Dr Charlie Lees

Dr Charlie Lees is a gastroenterologist at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. He trained at University College London and subsequently in Edinburgh, with doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh. He works as a full-time NHS consultant whilst maintaining a full research programme and a portfolio of local and international speaking activities. He specialises in the management of people with inflammatory bowel disease and is pursuing a range of innovative digital solutions to transform patient care and education.

Following a decade of gene discovery in IBD, Dr Lees’ current research interests focus on the role of environmental factors, including diet, and the microbiota on disease flare and natural history. He is Chief Investigator of the PREdiCCt study, currently recruiting 3000 people with IBD in clinical remission from across the UK. PREdiCCt aims to discover how diet, environmental factors, the gut microbiota and host genetics influence disease flare. He also leads the UK arm of the GEM study, a major international study investigating the underlying cause of Crohn’s disease.

Charlie has been centrally involved with the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation over the last 10 years, and is the Chief Scientist Office Scottish Specialty Lead for Gastroenterology. HE co-chairs the International IBD Genetics Consortium management committee and sits on the British Society of Gastroenterology IBD Research Committee. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious UEG European Rising Star in Gastroenterology Award.