We are the only national charity in the UK that funds research into all aspects of gut and liver disease. Our constitution states that the objects of the charity are:

1. The advancement of the science and practice of medicine and surgery for the benefit of the public, with particular reference to the field of gastroenterology, which includes the study of the physiology and pathology of the digestive system; and
2. To promote the study of and research into medicine and surgery with particular reference to the physiology and pathology of the digestive system and to ensure dissemination where appropriate of the results of such study and research.

In order to fulfil these objects, we must consider the needs and interests of those suffering with digestive illnesses, donors, medical researchers and doctors. The long-term aim of any research that we fund is to improve treatments for those suffering with digestive diseases and to investigate ways of preventing disease. This can only be done by funding the best candidates and the best science. In order to achieve that, we are committed to using an open, competitive, peer-reviewed selection process to make awards. Where appropriate, funding will be open to non-medically qualified scientists as well as medically qualified applicants.

Well trained doctors are crucial in providing excellent care to patients and that doctors with research training are better equipped to make important contributions to the development of new and better treatments. Providing funding to enable doctors to undertake extended periods of full-time research will be the main feature of our research funding strategy.

We will encourage full-time clinicians to undertake research that will have clear patient benefit in the short-term. We will also encourage undergraduate medical students and junior doctors to specialise in gastroenterology by awarding special bursaries and prizes.

As a small charity with limited funds, we are unable to allocate significant sums of money to speculative research, but we recognise the need to encourage new thinking. Active consideration will be given to “Proof of Concept” grants to enable researchers to apply for funding of up to one year to demonstrate the feasibility of new ideas in order for them to then apply to larger funding bodies for more significant funding. One-year funding for pilot projects, which would enable a researcher to gain funding from national funding bodies, will also be considered.

We will seek to play a role in the development of academic gastroenterology by considering providing funding for those taking part in the National Integrated Academic Training Programme of the UKCRC. We will consider joint funding of Clinical Lectureships where this will result in extra posts for gastroenterology and funding for the laboratory costs of Academic Clinical Fellows and Clinical Lecturers.

Research into some types of digestive diseases is already generously funded by other organisations. We will aim to fund research into those diseases where research is under-funded and where our funding can make a significant difference. From time to time we might consider commissioning research into certain conditions, but only when this is endorsed by the British Society of Gastroenterology, will attract funding and is validated by patient demand.