Research

Research is imperative to find cures, not only for IBS, but also the long list of other incurable illnesses which place a burden on society in regards to individual suffering, people who care for those who suffer, the NHS and the economy through sickness absence and economic inactivity due to ill health. The numbers of those who suffer from long term sickness are significant.

Incredible work is conducted by the scientific community in the medical field. However, the direction and management of that work, to ensure that every piece of funded medical science is a stepping stone to finding cures to alleviate the suffering of patients has been extremely poor. This means that for many illnesses, although research is conducted, little real progress has been made from a patient point of view over decades, since it is not delivered wholistically, taking into account research gaps and driven towards significant outcomes for patients with someone or a group or body accountable for this taking place for each and every incurable illness. We need to think outside the box about how research is delivered and to stop the merry-go-round of piecemeal research leading nowhere or to the destination at a snail’s pace.

There are elements of promising research ongoing. There are pieces of research working towards the fundamentals underlying IBS. However all of this needs direction, with piecemeal research being honed into an organised, highly productive machine. This machine identifies research gaps, only allocates funds to fulfil those gaps, leading to cost efficiencies by avoiding unproductive research and to providing real outcomes quicker for patients, so they are not having to wait yet more decades for a cure and for their suffering to be alleviated.

Table of Contents
The Importance of Research
The Problem with Current Research
A New Way Forward For Research
Promising Research