biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)Jairath V<h4>Introduction</h4>The optimal treatment target for Crohn's disease (CD) is unknown. Targeting transmural healing (TMH) may be associated with a lower risk of complications than clinical and endoscopic outcomes. The Study to Evaluate Transmural Healing as a Treatment Target in Crohn's Disease (VECTORS) aims to investigate TMH as a potential treatment target and its long-term benefits in patients with CD.<h4>Methods and analysis</h4>VECTORS is a phase 4, interventional, parallel-group, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Approximately 304 adult patients with moderately to severely active CD from multiple international sites will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to treatment target group 1 (corticosteroid-free intestinal ultrasound-based response or TMH plus clinical BMJ open gastroenterologye002088https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12927283biostudies-literatureEvaluating treatment to a target of transmural healing in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease: rationale, design and protocol for the randomised controlled VECTORS trial.PMC12927283An YKNeustifter BZou GNovak KLJairath VRomo Bautista IGecse KBWilkens RSands BEAgboton CDanese SFreire MBryant RVRubin DTSparrow MPFeagan BGVuyyuru SKPudipeddi AAllocca MBegun JPanaccione RMa CMaaser CDubinsky MTaylor SAfalseEvaluating treatment to a target of transmural healing in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease: rationale, design and protocol for the randomised controlled VECTORS trial.<h4>Introduction</h4>The optimal treatment target for Crohn's disease (CD) is unknown. Targeting transmural healing (TMH) may be associated with a lower risk of complications than clinical and endoscopic outcomes. The Study to Evaluate Transmural Healing as a Treatment Target in Crohn's Disease (VECTORS) aims to investigate TMH as a potential treatment target and its long-term benefits in patients with CD.<h4>Methods and analysis</h4>VECTORS is a phase 4, interventional, parallel-group, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Approximately 304 adult patients with moderately to severely active CD from multiple international sites will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to treatment target group 1 (corticosteroid-free intestinal ultrasound-based response or TMH plus clinical 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-16T18:33:31.024Z2026-07-11T03:08:18.56ZS-EPMC129272834172058910.1136/bmjgast-2025-002088