The Quadram Institute Clinical Seedcorn Fund was first established in 2021/2022 to help clinicians develop research ideas with scientists at the Quadram Institute. The fund supports secondments of NHS staff to Quadram Institute laboratories and associated research costs.

Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB) in partnership with the Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity have provided £100,000 each to jointly fund £200,000 of new collaborative clinical research projects:

• REMISSION Study: Gut Microbiome, Antimicrobial Resistance and Micronutrient Status in Childhood Cancer Survivors – Dr Emma Webb (QI/NNUH) and Dr Chris Thoroughgood (NNUH)
• VALET study: Vaginal virome AnaLysis in Endometriosis and termination of pregnancy patients – Dr Revathy Krishnamurthy (QI) and Mr Thomas Gray (NNUH)
• Development of novel therapies for chronic kidney disease patients – Prof Rob Kingsley (QI) and Dr Mahzuz Karim (NNUH)
• Retinal Biomarkers of Visual Disturbances in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Dr Katharine Seton (QI) and Mr Colin Jones (NNUH)
• Effect of diet in Microbiota and Host immune profile in Colorectal Cancer – Dr Dimitra Lamprinaki (QI and Mr James Hernon (NNUH)

Applications were assessed by a panel drawn from across NNUH, QIB and the UEA and considered applications for potential patient benefit, quality, feasibility, extent of collaboration, innovation and value for money.

Rachel Backshall, Director of the N&N Hospitals Charity, said: “The hospital is one of the four partners in the Quadram Institute and working together the Partnership is serving to increase knowledge and deliver benefits for our patients. This is important work and the Charity is delighted to be supporting the research and innovation of NNUH clinicians working alongside scientists from the Quadram Institute.”

Quadram Institute Director Prof Daniel Figeys said, “It’s great to see NNUH clinicians working with scientists at the Quadram to understand more about some of the clinical challenges they face daily, and how we can understand and then tackle them for the benefit of patients.”