It is with great pleasure that I take over the helm as the first female and Academic Hepatologist Chair of the BSG Research Committee in June 2024. I would like to begin by sincerely thanking Shaji Sebastian for leading the Committee through a very challenging 2 years as UK Gastroenterology re-emerged from the covid pandemic.

Research is fundamental to every aspect of medicine, regardless of academic discipline, clinical speciality, locality, or level of practice. Since the NHS was founded in 1948, it has gained an international acclaimed reputation for outstanding biomedical and clinical research contribution. This is underpinned by the fundamental belief that patients should receive not only the best care that is currently available, but to aspire to delivering even better care in the future. Furthermore, it is recognised that patients enrolled in clinical trials have better outcomes than those who are not.

I believe that it is possible to integrate clinical care and research into the NHS. That said, the Covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for research and innovation. The onus has been on catching up clinically, clearing backlogs against a backdrop of industrial action in an adverse financial climate with reduced charitable and research council funding. We need to rejuvenate a disenfranchised, disengaged, and ‘burnt out’ workforce.

It is therefore vital to identify clear realistic strategic priorities in partnership with patients, carers, clinicians, external partners, and charitable bodies. So, what part can the BSG play in the integration of clinical care and research? Research has been at the heart of the BSG since its inception. 15,000 patients have been recruited to UK-led endoscopy trials in the last 5 years. The BSG Research Strategy 2021-24 will be key to this and builds upon the work done over recent years identifying key strategic priorities for the 7 Clinical Research Groups (CRGs):

• Endoscopy
• Liver
• IBD
• Food and Function
• Pancreas
• AI Task Force
• Gut Microbiota for Health

So, what do I see as our strategic research priorities for 2024-25? We need to support our members in participating in research and continue to define the research priorities in collaboration with the James Lind Alliance; a collaborative effort that involves patients, carers, scientists, clinicians, and allied health professionals. Specifically, we need to support the delivery of the NIHR-funded Gastroenterology and Hepatology portfolio which includes pivotal clinical trials that are driving the global research agenda.

To overcome some of these barriers, the BSG has introduced the BSG Research Scholars Scheme which enables financial support and mentorship to research active clinicians and allied health professionals to carve out time to dedicate to pursuing research. I am keen to publicise and expand this scheme in the coming years. We are also proud to see that many BSG trainees have also joined the NIHR Associate Principal Investigator Scheme that will train our clinical research leaders of the future which has been bolstered by the incredibly productive Trainee Research Networks who continue to tackle some of the key clinical research questions. Finally, it has been wonderful to witness the growing engagement of our Allied Health Professionals in clinical research including pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians. It is the intention of the Research Committee to continue to mentor and support the delivery of research at the very heart of the BSG.

Debbie Shawcross

Research Chair