CHOICE KERGUELEN 2 : Consequences of Longterm Confinement on Immunity in the Sub-Antarctic Islands : Follow-up of Volunteers on the Kerguelen Islands
NCT ID: NCT07275489
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
9 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2025-12-20
2026-12-31
Brief Summary
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These immune disruptions may be caused by multiple stressors: ongoing psychological stress, disturbed sleep and light cycles (circadian rhythm disruption), and the challenges of living in confined, isolated, and extreme environments. While space missions and Antarctic overwintering programs have provided some insight into these issues, scientists still lack a detailed understanding of how the immune system adapts-or fails to adapt-over time in such conditions.
To help fill this gap, the CHOICE Kerguelen 2 study will follow a group of healthy young adults who will spend one year (from November 2025 to November 2026) in Port-aux-Français, a remote French research station on the Kerguelen Islands in the sub-Antarctic. These volunteers are participating in a civic service program and will be living in a highly isolated environment for the duration of their mission. The CHOICE Kerguelen study is conducted in collaboration with the French Polar Institute (IPEV).
The goal of the study is to collect and store a broad range of biological samples-including blood, saliva, stool, urine, and hair-from these volunteers at four time points during the time of their confinement on the Kerguelent Islands: tevery three months during their stay. These samples will be than analyzed to characterize the immune profiles and intestinal microbiota of the subjects assess eventual viral reactivations and stress biological markers. These analyses will allow to better understand how the immune system reacts to prolonged isolation, and to identify immune profiles that may develop under prolonged stress and limited social contact.
The long-term aim of this project is not only to improve our understanding of human immunity in extreme environments, but also to inform medical research for people living with chronic illness. By studying healthy individuals placed in physically and mentally challenging environments, scientists can better understand how stress and isolation may weaken immune defenses. The findings may one day help design new approaches to support immune health in vulnerable populations.
Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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COHORT
PROSPECTIVE
Study Groups
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HD (healthy donors)
blood ponction
blood ponction
urines collection
urines collection
hair collection
hair collection
saliva collection
saliva collection
stools collection
stools collection
Interventions
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blood ponction
blood ponction
urines collection
urines collection
hair collection
hair collection
saliva collection
saliva collection
stools collection
stools collection
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Participant affiliated with or benefiting from a social security system
* Participant has signed informed consent
* Participant staying as an overwintering member at Kerguelen from November 2025 to November 2026
* Participant included in the CELREMED research project of the University Hospital of Angers on helathy volunteers in the context of CHOICE Kerguelen 1 protocol
Exclusion Criteria
* Pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum woman
* immunocompromised people (primary immunodeficiency, HIV infection or immunosupressive treatment)
* Person refusing to participate in the study
* Person with a history of autoimmune disease - -Person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision
* Person undergoing involuntary psychiatric treatment
* Person subject to a legal protection measure
18 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor
UNKNOWN
University Hospital, Angers
OTHER_GOV
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Charline MIOT, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University Hospital, Angers
Locations
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Hôpital SAMUKER, Port-aux-français/ Archipel KERGUELEN /Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises
Port-aux-Français, Terres Australes Et Antarctiques Françaises, French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Marine MEYERBER, MD
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
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2025-A02538-41
Identifier Type: OTHER
Identifier Source: secondary_id
49RC25_0439
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id