Bandar Seri Begawan

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of Digital Therapeutics DTx in managing individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus T2DM by delivering digital lifestyle interventions through the BruHealth national health application. This single-arm, non-randomised clinical trial aims to improve glycaemic control over 16 weeks using the BALANCE Programme within the DM DTx module, supported by a healthcare professional portal for personalized care and real-time monitoring. The study also includes an optional component for Muslim participants to report fasting practices during Ramadan to assess fasting risks and experiences. Participants will take part in a 16-week digital intervention involving personalized lifestyle adjustments. They will receive online support from a personal health coach and, if needed, additional support from a dietitian or clinician. Each participant will get tailored recommendations for blood glucose monitoring, diet, and physical activity, which they will log using the BruHealth app. Regular video consultations with health coaches and a structured diabetes self-management education course are part of the program. During the study, participants will provide baseline data and complete assessment scales. They will log their blood glucose, diet, and activity while receiving ongoing monitoring through the healthcare professional portal. Researchers will measure changes in HbA1c levels to assess glycaemic control, along with secondary measures like fasting blood glucose, BMI, waist circumference, and lipid profiles. Participant feedback on the digital programs usability will also be collected. The total participation duration is 16 weeks with continuous support and assessment.

Researchers are studying genetic modifiers in hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, through a large-scale, multi-ethnic genome-wide association study GWAS. These diseases vary widely in severity, influenced partly by genetic factors. The study aims to discover new genetic modifiers, validate known ones, pool existing genomic data, standardize disease descriptions, create a comprehensive research resource, and develop risk scores to help stratify patients based on disease severity and treatment response. The study will collect blood samples during routine clinical visits to perform GWAS experiments on individuals with hemoglobinopathies. Participants include those with various genotypes of sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia, and alpha-thalassemia, without restrictions on gender or ethnicity. All participants will provide consent, and DNA samples may be collected if not already available in existing biobanks. Participants will contribute data including genetic, phenotypic, and functional information. The study will analyze worldwide patient demographics, genotypes, and disease severity. Researchers will investigate genetic modifiers related to survival, neurological function, renal impairment, pain syndromes, pulmonary hypertension, and treatment responses. This observational study involves data collection over five years, with no investigational treatments administered.