Summary
Professor Ailsa Hart is Director of St Mark’s Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research and Consultant Gastroenterologist. She is Sub-Dean of St Mark’s Hospital Academic Institute. In 2016, she achieved academic promotion with Imperial College and is now Professor of Practice.
Professor Ailsa Hart studied medicine at Oxford University and was awarded a First Class Honours Degree in 1992, together with the George Pickering Prize for Medicine and Surgery proxime accessit in 1995 and additional prizes for outstanding achievements. She achieved Membership of the Royal College of Physicians in 1998 and subsequently Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians. She trained in Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine in London and also received training at the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam. She achieved her PhD with Imperial College in 2005, funded by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship. She was appointed to the consultant staff of St Mark’s Hospital in 2008 and became a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London, having been awarded a highly competitive Clinical Senior Lectureship by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. She subsequently achieved the title Professor of Practice with Imperial College in 2016.
Her clinical work covers the spectrum of gastrointestinal diseases, with a particular interest in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. She interdigitates a busy clinical practice with research, both clinical trials in IBD and translational research. Her research interests focus on intestinal immunology and bacteriology, aiming to further our understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory intestinal disorders via clinical trials and translational research. She has links with laboratories within Imperial College, particularly metabolic profiling, bacteriology and mucosal immunology. She has piloted the innovative approach of faecal transplantation as a treatment for refractory pouchitis, funded by the Eli and Edyth Broad Foundation and has an ongoing research interest in the gut microbiome. Other particular research interests include pathogenesis of IBD, role of vitamin D, perianal Crohn’s disease, pouchitis and surveillance of IBD patients for dysplasia or colorectal cancer. She has supervised/ co-supervised over 20 higher degree students and lectures widely nationally and internationally.
She is currently Chair of the British Society of Gastroenterology Gut Microbiota for Health Group. She has been a member of the Clinical Committee of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO); is involved with writing the ulcerative colitis European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation guidelines; is on the IBD Clinical Research Group Committee for the British Society of Gastroenterology; UK Patient and Public Involvement Lead for Gastroenterology; on the Research Committee for the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity; collaborates widely across the UK particularly within the UK IBD Genetics Consortium; and is a member of the International Organisation for IBD (IOIBD), which is a group of approximately 50 top clinicians globally involved in IBD – she is only one of three members from the UK and the only UK woman involved.
She is Associate Editor of the popular gastroenterology journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, has published two books, with “Inflammatory Bowel Disease – an Evidence-based Practical Guide” selling over 8000 copies, and more than 130 papers and book chapters.
Feedback from patients: (on https://www.iwantgreatcare.org/doctors/dr-ailsa-hart): “Prof Hart is like IBD royalty - you just know you’re in the safest, most capable and best possible hands. There’s the National IBD Standards and then there’s the Ailsa Hart IBD care standards, which are even higher and unbeatable. I wish they could clone her so not just St Mark’s patients can be looked after by her”.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Al-Hassi HO, Bernardo D, Murugananthan AU, et al., 2013, A mechanistic role for leptin in human dendritic cell migration: differences between ileum and colon in health and Crohn's disease, Mucosal Immunology, Vol:6, ISSN:1933-0219, Pages:751-761
Bernardo D, Mann ER, Al-Hassi HO, et al., 2013, Lost therapeutic potential of monocyte-derived DC through lost tissue homing; stable restoration of gut specificity with retinoic acid, Clinical Experimental Immunology
Jostins L, Ripke S, Weersma RK, et al., 2012, Host-microbe interactions have shaped the genetic architecture of inflammatory bowel disease, Nature, Vol:491, ISSN:0028-0836, Pages:119-124
Mann ER, McCarthy NE, Peake STC, et al., 2012, Skin- and gut-homing molecules on human circulating γδ T cells and their dysregulation in inflammatory bowel disease, Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Vol:170, ISSN:0009-9104, Pages:122-130
Siddiqui MRS, Ashrafian H, Tozer P, et al., 2012, A Diagnostic Accuracy Meta-analysis of Endoanal Ultrasound and MRI for Perianal Fistula Assessment, Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, Vol:55, ISSN:0012-3706, Pages:576-585
Bernardo D, Vallejo-Díez S, Mann ER, et al., 2012, IL-6 controls the intestinal inflammation in human ulcerative colitis and mediates the conditioning of dendritic cells towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype with increased skin-homing phenotype and skin-imprinting capacity on T-cells, European Journal of Immunology
Benhorin S, Hart A, 2012, Doubling the infliximab dose versus halving the infusion intervals in Crohn's disease patients with loss of response, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Bernardo D, Mann ER, Al-Hassi HO, et al., 2012, Human gut-specific homeostatic dendritic cells are generated from blood precursors by the gut microenvironment., Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Vol:7, Pages:1275-1286
Peake STC, Bernardo D, Mann ER, et al., 2012, Mechanisms of action of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents in Crohn’s disease, Inflamm Bowel Dis
Tozer P, Ng SC, Siddiqui MR, et al., 2011, Long-term MRI-guided combined anti-TNFalpha and thiopurine therapy for Crohn’s perianal fistulas.
Ng SC, Benjamin JL, McCarthy NE, et al., 2011, Relationship Between Human Intestinal Dendritic Cells, Gut Microbiota, and Disease Activity in Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Vol:17, ISSN:1078-0998, Pages:2027-2037
Landy J, Al-Hassi HO, McLaughlin SD, et al., 2011, Aetiology of pouchitis
Landy J, Al-Hassi HO, McLaughlin SD, et al., 2011, Review article: faecal transplantation therapy for gastrointestinal disease, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Vol:34, ISSN:0269-2813, Pages:409-415
Benjamin JL, Hedin CRH, Koutsoumpas A, et al., 2011, Smokers with active Crohn’s disease have a clinically relevant dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal microbiota.
Walker DG, Williams HRT, Kane SP, et al., 2011, Differences in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Phenotype between South Asians and Northern Europeans Living in North West London, UK, American Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol:106, ISSN:0002-9270, Pages:1281-1289
Benjamin JL, Hedin CRH, Koutsoumpas A, et al., 2011, Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fructo-oligosaccharides in active Crohn's disease, Gut, Vol:60, ISSN:0017-5749, Pages:923-929
Walker DG, Williams HR, Kane SP, et al., 2011, Differences in inflammatory bowel disease phenotype between South Asians and North Europeans lining in North West London.
Tozer PJ, Burling D, Gupta A, et al., 2011, Review article: medical, surgical and radiological management of perianal Crohn's fistulas, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Vol:33, ISSN:0269-2813, Pages:5-22
Benjamin J, Hedin C, Koutsoumpas A, et al., 2011, Smokers with active Crohn's disease have a clinically relevant dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal microbiota, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Hart AL, Ng SC, Mann E, et al., 2010, Immune homing mechanisms – role in immune homeostasis and inflammation .
Hart AL, Ng SC, Mann E, et al., 2010, Homing of Immune Cells: Role in Homeostasis and Intestinal Inflammation, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Vol:16, ISSN:1078-0998, Pages:1969-1977
Tozer PJ, Burling D, Phillips RK, et al., 2010, Review Article: Medical, surgical and radiological management of perianal Crohn’s fistulas.
Ng SC, Plamondon S, Kamm MA, et al., 2010, Immunosuppressive Effects via Human Intestinal Dendritic Cells of Probiotic Bacteria and Steroids in the Treatment of Acute Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Vol:16, ISSN:1078-0998, Pages:1286-1298
Landy J, Al-Hassi HO, McLaughlin SD, et al., 2010, Review Article: Faecal Transplantation therapy for gastrointestinal diseases.
Hart AL, Ng SC, 2010, Review article: the optimal medical management of acute severe ulcerative colitis.
Benjamin JL, Heddin CRH, Koutsoumpas A, et al., 2010, A randomised, double blind placebo controlled trial of fructo-oligosaccharides in active Crohn’s disease
Ng SC, Benjamin JL, Hedin CRH, et al., 2010, The Relationship between Human Intestinal Dendritic Cells, Gut Microbiota and Disease Activity in Crohn’s Disease.
Despott EJ, Gupta A, Burling D, et al., 2009, Effective dilation of small-bowel strictures by double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with symptomatic Crohn's disease, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Vol:70, ISSN:0016-5107, Pages:1030-1036
Tozer PJ, Whelan K, Phillips RKS, et al., 2009, Etiology of Perianal Crohn's Disease: Role of Genetic, Microbiological, and Immunological Factors, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Vol:15, ISSN:1078-0998, Pages:1591-1598
Ng S, Hart AL, Kamm MA, et al., 2009, Mechanisms of action of probiotic bacteria – recent advances.
Hart AL, Plamondon S, Kamm MA, 2007, Topical tacrolimus in the treatment of perianal Crohn's disease: Exploratory randomized controlled trial, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Vol:13, ISSN:1078-0998, Pages:245-253
Hart AL, Al-Hassi HO, Rigby RJ, et al., 2005, Characteristics of intestinal dendritic cells in inflammatory bowel diseases, Gastroenterology, Vol:129, ISSN:0016-5085, Pages:50-65
Hart AL, Omar Al-Hassi H, Kamm MA, et al., 2005, Characteristics of intestinal dendritic cells in inflammatory bowel diseases
Hart AL, Lammers K, Brigidi P, et al., 2004, Modulation of human dendritic cell phenotype and function by probiotic bacteria, Gut, Vol:53, ISSN:0017-5749, Pages:1602-1609
Rayner CK, Hart AL, Hayward CMM, et al., 2004, Azathioprine dose escalation in inflammatory bowel disease, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Vol:20, ISSN:0269-2813, Pages:65-71
Hart AL, Kamm MA, Knight SC, et al., 2004, Quantitative and functional characteristics of intestinal-homing memory T cells: analysis of Crohn's disease patients and healthy controls, Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Vol:135, ISSN:0009-9104, Pages:137-145
Hart AL, Kamm MA, Knight S, et al., 2004, Prospective evaluation of intestinal homing memory T cells in ulcerative colitis.
AL Hart, MA Kamm, SC Knight, et al., 2004, Prospective evaluation of intestinal homing memory T cells in ulcerative colitis, Inflam. Bowel Dis, Vol:10, Pages:496-503
Hart AL, Kamm MA, Knight S, et al., 2004, Quantitative and functional characteristics of intestinal homing memory T-cells: analysis of Crohn’s disease patients and healthy controls.
Stagg AJ, Hart AL, Knight SC, et al., 2003, The dendritic cell: its role in intestinal inflammation and relationship with gut bacteria, Gut, Vol:52, ISSN:0017-5749, Pages:1522-1529
Stagg AJ, Hart AL, Kamm MA, et al., 2003, The dendritic cell: its role in intestinal inflammation and relationship with gut bacteria.
Hart A, Kamm MA, 2002, Review article: mechanisms of initiation and perpetuation of gut inflammation by stress, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Vol:16, ISSN:0269-2813, Pages:2017-2028
Hart AL, Stagg AJ, Frame M, et al., 2002, Review article: the role of the gut flora in health and disease, and its modification as therapy, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Vol:16, ISSN:0269-2813, Pages:1383-1393
Hart A, Kamm MA, 1997, An extraordinary cause of megacolon, Lancet, Vol:350
Kellet CF, Hart AL, Price CJ, et al., 1996, Poor recall performance of journal-browsing doctors
Hart AL, Kellett C, Price C, et al., 1996, Poor recall performance of journal browsing doctors, Lancet, Vol:348
Books
Hart AL, Ng SC, 2011, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, T.F.M. Publications, ISBN:9781903378823
Hart AL, 2002, Gut ecology, Informa HealthCare, ISBN:9781841841397
Conference
Walker DG, Williams HRT, Padaruth S, et al., 2009, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN CAUCASIAN AND UK SOUTH ASIAN PATIENTS: DIFFERENCE IN CLINICAL PHENOTYPE, Annual Meeting of the British-Society-of-Gastroenterology, B M J PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages:A60-A60, ISSN:0017-5749