Bowel function is significantly affected after rectal surgery. While sphincter-preserving techniques aim to maintain anal continence, many patients experience a spectrum of bowel dysfunction, collectively known as Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). LARS includes symptoms such as incontinence, constipation, urgency, and stool clustering, which can severely impact a patient’s quality of life. The prevalence of LARS is alarmingly high, affecting a majority of patients, and symptoms can persist for years after surgical treatment.

Target audience

• Gastroenterologists
• Colorectal surgeons
• Oncologists
• Nurses/Stoma therapists
• Primary care physicians

About this online course

Stem cells are primitive and undifferentiated cells in human tissues (foetal and adult) with self-renewal, multipotency and longevity properties. They are responsible for cellular regeneration within the gastrointestinal tract but also play an essential role in different GI pathologies (e.g., Barrett’s oesophagus).

A gastroenterologist’s guide to stem cells, by Simon Leedham and Stuart McDonalds, covers the basic definitions of stem cells and their different locations in the gastrointestinal tract, homeostasis, the role of stem cells in intestinal regeneration, metaplasia, and tumour heterogeneity. The course includes comprehensive PPT slides, and bespoke video presentations filmed in London in December 2022. Figures, schemes, and further readings are included for consideration. The combined material has a total duration of approximately 60 minutes. The estimated time needed to complete the course, including the final assessment, is 60 minutes.

Target audience

This course is suitable for gastroenterologists in training, but is also appropriate for nurses, basic scientist in gastroenterology, medical students with interest in gastroenterology as well as other physicians (oncology, regenerative medicine, research).

This course builds on foundational concepts to examine contemporary mechanisms driving GORD phenotypes. We revisit key epidemiological and clinical distinctions before exploring gastric physiology, including postprandial acid–bile dynamics, H. pylori-related acid output, motility patterns, obesity-related changes, and post-surgical anatomy. Oesophagogastric junction competence (LES pressure, TLESRs, hiatal hernia) and refluxate characteristics (acidic to gaseous; PPI-modified) are discussed with emphasis on symptom generation. We detail epithelial biology, micro- and macroinflammatory responses across NERD and erosive disease, and advances in nociceptive signalling, receptor expression, central modulation, and hypervigilance. Key clinical studies, cytokine-driven pathways, and emerging therapeutic approaches are highlighted. The course concludes with implications for diagnosis, phenotype-guided management, and outstanding research questions.

Building on the foundations covered in Part 1, this second course provides a deeper dive into the essential steps of guideline development. Participants will learn how to identify when a new guideline or statement is warranted, formulate focused clinical questions using PICO, and translate these into comprehensive search strategies. The course also covers the application of GRADE domains to assess evidence certainty, and guides learners through the Evidence-to-Decision framework. Finally, it clarifies the difference between good practice statements and formal guideline recommendations, ensuring participants gain the practical skills needed to contribute effectively to high-quality guideline development.

Target Audience:

• Healthcare professionals interested in developing guidelines
• Patients and stakeholders interested in understanding the process of guideline development