Blogs

24th June 2021

COG-UK research portfolio expands to increase impact from genome data

COG-UK consortium members have made major contributions to the pandemic response through the generation of SARS-CoV-2 genomes, the development of sequencing methods and tools that interpret the genomes, and data linkage and analysis. But there is a wealth of research and development still to...

15th June 2021

COVID-19: How are new variants named?

Quadram Institute researcher Professor Mark Pallen was part of a WHO working group on creating neutral variant names of SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, he describes how he came to be involved in the team and the pitfalls they encountered along...

1st June 2021

Digesting the facts about milk and health

Food scientist and researcher Dr Anabel Mulet-Cabero is an expert on the impact of dairy structures on gastric behaviour and nutrient digestion. For World Milk Day, Dr Mulet-Cabero digests the facts about milk and health, revealing exactly how milk is digested in the human...

20th May 2021

Rising to the challenge: managing clinical trials during a pandemic

Clinical trials are vital in making research breakthroughs possible. At the Quadram Institute, hundreds of people each year participate in our trials to be part of scientific research. But what happens when a pandemic causes a worldwide disruption? International Clinical Trials Day is a...

4th May 2021

Meet the new Quadram Student Forum (QSF) committee

The Quadram Institute is home to a vibrant student community. At the heart of our student community is the Quadram Student Forum (QSF). We asked the new committee for 2021-22 about the QSF, joining amidst a pandemic, upcoming events, and what life is like...

21st April 2021

Variants of concern dominate evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Zimbabwe

The worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern has highlighted the urgent need for truly global vigilance in a world where less than 5% of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced to date are from countries with 80% of the world’s population. In our recent correspondence...

1st April 2021

Four scientific innovations that sound like a hoax, but are surprisingly real

Today’s global health challenges require new, innovative ways of thinking. ‘Sci-fi’-esque technology is increasingly being developed and deployed to improve public health. While some of these scientific innovations may sound like a hoax and cause initial scepticism, they are real and enabling Quadram scientists...

29th March 2021

Lockdown One Year On: Fascinating stories from the Quadram community

March 2021 marks one year from the first UK lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the ensuing 12 months, our daily lives have changed – almost beyond recognition. We asked our Quadram community to share one item that summarises their year from...

22nd March 2021

Mental Wealth: A PhD candidate’s guide to promoting mental wellbeing during COVID-19

By Claire Elek  As humans, our experiences and interaction with others shape who we are as individuals, being tightly bound to our own sense of self. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us into a more isolated and hermit-like existence, making it incredibly...

18th March 2021

What are cruciferous vegetables and why are they so special?

By Federico Bernuzzi Have you ever cooked cauliflower or cabbage? Have you ever thought about what that strong and distinctive smell was? Well, that is exactly the sulphur molecules (the glucosinolates) in the cruciferous vegetables that are being broken down. Cruciferous Vegetables, also known as...