Over 44,000 people* are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK and around 750,000† live with other life-changing and longstanding bowel conditions, such as the inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and the incontinence sometimes induced in childbirth. The need to understand the risk factors and potential causes, as well as identifying new ways to diagnose, treat and manage them has never been more urgent.
By investing in world-class, innovative research we hope that one day we can eradicate these conditions.
We aim to both increase and strengthen the research base in the UK and to support international research collaborations. Importantly, we will both continue and expand our investment in training the next generation of researchers.
Through all these means, we will help people with bowel diseases to live longer and improve their quality of life.
Bowel Research UK strategic priorities:
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For further information on our research programme and how you can be involved, please contact us:
Hear from one of our PhD Students, Lucy:
Related Research
* Statistic from https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/bowel-cancer 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.
Our research is entirely funded through fundraising.
Please help us by making a donation today.
Your donation will help improve the lives for people living with bowel cancer and bowel disease.