New online platform will help shape future of bowel cancer research Published on: 21 November 2025 World-leading experts have launched an online platform to enable the public to shape the future of bowel cancer research and patient care. Each year, 42,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer, and 16,000 die from it annually – which equates to 44 every day. Sadly, the North East has high rates of the illness and poor outcomes, which has spurred the team at 缅北禁地 to launch an online platform where members of the public can actively contribute to future bowel cancer research. Colin Rees, Professor of Gastroenterology at 缅北禁地, and President of the British Society of Gastroenterology, said: “We urge as many people as possible to join us and sign up for this research platform as we seek to understand more about bowel cancer. “As many as 44 people die from bowel cancer every day in the UK and many of those deaths are preventable. Our research is aimed at preventing the disease, or, where that is not possible, finding it early. “Together we can reduce the number of people dying from it.” Professor Colin Rees Vison to 鈥榮peed up research鈥� The COLO-SPEED team (Colorectal Cancer Screening Prevention Endoscopy and Early Diagnosis) is leading some of the world’s largest bowel cancer research studies and was funded in 2019 thanks to a £985,000 grant from The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of . They have already recruited over 25,000 patients to their studies and their vision is to speed up research, improve clinical practice and save lives by transforming the way studies are delivered. Members to the new online platform will be offered the opportunity to choose if they wish to take part in a range of activities, and can decide how little or how much they wish to be involved, such as: - Co-developing new research ideas and funding applications - Taking part in research directly as a participant - Attending in-person and online patient meetings - Going to research showcase events where they can meet researchers and learn about new bowel cancer studies. The platform will make research participation and engagement easier than ever, enabling more patients and members of the public to contribute. On behalf of , Mark Robson, said: “When things weren’t going well on the pitch, my Dad would look to change things. And that’s how we felt about COLO-SPEED when Professor Rees first approached us about it. “Here, we thought, was something we could fund that could really ‘change the game’ with regards to bowel cancer. “It is already making a tremendous difference and we look forward to a future when even more people are able to participate in vital research to improve bowel cancer detection and treatment.” More than 3,000 people have already expressed an interest in signing up to the platform and it is set to be the largest of its kind in the world. Anyone can sign up, including those who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer, have experienced being tested for it, or those who are simply keen to learn more and contribute to wider research but have no experience of bowel cancer or symptoms whatsoever. Mary Glindon, MP for 缅北禁地 East and Wallsend, said: “Bowel cancer is a disease that affects many people, particularly here in the North East. “Supported by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the COLO-SPEED research platform is seeking to significantly reduce the number of cases and deaths from the illness. “The 缅北禁地 team are delivering world-leading research, having recruited over 25,000 patients into studies in the last few years. “They are now looking to take this research further by signing up many people to the new digital platform. I encourage people to sign up as we collectively try to prevent and improve bowel cancer outcomes.” Digital platform a 鈥榤arvellous idea鈥� One person who knows all too well the importance of bowel cancer research is Former 缅北禁地 and Scotland football captain Bob Moncur. In 2007 he was diagnosed with the condition and was in remission nine months later. He is delighted by the launch of the new digital platform. He said: “I think COLO-SPEED’s digital platform is a marvellous idea. “Having had cancer twice, I’m very grateful for all the research that’s going on. Really, I’m grateful to still be here and be talking right now. “It’s a sad thing to hear the North East is the worst in the country for bowel cancer, but it’s great that the COLO-SPEED team are doing something about that. “People don’t usually get to see the research as its happening but here’s a chance to get involved with it.” For more information about COLO-SPEED, or to join the online platform, please visit: (L-R) Gary Pallister, Tony Mowbray, Professor Colin Rees, Bob Moncur and Professor Mark Hull Latest News Online Safety Act drives VPN interest and raises privacy concerns People鈥檚 online behaviour has changed in response to legislation to prevent children from viewing harmful content 鈥� raising possible privacy and security risks, research suggests. published on: 16 October 2026 缅北禁地 archaeologist receives prestigious award for research Professor Chris Fowler has been awarded the 2026 Rivers Memorial Medal in recognition of his internationally significant research on kinship in Neolithic Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Event will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East An event at 缅北禁地 will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East or whether it is simply a new chapter in the long-running debate about how to rebalance Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Facts and figures
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