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Research Areas

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Our role is to support the delivery of high quality clinical research in Gastroenterology and manage participant recruitment to time and target, both for Gastroenterology studies which are led from Scotland, and studies led from other nations which Scottish sites are participating in.  We provide support in the following areas:

  • managing the study portfolio record
  • monitoring the attainment of recruitment targets
  • providing advice on study design and feasibility
  • troubleshooting issues with poor recruitment
  • identifying potential sites for studies
  • facilitating access to resource to support research, for example through Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Research Nurses

The speciality group has focussed on research into the common chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, now affecting up to 1% of the population in Europe.

Gastroenterology Studies

Studies supported by the Gastroenterology Specialty focus on aetiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, biomarker discovery, and clinical trials of new therapeutic approaches/strategies. Both childhood-onset diseases, as well as adult-onset disease, are represented on the group's membership team. The following studies are currently led by the UK.

  • BIOPIC - this study is combining partial enteral nutrition with biologics to optimise induction and maintenance therapy for adults with active ileocolonic Crohn's Disease
  • MARVEL - this is clinical trial is  investigating mitochondrial anti-oxidant therapy to resolve inflammation in ulcerative colitis
  • MUSIC - this study is investigating mitochondrial gut damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) as mechanistic biomarkers of mucosal inflammation in Crohn's disease
  • STARS - commercial orphan multicentre study  trial  evaluating the efficacy and safety of apraglutide in adult subjects with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure
  • COLO COHORT - colorectal cancer cohort study of tissue samples and data to develop a risk model to determine patients which would be at highest risk of developing bowel cancer
  • CESCAIL - a basic science study evaluating capsule endoscopy delivery at scale through enhanced AI analysis

Information for patients, carers and the public

NHS Research Scotland is committed to actively involving patients, those who care for them and the public in all aspects of the research process, including shaping future research activity. Read more

Key Contacts

Specialty Lead: Professor Daniel Gaya

Performance Manager: Madeleine Bayne