [2]
- Refractory symptoms on optimized PPIs or PPI-dependent disease where intervention is contemplated. [2]
- HRM excluding major motility disorders (per Chicago v4.0). [21]
- Willing to undergo adipose harvest and autologous SVF therapy within a clinical trial framework.
Who cannot join
- Hiatal hernia >3 cm or paraesophageal hernia; severe esophagitis with ulcers (grade B or more); Barrett's with dysplasia; strictures; achalasia/EGJOO/spastic disorders. [2,21]
- Coagulopathy, uncontrolled cardiopulmonary disease, pregnancy/lactation.
- Active infection/malignancy significant for increased risk, at PI discretion.
- Prior fundoplication or magnetic sphincter augmentation within 12 months.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Submucosal Injection of Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) at the Esophagogastric Junction for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A Single-Arm Pilot Feasibility and Safety Study
The purpose of this pilot clinical study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of an innovative endoscopic treatment for adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that does not respond adequately to standard medications. The study focuses on the anti-reflux barrier between the esophagus and the stomach, which fails in patients with GERD. Instead of traditional surgery, this study explores a minimally invasive approach: injecting a specialized mixture of the patient's own fat-derived cells-known as the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)-directly into the tissue at the esophagogastric junction during a standard endoscopy. The study is trying to answer two primary questions: Is it clinically feasible and safe to harvest, process, and endoscopically inject autologous SVF cells to support the anti-reflux barrier? Can this cell-based intervention help repair the tissue and improve the mechanical function of the barrier, allowing patients to reduce or completely stop their daily reliance on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)? By answering these questions in a small group of 15 participants, this pilot trial aims to provide the foundational data necessary to design larger clinical studies in the future.
Read the detailed description
This is a prospective, single-arm pilot study involving 15 adult patients. The intervention is performed in a single session and consists of three distinct sequential phases: Adipose Tissue Harvesting - autologous fat is obtained via a mini-subcutaneous liposuction from a suitable donor area under local anesthesia using a specialized tumescent solution. GMP-Compliant Processing (ELEA Method) - the lipoaspirate is processed in a GMP-compliant environment using mechanical activation via a Digital Vortex Mixer at 2000 rpm for 8 minutes. The resulting SVF-rich activated fat fraction is separated from the liquid and oil phases, emulsified through a 2 mm filter, and loaded into an endoscopic injection needle. Endoscopic Delivery - under direct endoscopic visualization, the activated SVF is injected circumferentially into the submucosal plane of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), distributed across four quadrants (typically 0.5-1 cm above the squamocolumnar junction) to achieve a symmetric deposition cushion.
Schedule of Assessments and Follow-up Timeline: the total study duration for each participant is 12 months, with scheduled clinic or phone follow-up assessments at Months 1, 3, 6, and 12.
Baseline Evaluation: participants undergo a screening assessment including medical history, GERD Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire, baseline upper endoscopy (EGD) with EGJ biopsies, high-resolution manometry (HRM) per Chicago v4.0, and 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring per Lyon 2.0 (performed off PPI therapy for at least 7 days).
Month 6 Evaluation: patients undergo a comprehensive objective re-evaluation including a repeat EGD with follow-up EGJ biopsies, HRM, 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring, and GERD-HRQL scoring.
Month 12 Evaluation: final clinical assessment focusing on long-term safety, adverse event reviewing, GERD-HRQL scoring, and medication status tracking (PPI discontinuation or reduction rates).
- Conditions
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Being tested
- Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic Injection
- Medical subject headings
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic InjectionProcedure or surgery
This intervention is characterized by the localized, circumferential delivery of a point-of-care, autologous cell mixture derived from adipose tissue, distinguished by the following specific methodological parameters: Mechanical Processing (ELEA Method) - unlike chemical enzymatic digestion or standard centrifugation, the harvested fat is processed using purely mechanical activation via a Digital Vortex Mixer at 2000 rpm for exactly 8 minutes to separate the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)-rich activated fat fraction. Emulsification - the isolated activated fat fraction is emulsified by mechanical passage through a dedicated 2 mm filter before being loaded into a 19-gauge endoscopic injection needle. Anatomical Site and Delivery - the cell-rich cushion is injected submucosally and symmetrically across four quadrants at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), precisely 0.5 to 1 cm above the squamocolumnar junction, to physically and biologically augment the anti-reflux barrier.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 18-75 years with actionable GERD per Lyon 2.0, refractory or PPI-dependent; motility disorder | Experimental | Eligible participants will undergo a single session of endoscopic submucosal injection of autologous, mechanically activated Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). The procedure consists of: Autologous adipose tissue harvesting via a mini-subcutaneous liposuction. GMP-compliant mechanical processing of the lipoaspirate using the ELEA method (vortex mixing at 2000 rpm for 8 minutes and emulsification through a 2 mm filter) to isolate the SVF-rich activated fat fraction. Direct endoscopic delivery via circumferential injections distributed across four quadrants in the submucosal plane of the EGJ (typically 0.5-1 cm above the squamocolumnar junction). Follow-up assessments will be conducted up to 12 months to evaluate safety, clinical response, and anti-reflux barrier metrics. Receives: Procedure: Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic Injection |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) harvesting, processing, and endoscopic delivery
The proportion of participants who successfully undergo the entire procedural workflow without major protocol deviations. This includes successful mini-subcutaneous adipose tissue harvesting, GMP-compliant mechanical processing via the ELEA method, and symmetric endoscopic submucosal injection at the esophagogastric junction.
Measured: day 0
Secondary outcomes (1)
Incidence of procedure- and product-related adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs)
Safety will be assessed by recording the frequency, severity, and cumulative incidence of all local and systemic adverse events. This includes specific monitoring for bleeding, perforation, infection, chest pain, dysphagia, stricture formation, mediastinitis, ectopic nodules, or neoplastic changes at the esophagogastric junction.
Measured: Up to 12 months post-procedure.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jun 2026
- Study startJul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionSep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCSThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, BOSKOSKI IVO, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07638423
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 14201
- Acronym
- GERD-REVIVE
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Submucosal Injection of Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) at the Esophagogastric Junction for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A Single-Arm Pilot Feasibility and Safety Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07638423
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GERD-REVIVE / 14201
- Conditions
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCSUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this pilot clinical study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of an innovative endoscopic treatment for adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that does not respond adequately to standard medications. The study focuses on the anti-reflux barrier between the esophagus and the stomach, which fails in patients with GERD. Instead of traditional surgery, this study explores a minimally invasive approach: injecting a specialized mixture of the patient's own fat-derived cells-known as the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)-directly into the tissue at the esophagogastric junction during a standard endoscopy. The study is trying to answer two primary questions: Is it clinically feasible and safe to harvest, process, and endoscopically inject autologous SVF cells to support the anti-reflux barrier? Can this cell-based intervention help repair the tissue and improve the mechanical function of the barrier, allowing patients to reduce or completely stop their daily reliance on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)? By answering these questions in a small group of 15 participants, this pilot trial aims to provide the foundational data necessary to design larger clinical studies in the future.
Detailed description
This is a prospective, single-arm pilot study involving 15 adult patients. The intervention is performed in a single session and consists of three distinct sequential phases: Adipose Tissue Harvesting - autologous fat is obtained via a mini-subcutaneous liposuction from a suitable donor area under local anesthesia using a specialized tumescent solution. GMP-Compliant Processing (ELEA Method) - the lipoaspirate is processed in a GMP-compliant environment using mechanical activation via a Digital Vortex Mixer at 2000 rpm for 8 minutes. The resulting SVF-rich activated fat fraction is separated from the liquid and oil phases, emulsified through a 2 mm filter, and loaded into an endoscopic injection needle. Endoscopic Delivery - under direct endoscopic visualization, the activated SVF is injected circumferentially into the submucosal plane of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), distributed across four quadrants (typically 0.5-1 cm above the squamocolumnar junction) to achieve a symmetric deposition cushion.
Schedule of Assessments and Follow-up Timeline: the total study duration for each participant is 12 months, with scheduled clinic or phone follow-up assessments at Months 1, 3, 6, and 12.
Baseline Evaluation: participants undergo a screening assessment including medical history, GERD Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire, baseline upper endoscopy (EGD) with EGJ biopsies, high-resolution manometry (HRM) per Chicago v4.0, and 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring per Lyon 2.0 (performed off PPI therapy for at least 7 days).
Month 6 Evaluation: patients undergo a comprehensive objective re-evaluation including a repeat EGD with follow-up EGJ biopsies, HRM, 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring, and GERD-HRQL scoring.
Month 12 Evaluation: final clinical assessment focusing on long-term safety, adverse event reviewing, GERD-HRQL scoring, and medication status tracking (PPI discontinuation or reduction rates).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 18-75 years with actionable GERD per Lyon 2.0, refractory or PPI-dependent; motility disorder | Experimental | Procedure: Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic InjectionEligible participants will undergo a single session of endoscopic submucosal injection of autologous, mechanically activated Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). The procedure consists of: Autologous adipose tissue harvesting via a mini-subcutaneous liposuction. GMP-compliant mechanical processing of the lipoaspirate using the ELEA method (vortex mixing at 2000 rpm for 8 minutes and emulsification through a 2 mm filter) to isolate the SVF-rich activated fat fraction. Direct endoscopic delivery via circumferential injections distributed across four quadrants in the submucosal plane of the EGJ (typically 0.5-1 cm above the squamocolumnar junction). Follow-up assessments will be conducted up to 12 months to evaluate safety, clinical response, and anti-reflux barrier metrics. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Adults 18-75 years; actionable GERD per Lyon 2.0 (e.g., AET >6% off therapy; or LA grade B-D, peptic stricture, Barrett's) and compatible symptoms. [2]
- Refractory symptoms on optimized PPIs or PPI-dependent disease where intervention is contemplated. [2]
- HRM excluding major motility disorders (per Chicago v4.0). [21]
- Willing to undergo adipose harvest and autologous SVF therapy within a clinical trial framework.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Hiatal hernia >3 cm or paraesophageal hernia; severe esophagitis with ulcers (grade B or more); Barrett's with dysplasia; strictures; achalasia/EGJOO/spastic disorders. [2,21]
- Coagulopathy, uncontrolled cardiopulmonary disease, pregnancy/lactation.
- Active infection/malignancy significant for increased risk, at PI discretion.
- Prior fundoplication or magnetic sphincter augmentation within 12 months.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic InjectionThis intervention is characterized by the localized, circumferential delivery of a point-of-care, autologous cell mixture derived from adipose tissue, distinguished by the following specific methodological parameters: Mechanical Processing (ELEA Method) - unlike chemical enzymatic digestion or standard centrifugation, the harvested fat is processed using purely mechanical activation via a Digital Vortex Mixer at 2000 rpm for exactly 8 minutes to separate the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)-rich activated fat fraction. Emulsification - the isolated activated fat fraction is emulsified by mechanical passage through a dedicated 2 mm filter before being loaded into a 19-gauge endoscopic injection needle. Anatomical Site and Delivery - the cell-rich cushion is injected submucosally and symmetrically across four quadrants at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), precisely 0.5 to 1 cm above the squamocolumnar junction, to physically and biologically augment the anti-reflux barrier. | Procedure or surgery | Adults 18-75 years with actionable GERD per Lyon 2.0, refractory or PPI-dependent; motility disorder |
Primary outcome
Feasibility of autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) harvesting, processing, and endoscopic delivery
Time frame: day 0
The proportion of participants who successfully undergo the entire procedural workflow without major protocol deviations. This includes successful mini-subcutaneous adipose tissue harvesting, GMP-compliant mechanical processing via the ELEA method, and symmetric endoscopic submucosal injection at the esophagogastric junction.
1 secondary outcome
Incidence of procedure- and product-related adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs)
Time frame: Up to 12 months post-procedure.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic Injection in people with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ivo Boskoski, Medical degree (06 3015 6580, ivo.boskoski@policlinicogemelli.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) harvesting, processing, and endoscopic delivery (time frame: day 0). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jun 2026.