Noel Thin
Clinical Research Fellow

Noel trained at Guy's, King's and St. Thomas's Medical School, London gaining the Rayne Institute Elective Prize in 2003. He graduated inv2004 with MBBS (distinction in special studies) and an intercalated BSc (Hons). He worked as a doctor in Bromley Hospital before becoming an Anatomy Demonstrator at Bristol University. From there he followed his interest in surgery and undertook his Basic Surgical Training in Birmingham and London, successfully gaining his MRCS in 2008. His interest in Colorectal Surgery led him to the Academic Surgical Unit at The Royal London Hospital where he is a Clinical Research Fellow with a specialist interest in the clinical effectiveness of Sacral Nerve Stimulation.

Project: A randomised mixed methods pilot trial of sacral and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence

Faecal incontinence causes significant social and psychological disability and is associated with high economic costs for both the NHS and patients. Treatment for resistant FI is very challenging with no universally accepted approaches. Two new treatments called sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) use a strategy called “neuromodulation”, where the nerves controlling the bowel are either directly or indirectly treated by chronic electrical stimulation. I will be carrying out a single centre randomised controlled trail using mixed methods data collection to assess the objective and subjective, clinical and cost effectiveness of these two novel therapies. The results of this trial will provide valuable pilot information which can further advise the implementation of a larger multicentre trial.