[1][2] In 1970, the Council of the British Society of Gastroenterology first considered founding a charity to promote research in this speciality.
A steering group, chaired by their President at the time, Dr Nelson Coghill, compiled facts and figures which established the importance of digestive disorders as a national health problem.
Dr Thomas Hunt, a founder member of the British Society of Gastroenterology, agreed to launch the new charity.
By 1974 its funds were sufficient to award the first research fellowship and to inaugurate the charity as a Foundation with Hunt as its first President.
Important landmarks during this time were the appointment of the first full-time director, expansion of research support and the development of the successful patient information programme.