Using the smell of faeces to enable personalised treatment in irritable bowel syndrome

I’m Tom, an MD student in the Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrated Biology, and a gastroenterology specialty trainee doctor in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. I’m a local lad, having grown up in Liverpool.

I obtained my undergraduate degree from the University of Liverpool in 2013. My specialist training in gastroenterology and general internal medicine spans over a decade, during which I've completed several advanced fellowships in gastrointestinal disease management.

I’m passionate about clinical research, so I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to work with Professor Probert and the team in 2022, undertaking an MD. In my free time I enjoy running, long walks with my wife and our greyhound Esta, and indulging in my love for fancy coffee.

My research

I’m investigating the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in diagnosing and treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a complex and poorly understood gastrointestinal condition. VOCs are metabolites found in gases, and my research focuses on analysing those emitted from faeces – yes, I study the chemicals in poo! Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, I analyse faecal samples from IBS patients before and after treatments to identify VOC patterns that could predict therapy response at baseline.

My goal is to help develop ‘personalised’ (or ‘precision’) medicine for IBS, where treatments are tailored to a patient’s specific biology. While this approach is already used in other areas of gastroenterology, it hasn’t yet been applied to IBS. Getting IBS treatment right first time could significantly improve the quality of life of patients, who often must trial multiple treatments before finding the correct one for their individual symptom profile. The Probert lab could be about to change that.

My next steps and beyond

I will soon complete my MD and transition into a consultant gastroenterology role. My goal is to integrate research into my clinical practice, building on the breakthroughs we've made in the Probert lab to push the boundaries of treatment for patients with IBS and other gastrointestinal diseases.

My 3-minute thesis

The 3MT experience taught me a great deal about communication, delivery, and timing. It challenged me to distil the most crucial aspects of my research and present them in a clear, engaging way. I highly recommend the experience to fellow postgraduate researchers – it's an excellent opportunity to refine your ability to convey complex ideas effectively.