Bowel Research UK has awarded £111,000 to IRR Group Leader Dr CJ Anderson for research into the complex relationship between chemotherapy-induced intestinal damage, the immune system, and intestinal microbes. This is the first time the Bowel Cancer UK, which funds life-changing research into bowel cancer and other bowel diseases, has funded a single research area. The funded project, submitted by Dr Anderson with co-applicants Dr Chris Lucas (IRR Group Leader) and Dr Duncan Rutherford (NHS Lothian) seeks to investigate how bacteria feed on dead cells and how this contributes to the development of gut wall damage and disease. The intestinal microbes offer an exciting avenue for both predictive prognoses and therapeutic interventions. Although we still have a long road ahead, this work represents a fundamental step towards finding ways to alleviate some of the truly awful side effects of our most common chemotherapies. Dr CJ Anderson IRR Group Leader Group photo of the Anderson lab (from left to right: Priscilla Chin, Sebastian Rogatti Granados, CJ Anderson, Sam Benson, Mariska S. Simpson, Anna Davey) Rates of bowel cancer are rising in adults under 50 worldwide, which is thought to be due to changes in diet and lifestyle which affect the gut microbiome, such as increased use of antibiotics and reduced dietary fibre intake. The gut microbiome refers to the collection of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live in our digestive system. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome has many positive health impacts, including helping maintain a healthy weight, improved mental health, reducing the risk of bowel cancer and alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Despite these findings, the gut microbiome remains an under-researched area. Our research funding focuses on early career researchers – those starting their research careers who will bring new ideas to ongoing challenges. We saw a particularly high quality of applications for this grant round, and we’re excited to be backing the microbiome experts of the future who will, no doubt, shape the way bowel cancer and bowel disease is diagnosed and treated. Lindsay Easton Chief Executive of Bowel Research UK Bowel Research UK websiteAnderson research group IRR websiteAnderson lab website Tags CIR Publication date 27 Mar, 2025
