Brand new research approved

Bowel Research UK exists to fund the highest quality research to improve the lives of people with bowel diseases.

Despite all the challenges 2020 threw at us, we ended the year on a satisfying note. After the successful launch of our new identity in September, we have now awarded our first research grants under the BRUK banner. At a time when non-COVID19 funding opportunities were extremely limited, we are delighted to be giving research teams from across the country the chance to win funding for their work to improve care and treatment

It brings us great pleasure and pride to announce the first successful applicants at the start of 2021. The new projects cover the full spectrum of bowel disease – from cancer to stomas, and emergency surgery to chronic constipation.

• A study at Queen Mary University of London will target cancer’s ability to develop drug resistance. This work could save many lives by enabling chemotherapy to kill cancer cells by reducing their ability to adapt to treatment. Read more about it here.
• The second Emergency Laparotomy and Frailty audit (ELF-2) aims to look after older people who need emergency abdominal surgery. The vast majority of these are affected by bowel disease. Our new study will improve care and treatment for an extremely vulnerable group. Read more about it here.
• The STAMP study is putting people with a parastomal hernia in control of their own care. An estimated 65,000 people with a stoma develop parastomal hernia – but until now the only treatment has been surgical. STAMP aims to change that and you can read more about it here.
• Constipation is one of the most common bowel problems, affecting a great many people at some point in our lifetimes. But when front line treatment fails, the options are limited. Our new research trials a new method. Read more about it here.

Each one of these studies will improve our knowledge of bowel disease and help us to improve the lives of those affected. They add to an existing portfolio of over 40 ongoing studies supported by our charity. You can read about all of them on our extensive Research Hub.

Our Director of Research and PPIE, Lesley Booth, welcomed the new grants saying:

“We’re really delighted and proud that, despite a tough environment where many research programmes were being cancelled or suspended, we’ve been able to give the green light to these potentially life-saving and life-changing studies. It demonstrates our commitment to helping the people who rely on our research, and it’s all thanks to the generosity and dedication of our supporters and research teams up and down the country”.