Ruby's #DecemberDiaries entry

I joined Bowel Cancer UK’s research team in May this year, and since then have been immersing myself in all the amazing research projects that the charity supports – the ongoing ones, the completed ones, and the new ones that are being set up.?

The grants of research present?

One of the first things I worked on was the four new pilot projects that got underway this year, focusing on early detection and with total funding of ￡93,000.?

They’re looking at the best surgery for cancer prevention in inflammatory bowel disease, predicting the risk of early-stage cancer spreading, developing a blood test for bowel cancer, and supporting people with symptoms to complete their diagnostic tests.?

These exciting projects needed to be shared with our supporters! You might’ve spotted them being highlighted on our social media over the last few months.?

Our research section of the website got a refresh, with a new page for each of the new projects in our current projects, plus a pretty map to show where all our grants are based. Some of the projects that were on the “current” page had finished, so the website update also included…??

The grants of research past?

A new section on our past projects where you can read about the results and impact of completed grants.?

Looking back over these projects has been an important piece of work this year, because we want to know what progress has been made possible by our funding – by your donations.?

Past projects include establishing a national Lynch syndrome database to improve our understanding of the different mutations that cause this inherited bowel cancer risk syndrome.?This is the first database in the world to combine genetic testing results with cancer registration data in this way. Additionally, a study of the best way to perform a particular type of surgery for rectal cancer led to guidance being incorporated into the national surgical training programme.?

Our researchers have published over 100 papers sharing their work with the wider research community, held engagement events with patients, won awards, developed new research tools, and secured ￡12 million of extra funding beyond the ￡1.3 million we awarded.?

We’ve got plans to do more of a celebration of the impact of our research funding next year. And speaking of next year…?

The grants of research yet to come?

We have even more new projects kicking off in 2024!?

Our latest grant round for early detection research has been running since May, in the background for most of the charity but needing a lot of work from the Research Team, including our scientific advisory board and by some of our community who’ve been impacted by bowel cancer themselves.?

We’re not quite ready to share all the details of the new projects, but you’ll be hearing all about them soon.?

All the best,?

Ruby Osborn