An interventional study of Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic Injection in GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), sponsored by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-10.
Sponsored by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
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).
1,066 studies on the registry are indexed under Gastroesophageal Reflux; 188 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 15 is below the median of 72 across 711 interventional studies indexed under Gastroesophageal Reflux.
Browse Gastroesophageal Reflux studies →Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS is the lead sponsor of 920 studies on the registry; 529 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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.
Procedure: Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Endoscopic Injection
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.
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.
Time frame: day 0
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.
Time frame: Up to 12 months post-procedure.
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS