“I’m currently a postdoctoral researcher here at the Quadram Institute. My day-to-day research is looking at bacteriophages, which are viruses that can infect and kill bacteria, and how they can be used as therapeutics in both humans and animals.

A lot of the research we do here at the Quadram Institute is focussed on food safety and foodborne pathogens, which are microbes that contaminate food and can cause illness when ingested.

My PhD research sought to understand why Salmonella can survive in the food processing environment, but I’ve always been interested in animal health and I studied Bioveterinary Science for my undergraduate degree, so the spinout incorporates two of my main passions; Salmonella and animal health and welfare.

Developing Quadlytics

I’m now transitioning into entrepreneurship and we are hoping to spinout a company called Quadlytics, which aims to develop highly efficacious bacteriophage cocktails by incorporating functional genomics in their design to treat priority pathogens in animals.

The research started a couple of years ago in Professor Rob Kinglsey and Dr Evelien Adriaenssens’s groups, and was spearheaded by a previous PhD student who was involved in filing a patent for the technology. The patent is now pending and will be an integral part of the spinout.

Learning about spinouts

Last year I participated in an 8-week spinout discovery workshop run by the UEA, and this really allowed me to learn what spinning out a company entails, what’s involved in setting up a company and tips on securing investment.

I’ve really enjoyed learning lots of new skills and meeting inspirational entrepreneurs on the research park. Spinning out a company is very different to my day job working in the lab, so it was a very steep learning curve.

Taking part and winning the Norwich Research Park Hothouse competition was a fantastic learning opportunity. It was great that Quadlytics was shortlisted in the #21 to Watch 2026 innovation showcase for Cambridge and the East of England too.

Tackling Salmonella infections in pigs

My undergraduate studies were in Bioveterinary Science, my PhD research was focussed on Salmonella and now my postdoctoral research has been on bacteriophages. Quadlyltics, brings all of my experience together into one spinout company, so I’m excited to see what the future holds for the company.

The first product in development will be for treating Salmonella in pigs because there’s a huge Salmonella burden in pigs in the UK especially.

If we can eliminate Salmonella presence in pigs, then the bacteria will be less likely to enter the food chain and contaminate pork products.

So, we’re aiming to get rid of the Salmonella at the source to help make food safer to eat.

Reducing antibiotic use

We’re hoping to reduce antimicrobial usage in livestock, improve animal health and welfare and ultimately improve food safety.

Our bacteriophage therapeutics can be used as an alternative to antimicrobials.

There’s projected to be a 40% increase in antibiotic use in agriculture by the year 2040, which will increase the antimicrobial resistance threat we’re facing. There’s a really urgent need for alternatives to antibiotics and we think that bacteriophages could be the solution.”

Looking ahead and entrepreneurial support across Norwich Research Park

We’re currently applying for lots of grant funding to further this research and we’re also going to be looking at raising private investment towards the end of the year.

I hope that in the next couple of months we’ll be in a position to be able to launch the company as a spinout.

There are so many opportunities here on the Norwich Research Park to learn entrepreneurial and business skills. I’ve been overwhelmed with the offering of support from people who have experience in starting companies and are willing to help me on this venture, so I’m very grateful to them for all of their help so far.”