Institute Update
New Research Leaders
Thomas Wilhelm is a systems biology expert from the Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena and the Jena Centre for Bioinformatics, Germany. His group analyses new static and dynamic structures in large-scale data sets and develops dynamic models to give mechanistic explanations for such patterns. A major co-investment is in progress involving IFR, John Innes Centre (JIC) and the University of East Anglia (UEA) which aims to make Norwich a leading centre for biomathematics.
Arnoud van Vliet graduated from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, where he also obtained his PhD in molecular microbiology. He carried out post-doctoral work in the Department of Genetics, University of Leicester where he worked on gene regulation in Campylobacter jejuni. In 2001 he became Lecturer at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the Erasmus MC - University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, leading research on pathogenesis of Helicobacter infections. He joins IFR to lead our work on Campylobacter.
Innovation
IFR
Innovation is the arm of the Institute responsible for exploitation and
knowledge transfer activities including our Exploitation
Platforms, Food and Health Network
and the development of intellectual property.
Dr Reg Wilson, former Head of Food Materials Science has been appointed to lead IFR Innovation. In addition, Reg is responsible for Science Operations at IFR and has over thirty years experience of food research.
‘IFR in the City’
 |
| Dame Deirdre Hutton |
Dame Deirdre Hutton, Chair of the Food Standards Agency presented the inaugural lecture in IFR's new outreach programme, IFR in the City. She delivered the Read Lecture, "Does Food Science Make Your Mouth Water?", as part of National Science Week, to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience of more than 150 at the Assembly House in Norwich.
Over a 40 year period, Bryan Read had a distinguished career in milling and the grain industry, and gave extraordinary service to science management. We were delighted that Bryan and several members of his family were able to join us, together with two former Directors of IFR.
Contact: David White
Although
Exploitation Platforms (see ‘
BIOTRACER brings
together mathematical modellers (such as those at IFR), rapid methods experts
and food chain engineers in a search for a clear understanding of bio-traceability,
despite the uncertainties and complexities within food chains. 
Dr
Brian Hills 
INRA
scientists Dr. Sophie Jeanson and her partner Dr. Didlier Dupont are
spending a year at IFR funded by Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships;
these aim at providing advanced training tailored to the researchers'
individual needs with a view to adding different/complementary scientific
competencies. 