Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Overview
Gastrointestinal and liver diseases are among the most important causes of death and suffering worldwide. GI and liver infections such as Clostridium difficile, Helicobacter pylori (the cause of peptic ulcers and stomach cancer) and hepatitis C virus (a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer) are scourges of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Post-infective conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, cause suffering to millions, particularly in developed countries like the UK. Colon, stomach, oesophageal, pancreatic and liver cancer are the highest causes of cancer deaths in developed and developing countries. Oesophageal and bile duct cancers are the fastest increasing of all cancers and alcoholic and viral liver disease are rapidly increasing causes of death. Other diseases of the gut, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, cause immense suffering and have no permanent cure.
The Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre was formed in 2003 following an external review of research in the University and significant funding from the Wolfson Foundation. It comprises the Medical Division of Gastroenterology, the Divisions of GI Surgery in Nottingham and Derby, Pre-Clinical Oncology and the Liver Research Group. Together, this comprises possibly the largest integrated GI and liver research grouping in the UK.
Recently, the NDDC has been awarded a Biomedical Research Unit by the National Institute of Health Research. This focuses on patient-based translational research, particularly GI and liver infections and post-infectious conditions.