Mark Scott

Mark Scott has a BSc in Physiology and Biology, and was awarded a PhD in Physiology / Medicine from the University of London in 1998 for his work on “Prolonged monitoring of colonic motor activity by an ambulatory recording technique”. He has long experience, both clinical and academic, related to the physiological investigation of functional (primarily lower) gastrointestinal disorders, and was integral to setting up the GI Physiology Unit at the Royal London Hospital in 1994. He is now Co-Director of the Unit, together with Professor Daniel Sifrim. The Unit is internationally renowned, and provides a clinical service to more than 2,500 patients per year, which supplies the resources for aligned research; there are currently 20 full-time and affiliated staff members.

Mark is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications, 8 book chapters, and has recently been Guest Editor of 2 journal supplements dedicated to the subject of chronic constipation. Together with Mr Peter Lunniss and Mr Charles Knowles, he leads a flourishing research programme centered on clinical GI (principally colorectal) physiological investigation, involving the supervision of several research fellows. Originating in a fundamental philosophy of carefully phenotyping patients through comprehensive investigation, the group’s pioneering work on visceral hyposensitivity has gained international recognition. A further principal research interest, particularly through collaboration with Professor Ian Cook (Sydney) and Dr Phil Dinning (Adelaide), concerns assessment of pancolonic motor function using novel methodologies.

Research interests:

Neurogastroenterology and the physiological investigation of gastrointestinal sensorimotor function, both in health and disease;
The clinical impact of visceral hyposensitivity (impaired or blunted sensation);
Assessment of pan-colonic motor function;
Assessment and development of other novel methodologies for gastrointestinal function testing;
On the basis of detailed assessment (symptoms, clinical, physiological), to determine the effects of conventional and novel (e.g. sacral nerve stimulation) surgical procedures, and other therapies on disorders of colorectal function.

Publications:

Key publications:

Rao SS, Camilleri M, Hasler WL, Maurer AH, Parkman HP, Saad R, Scott MS, Simren M, Soffer E, Szarka L. Evaluation of gastrointestinal transit in clinical practice: position paper of the American and European Neurogastroenterology and Motility Societies. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2011: 23: 8-23.

Scott SM, van den Berg MM, Benninga MA. Rectal sensorimotor dysfunction in constipation. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2011: 25; 103-18.

Cook IJ, Talley NJ, Benninga MA, Rao SS, Scott SM. Chronic constipation: overview and challenges. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2009; 21 (Suppl 2): 1-8.

Scott SM, Gladman MA. Manometric, sensorimotor and neurophysiological evaluation of anorectal function. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2008; 37: 511-38

Chan CLH, Lunniss PJ, Wang D, Williams NS, Scott SM. Rectal sensorimotor dysfunction in patients with urge faecal incontinence: evidence from prolonged manometric studies. Gut 2005; 54: 1263-72.