The funding provided by donors is instrumental in driving St Mark’s cutting-edge research into complex bowel diseases. Here are some insights that underscore the impact of charitable contributions.

An active Research Fellow programme

At any one time the Foundation supports up to 30 Research Fellows working on projects spanning all aspects of gastrointestinal disease including:

• Complex rectal cancer

• Individualized chemotherapy dosing

• Management of complex perianal fistulae

• Techniques to reduce morbidity following pelvic exenteration

• Moving towards personalised medicine in IBD

Surgical Robotics Research Programme

The significant advancements made by the St Mark’s Robotics Team were made possible by charitable support. These funds, exceeding £800,000 between 2018 and 2021, enabled the team to contribute vital data, publish research on robotic colorectal surgery and enhance educational experiences for observers, boosting St Mark’s global reputation.

Leading the way in treating complex conditions

As a tertiary referral centre, St Mark’s treats patients with complex and rare conditions that are seen in high volume allowing for robust research participation. This makes the hospital uniquely placed to collaborate with other centres of excellence in driving forward research on complex conditions. Research involves multiple entities, and thanks to your contributions, the Foundation is able to facilitate these collaborative projects.

Future-proof research

The creation of the St Mark’s Tissue Bank has established a future-proof research resource. The tissue bank facility is enabling tissue and other sample collection for use in current and future research projects. Over time, the tissue bank will provide a rich source of data which cannot be found in any other institution in the UK at a comparable scale.

Financial impact of donations

Between 2018 and 2023, on average, the Foundation converted a £1 unrestricted donation into £4 for bowel disease research. This multiplier effect means that your donations are enabling us to drive innovative research, improve patient outcomes and help us achieve our vision of a future free from the fear of bowel disease. Thank you.