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United Kingdom 
Falk Foundation / Guts UK awards
At Falk Foundation, looking to the future is a vital part of what we do. That’s why we are passionate about encouraging and supporting the next generation of HCPs who may be considering building their careers in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Created in partnership with Guts UK, the Awards have been established with the specific aim of encouraging and rewarding medical students and healthcare professionals with a research interest in gastroenterology and hepatology.
The 2025 awards winners were announced during the BSG 2025 Annual Meeting in Glasgow on June 24th .
The entries for the 2026 Falk Foundation / Guts UK Awards are now open and will close on February 2nd 2026 at 5pm.
Highlights from the 2025 Awards event can be viewed below.
Awards History
Founded in 2006 and first set winners announced in 2007, at the time called Dr. Falk/Guts UK Awards, in partnership with the British Society of Gastroenterology, have been proudly rewarding and supporting medical students, junior doctors, specialist nurses, dietitians and pharmacists working in research or service quality improvement by providing prize money, grants and peer acknowledgement to the talented and dedicated winners.
After initially offering the competition to junior doctors and medical students, in 2012, Dr. Falk extended the awards to recognise the specialist nurses who are committed to improving the care and services for their IBD/ gastroenterology or hepatology patients. The winners of each category receive financial support to enable them to continue with their chosen work as well as a chance to network and share their passion with their peers or other experts in the therapy area.
To celebrate 10 years of collaboration Guts UK and Dr. Falk Pharma introduced a new award for Specialist Gastroenterology / Hepatology Registrars during the BSG Annual Meeting in 2017.
In 2023, with the aim to recognise and further support the increasingly important role of pharmacists within the integrated healthcare teams, Dr. Falk Pharma UK and Guts UK have introduced a new pharmacist award. A £1,000 prize is awarded to a pharmacist who has developed a service which offers a quality improvement for patients accessing healthcare..
In 2025, the Falk Foundation has been established in the UK and Ireland and the awards have been renamed to Falk Foundation / Guts UK Awards.
For inspiration, you can view the individual winning project summaries from previous years.
The award categories
A £1,000 prize
Medical Student Essay Award
- A £1,000 prize for the best essay on gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) research personally undertaken by medical students studying in the UK who were on an intercalated BSc/MRes/MSc/MPH/MD/MBPhD* course during the previous academic year (2024/25) and are completing their medical training in the UK.
*PhD students should note that they may apply for the medical student prize only once during their three-year studentship and that they may apply for the essay prize when their PhD has been completed.
Four £1,500 prizes
Student Award
- Four £1,500 prizes for current medical students taking full-time science degrees in the UK (BSc/MRes/MSc/MPH/MD/MBPhD*) focusing on gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) in the current academic year (2025/26).
*PhD students should note that they may apply for the medical student prize only once during their three-year studentship and that they may apply for the essay prize when their PhD has been completed.
Two £2,500 awards
F1/F2 & Internal Medicine Trainee Award
- Two £2,500 awards for UK-based F1/F2 and Internal Medicine Trainee Doctors to facilitate prospective research in an area relevant to gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology).
A £1,000 prize
Nurse Recognition Award
- A £1,000 prize for UK-based primary and secondary care nurses working in gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) for initiatives that have improved patient care. Guts UK and Falk Foundation want to encourage nurses to apply. We would also like to invite colleagues to nominate nurses to this award as well. Colleagues can email research@gutscharity.org.uk with the name of their nominee and a brief explanation of why they want to put their colleague forward. Guts UK will then contact the nominee to encourage the potential applicant.
A £1,000 prize
Dietitian Recognition Award
- A £1,000 prize for UK-based dietitians working in gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) for initiatives that have improved patient care.
Up to £10,000
Higher Speciality Trainee Audit / Quality Improvement Award
Up to £10,000 is available for UK-based gastroenterology Higher Speciality Trainees (prev. Specialty Registrars) who hold a National Training Number and would like to conduct an audit or quality improvement project in any area of gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) or nutrition.
Refer to the Guts UK webpage for the Higher Specialty Trainee Award’s for eligibility criteria and ensure you have raised any pertinent issues with relevant staff.
Pharmacy Recognition Award
- A £1,000 prize for UK-based pharmacists working in gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) in primary and secondary care who have developed programmes and initiatives that have improved patient care in some capacity.
A £1,000 prize
Find Out More
Guts UK was founded in 1970 as the charity arm of the British Society of Gastroenterology.
Guts UK’s focus and vision is of a world where digestive disorders are better understood, better treated and everyone who lives with a disease of the gut, liver and pancreas gets the support they need.