Our Research
We fund cutting-edge medical research projects that have the potential to go from the laboratory bench all the way through to the patient’s bedside. Currently, we are funding around 30 research projects and PhDs across the UK, from the genetics of bowel diseases to enhancing our understanding of the role of the microbiome in bowel health and new surgical techniques that aim to improve outcomes for patients.
The charity, guided by experienced Trustees along with our Grants Committee and Scientific Advisory Committee, that include practising bowel surgeons and other senior health professionals, carefully evaluates applications for funding from individual academic researchers and small research teams that have the potential to become breakthrough cures and treatments for bowel disorders.
Bowel Research UK is not risk averse. We actively support promising but early stage projects that typically do not come within the orbit of other funding sources. The bulk of our individual grants are around £50,000 which is usually sufficient for proof of concept. We are also keen to support the next generation of bowel disease experts and to this end we fund annually PhD awards.
Our goal is to fund our projects through to the point where larger funding bodies, including commercial pharmaceutical companies, can add their financial muscle and developmental expertise to achieve scale. Out of tiny acorns mighty oak trees grow.
Statistics from:
Bowel cancer: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/bowel-cancer, Accessed 06.10.25
Inflammatory bowel disease: https://www.bsg.org.uk/news/ibd-uk-report-and-press-release, Accessed 06.10.25
“750,000 people live with a serious bowel condition” includes: bowel cancer, small bowel cancer, anal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, bowel ischaemia, bowel obstruction, short bowel syndrome, Hirschsprung’s disease, and fistula. Accessed 11.11.25.