The areas of research which BRET is pursuing are inherently linked to the gut or gastrointestinal tract. This is a broad church that encompasses not just gut diseases but also the effect that food has on our digestive system.
To provide a flavour of some of our research interests we have provided different categories for your interest:
Click READ MORE for a brief description
Coeliac disease
Gluten Sensitivity
Small Bowel Endoscopy
Gastrostomy feeding
Gut Bleeding
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The Pancreas
The Pancreas
We are the first investigators to use the new technique of CT scanning at post-mortem to look at the damage in the pancreas. By undertaking a CT at post-mortem a conventional post-mortem can be avoided.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects up to 15% of the population and we are one of the main UK groups conducting research in this field. Our emphasis has been on 2 particular areas: dietary treatments for IBS and secondly are there any other conditions which may mimic IBS type symptoms. The recognition of bile acid diarrhoea as a mimic of IBS has been a significant ‘breakthrough’ by BRET and has changed the lives of many patients. See slides and paper
Gut Bleeding
Gut bleeding affects many people whether due to ulcers or other causes. We are one of the main UK centres in this field.
Gastrostomy Feeding
Some of us develop difficulty swallowing this may occur with a stroke, diseases which block our oesophagus or gullet (head, neck and oesophageal cancers), head injuries or with conditions that cause damage progressively to our brain like Motor Neuron Disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia – the brain forgets the way to command us to swallow and the swallowing process becomes difficult. In these circumstances we can bypass swallowing by placing a tube directly into the stomach. This allows people to still receive the nourishment they require.
Small Bowel Endoscopy
Small Bowel Endoscopy is the expanding new area in gastroenterology. The small bowel which is the part of the gut beyond the stomach is 3 to 5 metres long in any given person.
Patient Experience of Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity
Video about patients' experience of Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity
Is there confusion between Coeliac Disease and NCGS?
There may be separate immune mechanisms for Coeliac Disease and NCGS.
How is your gut damaged by gluten or wheat?
A video showing magnification of the finger-like villi at a level of a 1000x.
Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity
Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity may affect 3-13% of the general population.
Coeliac Disease
This is a condition widely underdiagnosed that affects 1% of the population! However ¾ of people affected are currently not diagnosed. We are the leading researchers in the UK for this condition and internationally recognised for our work.
VIDEO: Improving the endoscopic detection of Coeliac Disease
We are currently working on better methods of recognising Coeliac Disease whilst performing endoscopy (gastroscopy).
The provision of a percutaneously placed enteral tube feeding service
David Westaby, Alison Young, Paul O'Toole, et al.
Diagnosis & management of adult coeliac disease
Guidelines from the British Society of Gastroenterology. Authors: Jonas F Ludvigsson, Julio C Bai, Federico Biagi, Timothy R Card, Carolina Ciacci, Paul J Ciclitira, Peter H R Green, Marios Hadjivassiliou, Anne Holdoway, David A van Heel, Katri Kaukinen, Daniel A Leffler, Jonathan N Leonard, Knut E A Lundin, Norma McGough, Mike Davidson, Joseph A Murray, Gillian L Swift, Marjorie M Walker, Fabiana Zingone, David S Sanders,
Effectiveness of an upper-gastrointestinal haemorrhage unit
A prospective analysis of 900 consecutive cases using the Rockall score as a method of risk standardisation. Authors: David S. Sanders, Mike J. Perry, Simon G.W. Jones, Elaine McFarlane,
Alan G. Johnson, Dermot C. Gleeson and Alan J. Lobo
Should we Investigate Gastroenterology Patients for Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency?
A Dual Centre UK Study. Authors: Jennifer A. Campbell, David S. Sanders, Katherine A. Francis, Matthew Kurien, Sai Lee, Hatim Taha, Arvind Ramadas, Diamond Joy, Andrew D. Hopper
Driving Primary Care
Professor David S Sanders: Consultant Gastroenterologist, Royal Hallamshire Hospital & University of Sheffield
Idiopathic Bile Acid Diarrhea Among Patients With Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
High Prevalence of Idiopathic Bile Acid Diarrhea Among Patients With Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Rome III Criteria - Imran Aziz, Saqib Mumtaz, Hassan Bholah, Fahmid U. Chowdhury, David S. Sanders, and Alexander C. Ford
UK study on gluten sensitivity
A UK study assessing the population prevalence of self-reported gluten sensitivity and referral characteristics to secondary care
Imran Aziza, Nina R. Lewisa, Marios Hadjivassilioub, Stefanie N. Winfielda, Nathan Rugga, Alan Kelsalla, Laurence Newricka and David S. Sanders
