• Epigenetics, folates and the human gut
  May 2012
  IFR is exploring epigenetic changes in cells that line the human gut, which are linked to our vulnerability to developing cancer. Here, Professor Ian Johnson comments on DNA methylation, and on a new study from Nigel Belshaw’s group which suggests that prolonged exposure to increased, supra-nutritional doses of folic acid may cause these epigenetic changes in human cells.
• UK-Vietnam Workshop on Biofuels
  April 2012
  Professor Keith Waldron has attended a UK-Vietnam Workshop on Biofuels, sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the British Embassy. Vietnam is a centre of rice growing and production, and the waste rice straw from this could represent a significant source of biofuels.
• Beneforte broccoli finalist in national innovation competition
  April, 2012
  Professor Richard Mithen of the Institute of Food Research was a finalist in the BBSRC Innovator of the Year Awards for the development of Beneforte broccoli, a consumer product from UK plant research.
• Exposure to stomach acid primes Campylobacter for intestinal infection
  April 2012
  New research from IFR shows that not only does the major foodborne cause of gastroenteritis Campylobacter have ways of surviving the acidity in the stomach, it responds and adapts to the acidic environment making it better able to colonise the intestine and enter host cells there.
• New research to study toxin-producing E. coli strain
  February 2012
  Research led by Dr Stephanie Schüller at IFR and the University of East Anglia on the Norwich Research Park is to look at how strains of toxin-producing E. coli bacteria infect our bodies and cause life-threatening conditions. A better understanding of these strains will help to develop new ways of preventing the devastating effects these foodborne pathogens can have.
• Understanding how bacteria come back from the dead
  February 2012
  New research involving a team of scientists from the Institute of Food Research has taken a detailed look at what Salmonella does when it enters a new environment, which could provide clues to finding new ways of reducing transmission through the food chain and preventing human illness.
• Finding Campylobacter’s weakness
  January 2012
  Research at IFR led has combined experimental with mathematical modelling work to identify key genes and metabolic pathways needed for growth and survival of Campylobacter.
• Investment in bioscience skills and training to help meet economic and social challenges for the future
  January 2012
  IFR is part of a consortium of research institutes on the Norwich Research Park that are to receive almost £4million of new funding from BBSRC to support the training of the next generation of scientists. The investment will fund 39 PhD students through a Doctoral Training Partnership award.

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