Dr Mark Scott, PhD, is Director and one of the founders of the internationally-renowned GI Physiology Unit (Colorectal service) at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry / Barts Health NHS Trust. Approximately 1000 patients undergo diagnostic investigations within the Unit each year, which provides the resources for allied research. He is also a Principal Investigator within the Blizard Institute at Queen Mary University of London, and has supervised numerous postgraduate students (both clinical and scientific) to successful completion of their higher degrees.

Mark has over 30 years’ experience, both clinical and academic, related to the physiological assessment of functional colorectal disorders (primarily constipation and faecal incontinence). Research interests are focussed on pathophysiology and treatment, including: (1) pioneering work on visceral hyposensitivity; (2) assessment of colonic motor function; (3) development of novel investigative technologies; and (4) evaluation of novel therapies for both constipation and incontinence.

Mark is the most widely published colorectal GI Physiologist in the UK, having authored more than 165 original articles and 12 book chapters. He has been Guest Editor of 2 journal supplements devoted to the subject of chronic constipation, and was recently one of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility Working Team members setting guidelines for the management of constipation. Mark is also one of the Leads of the International Anorectal Physiology Working Group into standardisation of diagnostic testing.

Ann has a broad background working within the field of Colorectal Surgery.

Her career started at St Mark’s Hospital gaining experience of caring for patients with a wide range of colorectal and gastrointestinal conditions. This included caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and general anorectal disorders. During this time she developed an understanding of the importance of providing individualised care and striving to make a difference.

After working as both a ward manager and Matron, Ann moved to the Royal London Hospital in 2010 to join the Functional Bowel and Pelvic Floor team as a Specialist Nurse.

In her current role she works principally in an outpatient setting providing treatment for patients who present with a wide range of functional bowel disorders. This includes conservative management, neuromodulation therapy and visual biofeedback. She also performs GI Physiology diagnostic investigations as participating within the wider multidisciplinary team.

Samantha Morris, MSc, has more than 13 years experience in GI Physiology. She is a registered Clinical Scientist with the HCPC, and an Accredited Independent Healthcare Professional in GI Physiology with the Association of Gastrointestinal Physiology (AGIP). She currently works in Derby performing both upper and lower GI Physiology investigations, but previously spent 8 years working in 2 large Colorectal Departments in London. As part of her role she routinely performs high resolution anorectal manometry investigations, and runs a visual anorectal biofeedback clinic.

She is a member of the AGIP Committee, as the National Standards Officer. In this role, she and the committee are working to develop a range of guidance documents to support GI Physiology professionals across the country, to ensure everyone performing and interpreting these investigations are doing so to the correctstandards.

She is also a named author on multiple published research papers, and has taught on topics related to lower GI physiology at multiple training events and conferences, both nationally and internationally.