This year we’ve published 41 blogs covering our research, impact and careers of our scientists, staff and students.

Our scientists shared their expertise on topics ranging from food safety to the fungi living in our gut. Throughout the autumn we had a series of blogs shining the spotlight on some of the many microbes we study here at the Quadram Institute, from those found in food to those that grow in our gut.

We’ve also learnt, through our blogs, what our staff and students have been up to beyond research. Our researchers and support staff have been busy building business skills, supporting more sustainable practices in the institute and inspiring illustration students.

Our most read blogs published in 2023, by webpage views, cover plant-based nutrition, careers and gut microbes.

The global group understanding vitamin B12’s role in our health

Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient important for our health.

Our most popular blog from 2023 focuses on the researchers and clinicians collaborating across the globe to understand and raise awareness of the health impacts associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. The group was co-founded by the Quadram Institute’s Professor Martin Warren who studies the chemistry and biology of vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is particularly common in people who have plant-based diets. So, if you’re taking part in Veganuary in the new year, make sure to follow the groups recommendations if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet.

On the topic of vitamin B12 and plant-based diets, our HARVEST study is currently looking for menstruating vegan or vegetarian women, at least 18 years old, living within 40 miles of Norwich and in good health to take part. The study is investigating the use of hydroponically grown, biofortified salad greens, and use of a dietary app, on vitamin B12 and iron status.

Why do peas cause gas?

Our second most viewed blog of the year puts the spotlight on peas and in particular the parts of peas responsible for passing wing.

Aryana Zardkoohi-Burgos is an EDESIA PhD student investigating the role of raffinose family of oligosaccharide sugars in plants and on gas production by the gut microbiome. Aryana explains her research looking for peas that could promote beneficial gut bacteria while limiting gas production.

What is resistant starch and why is it good for us?

Continuing the plant theme, another of our top blogs of the year is on the topic of resistant starch, a form of plant-based dietary fibre in our food that’s good for our health.

The blog covers why resistant starch is good for us, how we digest it and our research developing foods with more resistant starch.

Anny Camargo’s Columbian research on Clostridium perfringens

At the Quadram Institute, we welcome researchers from across the globe. In 2023, Dr Anny Camargo Mancipe a Colombian medical doctor visited Professor Lindsay Hall’s group to learn new techniques for studying Clostridium perfringens bacteria.

Clostridium perfringens can cause food poisoning, intestinal necrosis and tissue disease in humans and animals.

Anny explains why a one health approach is important to study Clostridium perfringens and her work communicating her scientific research to communities in Colombia.

Gut Microbiome; meet Ruminococcus gnavus

Another microbe that features in our top five blogs of 2023, is Ruminoccocus gnavus.

The bacteria are one of the many microbes found in our gut microbiome. Professor Nathalie Juge explains the complex role of Ruminoccocus gnavus in the gut microbiome and its impact on our health and disease.

Other 2023 blog highlights

Along with our blog on Ruminoccocus gnavus, we published many microbial blogs in autumn 2023, following International Microorganisms Day on 17 September.

We’ve shared blogs on bacteria including Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Staphylococci , Campylobacter, and sulfur-reducing bacteria like Desulfovibrio diazotrophicus and Bilophila wadsworthia. More recently, Dr Eleftheria Trampari and Dr Samuel Bloomfield described how Norwich is a hub of research into the fascinating bacteria Pseudomonas.

One of fungi experts Dr Steve James took us on a fungal foray too. We learnt about the gut mycobiome and the science of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast key to brewing and baking.

On the topic of food, our Food & Nutrition National Bioscience Infrastructure team penned several blogs covering food composition ranging from the nutritional contents of a cappuccino to how to get omega-3 in your diet. Plus, our food structure expert Professor Pete Wilde explains the current complexities with media hot topic of Ultra Processed Food and why not all UPFs are unhealthy.

Science is international. We spoke to Venezuelan Research Scientist Dr Ana Victoria Gutiérrez about her career journey that has taken her from the Amazonian jungle to the cutting-edge laboratories of the Quadram Institute.

The diversity of scientists working not only at the Quadram Institute, but across Norwich Research Park, is celebrated through the What is Scientist? Exhibition created by our researcher Dr Emma Waters. Emma shared her inspiration behind the exhibition which aims to show that a science career can be for anyone whatever their background, and how outreach inspired a career in science. PhD Student Xena Dyball shared how public engagement inspired her journey into research too, through the work of the Science Art and Writing (SAW) Trust.

There are many other brilliant blogs we’ve published in 2023 from our staff and students, and we thank everyone for their contributions. If you have an idea for a blog or a topic you’d like to learn more about get in touch with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.