Research

Dr Ahmad’s research focus is about the performance of high quality colonoscopy to optimise patient outcomes.  He has a particular interest in improving efficiency in colonoscopy as well as optical and AI assisted optical diagnosis.  His earlier research about bariatric surgery made headline news in 2018. He has published widely and has presented at a range of national and international conferences.  In 2024, he was elected as a member of the BSG Endoscopy Clinical Research Group to help support endoscopy research in the UK.

Research projects

Efficiency in Colonoscopy has been the theme of his most recent programme of research exploring how the colonoscopy procedure can be optimised throughout the patient pathway.  This involved 5 major research projects exploring:

1. Bowel preparation

Publication

Study question:

Can same-day Plenvu offer more efficient bowel preparation compared with standard regimens?

Key outcome:

  • Plenvu supports delivery of more efficient bowel preparation – lower volume & effective

2. Insertion technique

Publication

Study question:

Is a ‘hybrid’ insertion technique more efficient than water exchange?

Key outcome:

  • Evidence to support more effective colonoscopy insertion technique

3. Polyp detection

Publication

Study question:

Do CADe systems improve polyp detection in a BCSP setting?

Key outcome:

  • Highlights potential limitations in the use of CADe systems

4. Optical diagnosis

Publication – Main
Publication – Improving accuracy
Publication – Economic analysis

Study question:

Is optical diagnosis with a “resect and discard” strategy feasible and safe?

Key outcome:

  • Led to adoption of resect and discard by NHS England – a world first

5. Post colonoscopy colorectal cancer

Publication

Study question:

What causes PCCRC and is national data validated by local root cause analysis?

Key outcome:

  • Highlighted importance of IBD and limitations of population based studies

Publications

A summary of the latest journal publications is available here.

Find out more

If you would like to learn more about this research, explore opportunities to collaborate or are interested in undertaking a research fellowship at St Mark’s National Bowel Hospital please get in touch.