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Centre for Colorectal Disease

The Centre for Colorectal Disease at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin encompasses patient care, educational research and clinical research – with the ultimate aim to improved clinical management of patients. Our priority is to achieve a complete understanding of the mechanisms behind colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through translational and clinical research.

More information about the clinical services provided by the Centre for Colorectal Disease can be found at www.colorectal.ie.

The Centre for Colorectal Disease is affiliated with the UCD School of Medicine

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Our research goals in IBD:

  • Identification of molecular signalling pathways that are dysregulated in immune cells of patients with IBD
  • Understanding the genetic basis for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Ireland
  • Investigation of how environmental factors in the gut, e.g. low levels of tissue oxygen or colonisation by different microbial species impact on these responses
  • To understand from the patient’s perspective how IBD impacts on their quality of life
  • Develop a programme for more personalised medicine in relation to all colorectal disease

The Centre for Colorectal Disease has recently established an Investigator Network for IBD Therapy in Ireland (INITIative). The network is open to clinical and scientific investigators with an interest in Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis throughout the island of Ireland. More information can be found at https://www.hrb-crci.ie/clinical-research-networks/#gastrointestinal-disease

Colorectal Cancer

Our key research goals in colorectal cancer:

  • Understand how the local tissue environment of the gut impacts on the immune response to cancer
  • Development and translation to the clinic of new methods for the molecular and pathological classification of colorectal cancer

Who we are:

  • Prof Glen Doherty – Consultant Gastroenterologist
  • Prof Kieran Sheahan – Consultant Histopathologist