Research

Guts UK is the only UK charity that funds research into the whole digestive system.

Our mission is to improve the lives of the millions of people affected by digestive conditions and research is one of the three main areas of our work.

Since 1971, Guts UK has funded more than 450 research projects and invested more than £16.5 million into medical research, leading to better diagnosis and kinder treatments for the millions of people across the UK who are affected by a digestive condition.

Digestive conditions can affect the gut, the liver or the pancreas. They are surprisingly widespread but often misunderstood, underfunded and undervalued.

Our vision is a world where digestive conditions are better understood, better treated and everyone who lives with one gets the support they need. Research is fundamental to making our vision into a reality.

The digestive system is an incredible but complex system, and the better we understand how it works, the better we can look after it.

You can find out more about our research priorities here and learn more about the research projects that we fund here.

Our research has the capacity to change lives. But we can't do it without you.

Donate to Guts UK today.
Guts UK branded character of a female researcher in a white lab coat holding up a flask with yellow liquid inside.

Patient and Public Engagement and Involvement

The patient voice is at the heart of what we do. Working with the individuals, families and carers affected by digestive conditions is important, particularly when it comes to our research. Guts UK will never make a decision that affects you, without you.

In 2021, we developed an ‘Experts By Experience’ Panel made up of patients and carers affected by a wide variety of digestive conditions. We’re proud to say that this panel helps us to decide what research Guts UK funds, alongside medical experts.

We also fund and deliver Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) that seek to identify the questions that patients, carers and healthcare professionals would like to see answered by future research. Learn more about our past and current PSPs here.