Andrew Wakefield

Dr Andrew Wakefield was a researcher who was the first to suggest that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) combined vaccine might be linked to an increased risk of autism and bowel disorders. He was at the time a reader in experimental gastroenterology at London's Royal Free Hospital. He said he had evidence that children's behaviour changed drastically shortly after they received the MMR jab. He said: "This is a genuinely new syndrome and urgent further research is needed to determine whether MMR may give rise to this complication in a small number of people."

Dr Wakefield theorised that the combination of the three virus strains contained in MMR may overload the body's immune system and cause the bowel disorder to develop.