Colin J Crooks

Colin J Crooks is a Clinical Associate Professor in Gastroenterology at the University of Nottingham's Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences and an Honorary Consultant Gastroenterologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. His academic career spans over 15 years with continuous appointments at the University of Nottingham since 2008, progressing through various research and clinical roles.

His educational background includes a BMBS and BMedSci (Hons) from the University of Nottingham, followed by an MSc in Epidemiology (Distinction) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and additional postgraduate qualifications in Statistics from the University of Sheffield. His PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health was completed at the University of Nottingham.

Crooks' research focuses on gastrointestinal epidemiology with particular expertise in colorectal cancer screening, faecal immunochemical testing (FIT), liver disease epidemiology, and gastrointestinal bleeding. His work combines advanced statistical methods with large anonymized routine healthcare datasets to address critical questions in gastroenterological practice. Recent publications demonstrate his leadership in developing diagnostic algorithms for colorectal cancer and investigating health disparities in gastrointestinal care.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on diagnostic innovation in colorectal cancer (7 articles), liver disease epidemiology (4 articles), and methodological advancements in gastrointestinal research (4 articles). His work frequently employs large population datasets from England and international collaborations, particularly with Danish researchers.

• MRC Centenary Award (2012-2013)
• Multiple competitive grants from NIHR, Medical Research Council, and specialty charities including Coeliac UK and Crohn's & Colitis UK
• Principal investigator for significant projects including HIFITS, COLOFIT, and research on carbohydrate maldigestion

Crooks serves as a principal investigator for multiple major grants totaling millions in funding, with current projects focusing on optimizing faecal immunochemical testing, improving FODMAP tolerance, and studying genetic carbohydrate maldigestion. His extensive peer review activity across 26 publications/grants demonstrates his standing in the field, with particular emphasis on Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics and other leading gastroenterology journals. He leads research within the Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across clinical medicine, epidemiology, and data science.