The Princess Royal visits Quadram Institute

HRH the Princess Royal visited the Quadram Institute on 12 December to hear about its work in protecting and improving health.

The Quadram Institute opened in 2019 and combines a regional endoscopy centre, a clinical research facility and state-of-the-art bioscience laboratories with a mission to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food.

It’s a partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, our hospital, the University of East Anglia and the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

The institute brings together researchers, academics and NHS clinicians and during the tour, she spoke to over 60 members of staff and students who are working to address challenges in human health, food and disease.

She met Prof Martin Warren, Interim Director of the Quadram Institute, and was provided with a tour to learn how the elements of the Quadram Institute combine to provide excellent patient care as well as developing novel foods and microbiome therapies and strategies to improve lifelong wellbeing.

She visited the Endoscopy Unit, meeting Medical Director Bernard Brett and Chief Nurse Rachael Cocker, as well as clinical staff and some of the unit’s patients.

Next she met Jonathan Lartey, our Associate Medical Director for Research, who explained the work of the Clinical Research Facility, and staff, including the team planning a clinical trial on biofortified foods, along with Research Champions who have taken part in previous trials.

The tour also included the Quadram Institute Bioscience laboratories to learn about the cutting-edge research projects being undertaken. These include pioneering microbial transplantation therapies to re-balance the gut microbiome to combat diseases, as well as ways in which researchers are nutritionally enhancing plants and foods to improve our diets.

She also met UEA Vice-Chancellor, Prof David Maguire; CEO Prof Lesley Dwyer and Chair Tom Spink, then unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit in a ceremony attended by around 100 staff and students.

Martin Warren said: “It was a pleasure to be able to showcase not only how NHS staff are providing such excellent care to patients now, but also how the work of our researchers is going to help improve gut health and deliver heathier lives and foods in the future.”

Bernard Brett said: “We are very proud to have welcomed the Princess Royal to our Endoscopy Unit as part of her visit to the Quadram Institute. It was a great opportunity to showcase cutting-edge collaborative work that’s going on here in Norfolk to bring about improvements to patient care and treatment.”