All Blogs...
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...
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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...
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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...
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18th March 2021
What are cruciferous vegetables and why are they so special?
Blog 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...
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22nd February 2021
Basics of phage genome annotation and classification – how to get started
Isolating a new bacteriophage (or phage), a virus that infects bacteria, is for many students their first venture into microbiology. Once you can see that first lysis zone or plaque on a lawn of bacteria, you know you’re in for an exciting scientific journey....
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16th February 2021
Four Ways to Make Pancakes Healthier
Most of us love pancakes but tucking into a plateful might not be the healthiest. So, how can you get the best of both worlds? 1. Substituting the flour Changing or substituting some of the flour in a pancake recipe has the potential to...
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14th February 2021
Polyphenols, chocolates and apples: How to mend a broken heart
Dr Priscilla Day-Walsh Chocolates or flowers for Valentines? How about an apple?! Both apples and chocolates are considered gifts from gods. After all, the Trojan war would never have happened were it not for an apple being offered to Aphrodite in return for “the...
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8th February 2021
Student Volunteering: My Experience at the Quadram
Volunteering can be an incredibly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. Gabriel Astorga is a third-year undergraduate student studying Biomedicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA). He reflects on his time volunteering at the Quadram Institute and the valuable skills he gained. Who?...
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2nd February 2021
The Quadram sequences 10,000th COVID-19 sample
Professor Justin O’Grady and Dr Andrew Page Our work on the genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has just reached a major landmark as we successfully sequenced our 10,000th positive sample at the Quadram Institute in Norwich. It is hardly a cause for celebration given the...
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26th January 2021
Mapping the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Zimbabwe using genomic epidemiology
Today’s announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock of UK support with genomics expertise to help other countries identify new COVID-19 variants comes as researchers at the Quadram Institute outline their work supporting scientists in Zimbabwe. Today’s UK government announcement of the New Variant Assessment...
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