The UEG Rising Star Award recognises early career achievements and provides a durable platform for young researchers to further evolve their careers. The awardees are selected based on a track record of international quality research and developing scientific independence. 

We are delighted to congratulate BSG members Dr Christopher Black and Dr Nurulamin Noor on being awarded the Rising Star Awards.

Dr Nuru Noor is a Clinical Lecturer in Gastroenterology at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals. In 2026 he has been selected for two highly prestigious international awards – including a UEG rising star award and the ECCO young researcher of the year. These prizes reflect his contributions to clinical care, leadership and high levels of research impact in gastroenterology, particularly in the field of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD).

He said “I am really honoured to receive these awards and would like to thank both the British Society of Gastroenterology and the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation for supporting my nomination for the UEG rising star award.

I would also like to highlight the huge influence and contributions of so many people who have provided personal and professional support and inspiration throughout my career including: many friends, peers, collaborators and colleagues. In many ways, these should really be team awards rather than for any one individual. In particular, the support and mentorship of Professor Miles Parkes, who himself has made a lifetime of contributions to the field, has been invaluable in helping to shape my clinical and academic development.

I especially feel fortunate to have worked with so many excellent people as part of the PROFILE trial, a project which has made a real difference in changing clinical practice and improving outcomes for patients both across the country and around the world. Throughout the remainder of my career, I hope to maintain this focus on translation to impact and benefit for patients, with the central goal of helping to improve the lives of people living with IBD.”

Dr Christopher Black is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the University of Leeds. Dr Black exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding early-career clinician-scientist: academic excellence, innovation, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia.

Dr Black’s academic track record is exceptional. His research has consistently appeared in the world’s highest-impact specialty journals, including Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Gut, often as first, last, or corresponding author. His 125 PubMed-indexed publications include landmark network meta-analyses that have shaped international understanding of treatment efficacy in IBS, psychological therapies, dietary interventions, and pharmacological approaches.

In parallel, Dr Black has directly influenced BSG clinical guidelines for IBS and functional dyspepsia, for which he served as co-author and joint first author respectively, further cementing his reputation as a trusted expert in evidence synthesis.

Beyond research output, Dr Black is a valued mentor and educator. He has successfully co-supervised a completed PhD, supervises multiple MD students, and has hosted visiting fellows from internationally renowned centres, facilitating their significant publication success. His dedication to peer review, editorial board roles (Associate Editor for Neurogastroenterology & Motility and Frontline Gastroenterology), and committee service within the BSG demonstrates his deep commitment to advancing the field.

Dr Black is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Sir Francis Avery Jones Research Award, among numerous other national honours. His H-index of 35, rapid citation accrual, and invitations to present at national and international meetings attest to both the quality and the influence of his work.

Crucially, Dr Black’s vision for the future is ambitious and impactful. His planned programme combines rigorous evidence synthesis, statistical modelling, and personalised care approaches to IBS, aiming to transform patient stratification and treatment.

Selected Rising Stars 2026 will receive their award on occasion of UEG Week 2026. The Rising Star status includes the following invitations and benefits: 

• Invitation to give a presentation in the core programme of UEG Week 2026, including a full UEG Week faculty package 
• Possible additional faculty tasks at UEG Week 2026 and involvement in future UEG Weeks (as abstract reviewer, speaker, etc.) 
• Continuous cooperation with UEG and the UEG Journal for our own as well as UEG-supported initiatives 

For those who are interested in the details and to view all of the 2026 winners, please have a look at the UEG Rising Star Awards website. We hope for more to be successful from their directorate in the future.