Manchester, UK — 19 January 2026— The Functional Gut Clinic (FGC), the UK’s leading provider of specialist gastrointestinal (GI) diagnostics, today announced the launch of its dedicated GI Clinical Trials establishing the organisation as the country’s first boutique, end‑to‑end clinical research provider focused exclusively on digestive health.
Gastrointestinal conditions affect millions of people in the UK, yet clinical research in this area has often been fragmented, slow or under‑resourced. FGC’s new Clinical Trials Division aims to change this. The new division formalises and expands FGC’s long‑standing research activity, positioning the organisation as a uniquely capable partner for pharmaceutical, biotech and microbiome companies developing next‑generation therapies for conditions such as IBS, SIBO, reflux, motility disorders and functional gastrointestinal (GI) disease.
FGC enters the market with three major advantages that set it apart from generalist CROs:
- The UK’s largest volunteer bank for digestive‑health research, with 5,000 opted‑in individuals living with digestive health conditions
- Fast‑track recruitment capability, demonstrated by completing ethics approval to full enrolment in under six months in recent studies
- Unmatched diagnostic expertise, delivering over 12,000 GI physiology tests each year and operating the only independent UKAS‑accredited GI physiology service in the country. This means participants can be screened rapidly and with a level of clinical precision that significantly streamlines study start‑up
Together, these capabilities allow FGC to recruit rapidly, screen accurately, and deliver high‑quality digestive‑health trials across multiple UK sites. Professor Anthony Hobson, Founder of the Functional Gut Clinic comments: “Digestive health research has historically been slowed by two challenges: finding the right patients and understanding their physiology in enough depth.”
“At the Functional Gut Clinic, we have built the UK’s largest bank of opted‑in volunteers with digestive conditions, and we combine this with unparalleled diagnostic capability. Launching our Clinical Trials Division allows us to bring these strengths together to accelerate the development of new therapies and support companies working at the forefront of gut science.”
Landmark trial success demonstrates capability
The launch follows the recent success of a Phase 2a IBS study for EnteroBiotix, which enrolled 122 participants. FGC played a central role in the trial, supporting participant recruitment, clinical assessment and ongoing care. Recruitment was enabled using FGC’s research volunteer database, allowing the study to progress from ethics approval to full enrolment in under six months.
“The Functional Gut Clinic played a pivotal role in enabling the successful delivery of our Phase 2a trial,” explains Dr James McIlroy, Founder & CEO, EnteroBiotix, “Their ability to deliver a compliant study within agreed timelines, assess patients with precision and provide high‑quality clinical oversight made a meaningful difference to the study. Professor Hobson’s presentation of the data at Digestive Disease Week 2025 as a late breaking oral presentation reflects the strength of our collaboration, and we look forward to expanding our work together as we progress into the next phase of development.”
A specialist partner for GI‑focused
clinical development FGC has already delivered research
programmes for leading global companies including ADM Protexin (Bio‑Kult),
Reckitt Benckiser (Gaviscon), Medtronic and EnteroBiotix, supporting studies
across probiotics, OTC medicines, medical devices and microbiome therapeutics. Unlike
large generalist CROs, FGC offers a boutique, specialist model tailored to the
complexities of digestive‑health research. This includes: Playing a pivotal role in the delivery of
the new Clinical Trials division is Sam Treadway, Chief Scientific Officer at
the Functional Gut Clinic. He adds: “By integrating our diagnostic expertise
with our research infrastructure and a large, engaged volunteer community, we
can deliver trials that move quickly without compromising scientific rigour. We
provide sponsors with a specialist partner who understands the nuances of GI
disease far better than a general research organisation.” Investment enabling national expansion The launch of the Clinical Trials Division
follows a £5.75 million investment from Foresight Group, announced in
2025. The investment is supporting expansion of FGC’s national footprint, growth
of its clinical research team and strengthening of its trial‑delivery
infrastructure. FGC operates three permanent clinics in Manchester, Cambridge
and London, alongside several collaborative clinics across the UK. Companies interested in conducting
digestive‑health research can learn more at: https://thefunctionalgutclinic.com/gi-clinical-trials.
All studies are overseen by independent research ethics committees and
delivered to high clinical and regulatory standards. About
the Functional Gut Clinic The
Functional Gut Clinic is the UK’s leading provider of specialist
gastrointestinal diagnostics, delivering more than 12,000 tests each year
across its clinics in Manchester, Cambridge and London. Founded in 2014 by
Professor Anthony Hobson, the organisation is the only independent GI
physiology service in the UK to hold UKAS accreditation. FGC provides
diagnostic testing, clinical care, preventive health services and clinical
research for patients and partners across the UK and internationally. About
Foresight Group Foresight
Group is a leading regional private equity and infrastructure investment
manager, supporting high‑growth companies across the UK. Its investment in the
Functional Gut Clinic is enabling national expansion, team growth and the
development of new clinical and research capabilities.
