Current active research

Guts UK has 29 active research studies across the UK, with the grants awarded totaling around £2.3 million.

“We’re getting to grips with guts!”

People are suffering. People are dying. All because of a lack of knowledge about our guts. Guts UK exists to change that.

With new knowledge, we will end the pain and suffering for the millions affected by digestive diseases. Guts UK’s research leads to earlier diagnoses, kinder treatments and ultimately, a cure.

Guts UK’s active research:

Achalasia

Dr Conor McCann standing by his computer in his laboratory• Dr McCann is investigating the use of stem cells in achalasia & gastroparesis.

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Acute Pancreatitis

Dr Kattakayam is assessing whether protecting the mitochondria (cell powerhouses) outside of the pancreas cells (within other cells and organs), reduces the severity of the condition and prevents worsening damage to the pancreas itself. Explore >

Dr O’Kelly  is exploring the inflammatory reaction that occurs during pancreatitis. When severe, acute pancreatitis can kill 1 in 4 people. Guts UK exists to change these facts. Explore >

Guts UK is the only UK charity funding a research fellowship into pancreatitis. We are dedicated to finding an effective treatment, a cure, for this devastating disease.

Guts UK started the process of identifying the top ten research priorities for pancreatitis in the UK. We are now delighted to announce your top 10 research priorities for acute and chronic pancreatitis, in both children and adults!

Explore >

Barrett’s Oesophagus

Dr Jamel is taking samples of breath from patients with Barrett’s oesophagus to look for Oesophageal cancer.

59% of oesophageal cancer cases are preventable, yet just 15 in 100 people will survive oesophageal cancer for longer than 5 years after diagnosis. Guts UK’s research could save lives.

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Bowel Cancer

Prof. Rees aims to discover the groups of people who are at a higher risk of developing bowel cancer. Explore >

Dr Gashau is looking at bowel cancer surveillance in people with IBD. Explore >

Chronic Pancreatitis

Dr Kattakayam is assessing whether protecting the mitochondria (cell powerhouses) outside of the pancreas cells (within other cells and organs), reduces the severity of the condition and prevents worsening damage to the pancreas itself. Explore >

Dr O’Kelly is Guts UK’s current pancreatitis research fellow. Guts UK is the only UK charity funding a research fellowship into pancreatitis. We are dedicated to finding an effective treatment, a cure, for this devastating disease. Explore >

Guts UK started the process of identifying the top ten research priorities for pancreatitis in the UK. We are now delighted to announce your top 10 research priorities for acute and chronic pancreatitis, in both children and adults!

Explore >

Crohn’s Disease

Prof. Lord is looking to learn more about immune cells in Crohn’s disease. Explore >

Dr Powell is looking at how the right, more individual treatment can be given to the right patient with Crohn’s, earlier. Explore >

Diverticular Disease

Diverticular disease is a priority area for Guts UK.

Guts UK is proud to begin the process of funding  a ‘Priority Setting Partnership’ (PSP). This has the potential to shape the future of diverticular disease research in the UK, and you, the patient, will have your say! Explore >

One of our more recent diverticular disease projects was by Dr David Humes >

You can find our latest expert information on diverticular disease here.

Endoscopy

Dr Ravindran is looking to involve the patient voice to improve endoscopy safety.

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Gastritis

Dr Jansen. The main risk for developing stomach cancer is a bacterium called H. Pylori, which can cause gastritis. In a small number of people, this leads to stomach cancer. Dr Marnix Jansen is a Guts UK-funded researcher looking at stomach cancer.

Fewer than 1 in 5 people diagnosed with stomach cancer will survive beyond 5 years after diagnosis. This research could save lives, diagnosing stomach cancer early and giving people a fighting chance.

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Gastro-intestinal bleeding (a medical emergency)

 

Dr Davies is looking at lower GI bleeds (bleeding from the bowel). Explore >

Gastro-intestinal (GI) bleeds are a medical emergency. This research could lead to improvements in care, that have the potential to save lives. Explore >

Gastroparesis

Dr Conor McCann standing by his computer in his laboratoryDr McCann is investigating the use of stem cells in achalasia & gastroparesis.

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Helicobacter Pylori

Dr Jansen. The main risk for developing stomach cancer is a bacterium called H. Pylori. Dr Jansen is looking at how current methods of taking biopsies to diagnose stomach cancer may be improved & understanding the DNA changes.

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s & Ulcerative colitis - IBD)

Prof. Hogstrand is looking at ‘leaky gut syndrome’ in those with IBD. Explore >

Dr Fitzpatrick is seeing how a patient’s ‘body composition’ might affect how people with IBD might change their treatment dosage. Explore >

Dr Ho is looking at ‘danger signals’ in cells in people with IBD. Explore >

Dr Gashau is looking at bowel cancer surveillance in people with IBD. Explore >

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Guts UK is proud to be funding something called an IBS Priority Setting Partnership. This has the potential to shape the future of IBS research in the UK, and you, the patient, will have your say! Explore >

Liver Cancer

Dr Papa is researching how our liver changes the way it gains energy in liver cancer.

Only 3 in 20 people diagnosed with liver cancer in England survive their disease for 5 years or more. If successful, this research has the potential to save lives.

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Liver Disease

Dr Pritchett is looking at liver fibrosis (scarring), the 3rd most common cause of premature death in the UK. Explore >

Dr Dumas is researching non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Explore >

Prof. Fallowfield is also looking at NAFLD, in particular, research aimed at saving the lives of the 1 in 5 people with NAFLD who will develop life-threatening liver problems. Explore >

Dr Athwal’s research is looking into cystic fibrosis related liver disease. Explore >

Microscopic Colitis

Prof. Hogstrand is looking at ‘leaky gut syndrome’ in those with IBD (Crohn’s & colitis). Explore >

Dr Fitzpatrick is seeing how a patient’s ‘body composition’ might affect how people with IBD might change their treatment dosage. Explore >

Dr Ho is looking at ‘danger signals’ in cells in people with IBD. Explore >

Dr Gashau is looking at bowel cancer surveillance in people with IBD. Explore >

 

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Oesophageal Cancer

For a while now scientists have understood that cancer cells grow because of mutations accumulating in our DNA. Dr Alcolea’s team at the University of Cambridge had an exciting new idea that it might not be the mutations themselves causing cancer, but actually the interactions between the mutations. Explore >

Dr Katja Christodoulou is continuing the promising results shown by Dr Jamel, discovering whether a breath test can be developed to pick up oesophageal cancer earlier, which could save lives. Explore >

Dr Jamel is using samples of breath to see if they can earlier diagnose oesophageal cancer. Explore >

Pancreatitis

Dr Kattakayam is assessing whether protecting the mitochondria (cell powerhouses) outside of the pancreas cells (within other cells and organs), reduces the severity of the condition and prevents worsening damage to the pancreas itself. Explore >

Dr O’Kelly is Guts UK’s current pancreatitis research fellow. Guts UK is the only UK charity funding a research fellowship into pancreatitis. We are dedicated to finding an effective treatment, a cure, for this devastating disease. Explore >

Guts UK started the process of identifying the top ten research priorities for pancreatitis in the UK. We are now delighted to announce your top 10 research priorities for acute and chronic pancreatitis, in both children and adults!

Explore >

Polyps in the Bowel

Prof. Rees’ research aims to find out the groups of people who are at a higher risk of developing cancerous polyps / bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is a more treatable cancer, but to prevent people dying from it, we need to figure out who is at highest risk and develop a screening programme.

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Stomach Cancer

Dr Jansen is looking at how current methods of taking biopsies to diagnose stomach cancer may be improved. The team hope to understand more about the DNA changes that occur with stomach cancer too.

Fewer than 1 in 5 people diagnosed with stomach cancer will survive beyond 5 years after diagnosis. This research could save lives, diagnosing stomach cancer early and giving people a fighting chance.

Explore

Ulcerative Colitis (IBD)

Prof. Hogstrand is looking at ‘leaky gut syndrome’ in those with IBD (Crohn’s & colitis). Explore >

Dr Fitzpatrick is seeing how a patient’s ‘body composition’ might affect how people with IBD might change their treatment dosage. Explore >

Dr Ho is looking at ‘danger signals’ in cells in people with IBD. Explore >

Dr Gashau is looking at bowel cancer surveillance in people with IBD. Explore >

 

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