London university launches study into 'poo transplants'

A university is examining whether so-called "poo transplants" can help people suffering from advanced liver disease.

King's College London - which is one of London's leading universities - has launched a clinical trial that will look at whether freeze-dried faeces capsules can help people suffering from advanced liver disease.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHCR) explains: "Patients with cirrhosis are very susceptible to infections, antibiotics become ineffective and patients may become infected with 'super bugs'. There is an urgent need for antibiotic-free approaches."

The organisation has also explained how the study will work.

The NIHCR said: "We will perform a clinical trial to test whether treating patients with FMT capsules will reduce the likelihood of them getting an infection by measuring the time it takes to develop an infection resulting in hospital admission. This will be compared to a 'dummy' capsule that contains no FMT (placebo)."