Regulation of Metabolic Homeostasis
Lead Research Organisation:
QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The overall aim of Theme 4 is to provide a mechanistic understanding for the manner by which non-nutrient food and microbiota-derived food metabolites regulate the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates and modulate overall energy expenditure to maintain and improve health. We will do that by focusing on the two major metabolic organs: the liver, where the transient influx of high concentrations of these metabolites will be exerting ‘first-pass’ effects on lipid and glucose metabolism following their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, and the organ-associated and peripheral adipocytes, where bioactive compounds can impact on energy sensing and expenditure.
We will use human cell lines but also appropriate animal models to elucidate the role of nrf2 and sirt1 as the mediators of energy metabolism by food and their metabolites. In particular, we will use novel genome editing techniques by CRISPR/Cas9 in human hepatocytes, as well as sirt1 knockdown and overexpressed mouse models, developed in QIB.
In addition, we will undertake human intervention studies with stably labelled fatty acids to enable quantification of hepatic and whole body fatty acid oxidation and lipid synthesis, in response to different diets developed in Theme 1. By combining the results obtained at the cellular and organ levels, we will gain a clear understanding of how diets regulate systemic metabolic homeostasis.
We will use human cell lines but also appropriate animal models to elucidate the role of nrf2 and sirt1 as the mediators of energy metabolism by food and their metabolites. In particular, we will use novel genome editing techniques by CRISPR/Cas9 in human hepatocytes, as well as sirt1 knockdown and overexpressed mouse models, developed in QIB.
In addition, we will undertake human intervention studies with stably labelled fatty acids to enable quantification of hepatic and whole body fatty acid oxidation and lipid synthesis, in response to different diets developed in Theme 1. By combining the results obtained at the cellular and organ levels, we will gain a clear understanding of how diets regulate systemic metabolic homeostasis.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
Publications
Aboufarrag H
(2022)
No Effect of Isolated Anthocyanins from Bilberry Fruit and Black Rice on LDL Cholesterol or other Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults with Elevated Cholesterol: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Trial.
in Molecular nutrition & food research
Anacleto SL
(2020)
Citrus flavanone metabolites protect pancreatic-ß cells under oxidative stress induced by cholesterol.
in Food & function
Bernuzzi F
(2023)
Sulforaphane rewires central metabolism to support antioxidant response and achieve glucose homeostasis.
in Redox biology
Chambers KF
(2019)
Polyphenol Effects on Cholesterol Metabolism via Bile Acid Biosynthesis, CYP7A1: A Review.
in Nutrients
Coode-Bate J
(2019)
Accumulation of Dietary S-Methyl Cysteine Sulfoxide in Human Prostate Tissue.
in Molecular nutrition & food research
Csepregi R
(2018)
A One-Step Extraction and Luminescence Assay for Quantifying Glucose and ATP Levels in Cultured HepG2 Cells.
in International journal of molecular sciences
Davidson R
(2023)
AB1194 A PROOF OF PRINCIPLE DIETARY INTERVENTION TRIAL TO EXAMINE THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF BROCCOLI BIOACTIVES, (SPECIFICALLY SULFORAPHANE), ON OSTEOARTHRITIS
in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Day P
(2019)
Inhibitors of DAG metabolism suppress CCR2 signalling in human monocytes.
in British journal of pharmacology
Day-Walsh P
(2021)
The use of an in-vitro batch fermentation (human colon) model for investigating mechanisms of TMA production from choline, L-carnitine and related precursors by the human gut microbiota.
in European journal of nutrition
| Title | Blog on Plant Based Diets health and risk benefits |
| Description | Wrote a blog published November 2020 on the health benefits and risk of plant based diets. |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | More than 1000 views in three months |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/what-are-the-risks-and-benefits-of-a-plant-based-diet/?fbclid=IwAR2taU82z9VgCW... |
| Title | What are cruciferous vegetables and why are they so special? |
| Description | Blog about Cruciferous Vegetables and there Impact on Human Health |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The blog has had more than 1000 views. |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/blogs/what-are-cruciferous-vegetables/#:~:text=By%20Federico%20Bernuzzi&text=C... |
| Description | The food-bioactive sulforaphane has shown beneficial effects in regulating liver metabolism. We are investigating the mechanism underpinning the effects of sulforaphane in liver cell metabolism and the potential role of two key cell metabolic regulators NRF2 and SIRT1 as mediators of the effects of sulforaphane on cell metabolism. Research funded on this grant is improving our understanding on the metabolic consequences of NRF2 and SIRT1 regulation, the interactions between NRF2 and SIRT1 in response to sulforaphane, and their regulatory crosstalk. To date, we have found that sulforaphane regulates energy metabolism through modulating mitochondrial capacity and using C13 glucose-tracing experiments we are looking into the dynamic changes in central metabolic pathways by sulforaphane. In addition, we have shown that sulforaphane not only activates NRF2 but also upregulates SIRT1 expression in liver immortalised cells and in primary hepatocytes. Preliminary results suggest that when NRF2 is depleted, SIRT1 expression is reduced, suggesting that NRF2 is likely to act up-stream of SIRT1 in the presence of sulforaphane. Recently, we have shown that polyunsaturated fatty acids are preferentially partitioned to pathways for oxidation compared to saturated fatty acids, i.e. nutrients, specifically fatty acid composition of a meal/diet, influences dietary fatty acid oxidation. We have also shown that another sulfur metabolite, SMCSO, influences energy metabolism in prostate cancer cells. We used transcriptomics and metabolomics to gain an understanding of the molecular level mechanisms, and this work is being submitted for publication |
| Exploitation Route | The results obtained will contribute to improve our understanding on the mechanisms mediating the effects of sulforaphane in human liver metabolism, which was being investigated in this grant within Objective 4. The results will also likely explain some of the underlying mechanisms for other dietary NRF2 -activators that are less well understood. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | (PhenolAcTwin) - ENHANCING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAPACITY OF TUBITAK MRC FOOD INSTITUTE ON DIETARY POLYPHENOLS AND BIOAVAILABILITY/ BIOEFFICACY |
| Amount | € 884,450 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 951994 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 12/2020 |
| End | 11/2023 |
| Description | Low fat or low carbohydrate? A precision medicine approach to cardioprotective diets for individuals genetically predisposed to dyslipidaemia |
| Amount | £223,135 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PG/21/10792 |
| Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2023 |
| End | 04/2026 |
| Description | MMB DTP |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | NRP DTP |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | Novo Nordisk Radcliffe Department of Medicine Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| Amount | £213,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Novo Nordisk – Oxford Fellowship Programme |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Project grant_CoI |
| Amount | £167,770 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PG/19/43/34432 |
| Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| End | 11/2021 |
| Description | Senior Basic Science Research Fellowship |
| Amount | £1,043,543 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | FS/SBSRF/21/31013 |
| Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Title | Bespoke human metabolites not available commercially suitable for undertaking mechanistic stdies of biological acxtivity. |
| Description | TBC |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | TBC |
| Title | CRISPR/Cas9 |
| Description | Utilsing genome editing CRISPR/Cas9 to Knockout a protein in liver cells |
| Type Of Material | Cell line |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The transfection has been successful and currently assessing downstream consequences. It is still very early days |
| Title | Isotope Tracers |
| Description | All living organisms utilises sugars such as glucose and amino acids as energy source to produce energy and replicate, in order to survive. Cancer cells in particular are known for there rapid proliferation rates and ability to consume large amount of nutrients. Therefore using isotopic tracers of glucose and amino acids such as Glutamine, along with Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometer it is possible to assess and understand how cell lines metabolises these substrates (glucose and amino acids) to get a snapshot of a particular metabolic pathway, when challenged to a compound of interest |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Using the fully labelled glucose tracer, it has been identified a potential new mechanism on how Sulforaphane a broccoli bioactive may impact cancer development in an in vitro hepatocellular carcinoma cell line |
| Title | Modifying nutritional substrates induces macrovesicular lipid droplet accumulation and metabolic alterations in a cellular model of hepatic steatosis |
| Description | Developed an in vitro physiological model of intrahepatocellular lipid accumulation |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Had requests for collaborations to be able to use this model and also adapt it to primary cells, which we have now done |
| URL | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32643289/ |
| Title | Stable isotope tracing |
| Description | Inclusion of stable isotopes to trace fatty acid and glucose metabolic pathways in cells. Atlhough publication based on heavy water expanded to other tracers for fatty acids, glucose and non-lipid precursors. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This has lead to more collaborations, with researchers asking for advice and also sending samples for analysis. |
| URL | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30315461/ |
| Title | Huh7_RNASeq after different nutritional substrates |
| Description | This is the RNASeq of Huh7 cells that were treated with a low sugar low fat physiological medium and those that were treated with a high sugar high fat medium and developed a lipid droplet pattern that is observed in primary hepatocytes from patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Improvement of a cell-line to recapitulate the gold standard primary human hepatocyte model, which are more expensive and challenging to work with. |
| URL | https://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/ |
| Title | RNAsequencin of ESCAPE volunteers |
| Description | RNAseq of prostate biopsy tissue from prostate cancer patients on active surveillance over 12 months on different diets (ESCAPE trial) |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This is a n RNAseq dataset of 98 prostate biopsy samples of men that received a dietary intervention. Outcomes were published in Traka et al. AJCN (2019) . The dataset is freely available in ArrayExpress with Accession Number E-MTAB-6525 |
| URL | https://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/ |
| Description | Collaboration with Professor Michael Wormstone from the University of East Anglia |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Department | School of Biological Sciences UEA |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I was provided with samples (cell lysates of lens cells) from a final year PhD student from the University of East Anglia. These lens cells were treated with high doses of Sulforaphane a dietary bioactive found in Broccoli. The aim of the project is to assess whether high does of these Sulforaphane can induce cell death thereby finding potential new treatment for cataracts. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Helped with the analysis. Loading the samples on the Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Instrument Triple Quad 6490, to identify specific metabolites of interest induced by Sulforaphane. I also then helped to analyse the data |
| Impact | Manuscript is currently being written. Hopefully it will be published the end of 2021 |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collboration with Prof Karsten Hiller from Technical University of Braunschweig |
| Organisation | Braunschweig University of Technology |
| Department | Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Spent 6 weeks in Germany to utilise methods and instruments that are not available at the Quadram Institute, using labelled isotopes of certain molecules such as glucose and glutamine to understand how the cells metabolize them. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data Analysis |
| Impact | Brought back from Germany skills on how to conduct this type of assement |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Influence of diet on human IBD and the microbiome (Brazil) |
| Organisation | State University of Campinas |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We will provide expertise on the analysis of the microbiome to the study led by our partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have received funding to support the stay of a postdoctoral researcher at the Quadram Institute to develop this research. |
| Impact | no outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Javier Gonzalez |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-I on successful BHF grant and will be providing advice on study design and undertaking sample analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | will be undertaking sample analysis |
| Impact | Collaboration just started |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Metabolic Flux analysis in response to dietary sulforaphane |
| Organisation | Braunschweig University of Technology |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have formed this collaboration in order to extend our capabilities in assessing metabolic flexibility of the diet. We have formed a mechanistic hypothesis for the redirection of glucose in liver in response to diet. We are providing the source of the the dietary bioactive, sulforaphane, that will be used to undertake the in vitro experiments to profile metabolites of key metabolic pathways. We also contribute the expertise in dietary modulation of metabolic pathways for the interepretation of the results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Hiller is the director of the department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry and will undertake assessment of glucose and glutamine metabolism in repsonse to dietary sulforaphane in hepatocytes. His team will contribute stable-isotope (13C glucose and 13C glutamine) assisted metabolomics by GC-MS to assess metabolic fluxes. |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Polyphenols and energy metabolism in normal and cancer cells |
| Organisation | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The QIB group helped develop high sensitivity LC-MS methods for quantifying anthocyanins and their gut microbiota metabolites in cells and in isolated mitochondria, and through a CAPES-funded postgraduate student placement at QIB, involving one of Dr El Bacha's PhD students, we have shown that absorption and metabolism if polyphenols differs between cancerous and non-cancerous cells, in keeping with differences in effects on energy metabolism. Future developments of this collaboration will involve QIB assessing effects on energy metabolism using the Seahorse platform in order to gain a deeper understanding of the effects on metabolic pathways. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The group of Tatiana El Bacha in the Federal University of Rio have generated data that shows that a particular flavonoid can significantly affect energy metabolism in cancerous cells, but with no effects on non-cancerous cells derived from the same organ. They also obtained funding to support student exchanges/placements and PI travel/subsistence for research visits and workshops in the UK as follows: 1-Programa Jovem Cientista do Nosso Estado grant number E-26/201.571/2014 funded by Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)-Brazil; 2- Newton Advanced Fellowship grant number RG80003 funded by Academy of Medical Sciences-UK; 3- Programa de Doutorado Sanduíche no Exterior (PDSE) process number 88881.134471/2016-01, funded by Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) |
| Impact | 1. Postgraduate student placement funded under the Brazilian CAPES scheme. 2. Method for quantifying flavonoids/microbiota-derived metabolites in isolated mitochondria samples. 3. Workshop report from 1st Workshop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Title | ADAPT study |
| Description | The study was pilot study assessing what impact would a high dose of Sulphur compound from Broccoli (Sulforaphane) and one in Garlic (Alliin) have on prostate cancer progression. Men with prostate cancer were recruited and split into four groups: two placebo which acted as the respective control, the group that received Sulphur compound in Broccoli and the other group received the Sulphur compound in Garlic. Prostate tissues was then extracted and samples were sent for RNAsequencing. Analysis is still currently taking place. |
| Type | Preventative Intervention - Nutrition and Chemoprevention |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2020 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | Data is still being currently analysed. It is hoped that the data will be written in a manuscript and will be published. |
| Title | BOBs clinical trial |
| Description | A food product that deliver physiological active concentrations of the bioactive sulforaphane to the systemic circulation |
| Type | Preventative Intervention - Nutrition and Chemoprevention |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2016 |
| Development Status | Actively seeking support |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | A food products that has been shown to deliver physiological active levels of the bioactive compound sulforaphane to the systemic circulation |
| URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT023300324 |
| Title | ESCAPE clinical trial |
| Description | A novel food products that delivers high levels of the bioactive compound glucoraphanin in a food matrix that inhibits changes in gene expression in prostate tissue that are associated with cancer progression |
| Type | Preventative Intervention - Nutrition and Chemoprevention |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
| Development Status | Actively seeking support |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | The products is being developed through a spin out company |
| URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01950143 |
| Title | FAMOUS clinical trial |
| Description | A clinical trial is being planned to assess the effect of sulforaphane on fatty acid beta oxidation. Volunteers will consume sulforaphane/placebo supplements for three weeks and then consume 13C labelled fatty acid. 13C CO2 will be quantified in their breath as a marker of fatty acid oxidation |
| Type | Preventative Intervention - Nutrition and Chemoprevention |
| Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2019 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | SAP clinical trial |
| Description | A food product that delivers high levels of the bioactive compound S-methylcysteine sulfoxide which accumulates in prostate tissue of men with organ confined prostate cancer |
| Type | Preventative Intervention - Nutrition and Chemoprevention |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
| Development Status | Actively seeking support |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | A food product that delivers S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide that accumulates in prostate tissue and may reduce risk of aggressive prostate cancer. A patent has been filed. |
| URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02821728 |
| Company Name | The Smarter Food Company |
| Description | The Smarter Food Company develops food that aims to help with the reduction in type-2 diabetes. |
| Year Established | 2018 |
| Impact | The company has recently been established. It has received investment from private equity funds an a grant from Innovate UK. It s currently engaged with developing food products that will enter clinical trials towards end of 2019 |
| Website | https://smarternaturally.com/ |
| Description | 'Heroes of Food Research' Public Engagement activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of the set of activities was to engage in a dialogue with members of the public in the region where we recruit participants to partake in dietary intervention studies. The activities included two sessions in Norwich's Forum Library public space where visitors could read about the types of studies that were going on, discuss what was involved when volunteering to participate in a study, ask questions of study PIs and study managers, taste intervention foods, complete a short questionnaire, and sign up for future activities which included an evening session with audience participation and voting and a workshop to gather feedback from potential volunteers. As a result of the activities and the significant feedback from the general public and those who had previously participated in human studies, we completely revamped our institute's Human Studies internet pages, recorded feedback and subsequently changed various features of our adverts that invited people to participate in specific studies, and recruited a significant number of new people to our database of interested volunteers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/volunteer/ |
| Description | A talk in workshop on utilising stable-isotope methodologies to assess human metabolism |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 50 researchers attended a nutrition society workshop on the utilisation and application of stable-isotope tracers tin human nutrition research which reaised a lot of interesting discussion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.nutritionsociety.org/events/application-stable-isotope-techniques-human-nutrition-resear... |
| Description | A talk or presentation - Talk at North West Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 40 school students from Manchester attend the summer school at the University of Oxford where I talked to them about my career and the research we do. This sparked a lively discussion and some students got hold of me with questions after they had returned to Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Bioavailability 2018 International Conference, 'Understanding the bioavailability of micronutrients and bioactive compounds for improved public health', the 8th in the series of Bioavailability conferences. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Bioavailability 2018 International Conference, 'Understanding the bioavailability of micronutrients and bioactive compounds for improved public health', the 8th in the series of Bioavailability conferences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Blog on Polyphenols and cardiovacsular health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Describing beneficial effects of polyphenols on cardiovascular health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/blogs/polyphenols-chocolate-apples/ |
| Description | CCG representatives visit to discuss collaborative opportunities for food and health research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | CCG representatives visit to discuss collaborative opportunities for food and health research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Colonic transformation of anthocyanins is partly spontaneous and partly driven by the gut microbiota |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | PhD Student Emad presented a poster |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Cool Food Facts - primary school BIO outreach event in Lowestoft |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Lowestoft primary school requested the activity for the science day to the School of Biology, UEA (contact - Carl Harrington). The session ran 4 times for Yr2 to Yr6, with approximately 30 students in each session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Corpus Christi Virtual Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk to students who were attending Oxford for a summer school about my work and career |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Deciphering the extent to which choline and carnitine are partitioned between the gut microbiota and the host using an in-vitro human colon model |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented at the Cambridge metabolic networking workshop (Oral) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Engagement with PepsiCo: Modification of carbohydrate quality in cereals and its consequences for digestion and metabolism |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Functional foods characterisation and development: Mechanical processes controlling digestion of food structures and subsequent nutrient release |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Engagement with government |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Understanding how research and policy interact and identify gaps in the diabetes research that need to be addressed. Understanding NHS long term and short programme for diabetes prevention and care Discussing funding opportunities for diabetes research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Engagement with other research organisations and HEIs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Business Development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Evidence on the front of pack nutrition labelling: Provided expert consultation to The Physiological Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Provided in support of The Physiological Society's response to the Government's consultation on the multiple traffic system for front-of-package labelling. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Exploring food and health 2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Q&A panel to discuss with the girls (various schools aged 15/16) about her role and the career pathway to it |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/1iXE85g03RQ |
| Description | FDNC & FIH School Activity - Clever Food Trail session with primary school children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visited Hethersett Primary School to speak and provide a number of activities on the clever food trail. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Hosted a Visit to Quadram Institute of SR, Director of Scientific Programmes at the Physiological Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Formal discussion on the incorporation of the microbes in Physiology as a research theme and future interaction between the QIB and the Physiological Society. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.physoc.org/events/physiology-2021/#tab-02 |
| Description | IF Oxford Science Fair |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Did online presentionation on dietary sugars and health at science festival |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://if-oxford.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IF-2021-PROGRAMME.pdf |
| Description | In2Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk and had a discussion about careers in science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | International Clinical Trial Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International Clinical Trial Day |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited by Edinburgh Immunology Group at University of Edinburgh to present |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Title: Macrophages and the gut-liver-microbiome axis during disease |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Membership of a Panel or Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Member of the assessment panel scoring proposals submitted to the BBSCR GCRF 'Combined Food Systems Approach to Scaling-up Interventions to Address the Double Burden of Malnutrition (DBM)'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | North West Science Network Launch Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I was the keynote speaker at the launch of the North West Science Network for 2018 - I gave a presentation about my career, my science and there was a discussion about careers in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Norwich Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | QIB activity tables and art exhibition |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Norwich Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Norwich Science Festival |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Norwich Science Festival - QIB activity tables and art exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Links to media articles and NSF summaries Hands on activities, games and crafts at the NRP day of the NSF 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Norwich Science Festival: Clever Food Stall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Welcome posters, Research posters, EatWell Guide Poster, Clever Food Trail, Recipe cards, Certificates, Landyards, Stickers, Smelling jars |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | On the 2nd of July the Quadram Institute of Biosciences (Norwich UK) hosted the event organised from the IFST, by streaming the lecture given by Professor Michael Gibney, Emeritus Professor of Food and Health from University College Dublin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The event was organised from Federico Bernuzzi and Dr Anabel Mulet Cabero from the Quadram Institute of Biosciences (QIB), in partnership with the IFST Eastern Branch. 25 people attended the lecture, mainly staff from the QIB but also several additional employers across the Norwich Research Park and additional companies across Norfolk. Prior to the lecturer Dr Jennifer Ahn-Jarvis a Research Scientist from the QIB, gave a 30-minute lecture on her Post-Doctoral Followership work at Ohio State University. The event ended with a 1hour networking session, were cold food and drinks was provided. This year's event had the largest number of attendees, compared to previous years and the feedback that was provided was that it was very well organised, and both talks were well received Federico Bernuzzi got in touch with Dr Patricia Hart to ask whether the Quadram could host the event. He then organised the speaker. Dr Mulet Cabero instead sorted out the advertisement, by publishing information on the Quadram news and was in charge of the catering |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Polyphenol enriched tomatoes protect against atherosclerotic plaque development in ApoE-/- mice by modifying cholesterol efflux and inflammation Future Physiology (The Physiological Society) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Presented a poster at the Future Physiology Conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Public Engagement at the Royal Norfolk Showground on the 26th of June |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Teaching the public the health benefits of dark chocolate, blueberries and broccoli. For the kids an activity was given them to do. Three different pots that had dark chocolate, broccoli and blueberries and the kids had to smell and guess the compounds |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Reepham Food Festival - Fun Food Science Activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Reepham Food Festival - Fun Food Science Activity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics by the food-derived bioactive sulforaphane through activation of NRF2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Selected oral presentation for the Nutrition and Genomic (NuGO) Annual Conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.nugo.org/ |
| Description | Royal Norfolk Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Royal Norfolk Show |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | School Visit (Hethersett Primary School) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Attended a morning at a local primary school in Hethersett Norwich. 60 pupils were split into five different groups. Five different stations were set up and each station represented different food nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein,fats. The aim of the activity was to teach the children which foods had those particular nutrients whether health choices could be chosen to ultimately improve their health style. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | School Visit (Hethersett, Norwich) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We designed an activity for Year 4 students, called 'the Smell Test', in order for the students to learn about the different phytochemicals within fruits and vegetables that are associated with helath benefits and have a strong odour. We linked the activity with the curriculum of Year 4 students at the time, which was on 'teeth and digestion' and introduced the students to basic concepts of digestion. We captured impact by asking students to report what they learned at the end of the session, which indicated an overwhelmingly positive response and acquisition of new knowledge around diet and health. We were also asked to undertake further activities from the school. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Provided a talk about my career in science and also about my research to school students thinking of coming to university. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk at RHS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk as part of art and science collaboration with Françoise Sergy (photographer) at the Royal Horticultural Society (Manchester) to the general public about how we study the role of dietary sugars on health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk to stakeholders in WSRO |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Provided an update on the current literature and science around sugar and health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The interplay between plant, human and microbial sulphur metabolism in the prevention of aggressive prostate cancer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation - The interplay between plant, human and microbial sulphur metabolism in the prevention of aggressive prostate cancer |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The role of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-y-valerolactone, the gut microbiota metabolite of (-)-epicatechin, in reducing insulin resistance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Kobe, Japan. 27th Nov - 2nd Dec. International conference on polyphenols and health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Tomatoes expressing specific polyphenols reduce atherosclerotic plaque size in ApoE mice via the modification of inflammation and reverse cholesterol transport |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Norwich Institute for Healthy Ageing (NIHA) Initial Partner Symposium |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Transcriptional changes in prostate of men on active surveillance following a 12-month glucoraphanin-rich broccoli intervention - results from the ESCAPE study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PRESENTATION - Transcriptional changes in prostate of men on active surveillance following a 12-month glucoraphanin-rich broccoli intervention - results from the ESCAPE study |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | UEA Co-creation Sandpit Event - Innovation, Health and Well-being |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | There were 70 participants and several teams developed and pitched ideas. Each team involved participants from different background, with a good balance between industry, policy makers, healthcare workers, social scientists, nutritionists etc. Project development and further applications for funding are encouraged. A linked in page has been set up for further networking https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8991208/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8991208 |
| Description | Unilever visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Unilever visit - a series of talks were presented to Unilever on a health microbiome, personalised nutrition and individual differences in the microbiome and gut brain axis. Unilever then met with group leads from QIB in one to one sessions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Visit by Waitrose. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | To present the research of QIB to representatives of the Waitrose Nutrition and Technology elements. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | We attended a speed networking event for pupils in year 12 at Wymondham Sixth Form College. This involved talking about our career trajectories, what we do as scientists on a day to day basis and importantly the important work being carried out here at the Quadram Institute. Students were keen to hear more about the interaction of food and the gut microbiota and their influence to health. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Speed networking event for pupils in year 12 at Wymondham Sixth Form College |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | What are the risk and benefits of a plant based diet? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PhD Student Federico Bernuzzi wrote the blog to explore the "risks and benefits" that should be considered by anyone considering a move to a diet containing less or no meat. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/what-are-the-risks-and-benefits-of-a-plant-based-diet/ |
| Description | Whodunnit? Teasing apart the effects of ingested polyphenols versus their gut microbiota metabolites |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 9th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Why do certain vegetables have a pungent taste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PHD student FB undertook a five minute interview with BBC Radio Norfolk to talk about why certain vegetables have a pungent/bitter taste. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Women of the future online Panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Career advice to women of the future in science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Year 10 UEA Summer School Protein Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This session enabled students to understand the concept of protein biochemistry and basic bioinformatics by use of online free available software. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Young Entrepeneur Scheme (YES) 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Young Entrepreneur scheme YES is a two month training consisting of developing an hypothetical business plan. The train begins with if you were to have your spin out company how would you start. A team of four PhD students a the Quadram Institute developed a hypothetical idea of developing toliet bombs to measure Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) markers from stool. During the course we received training in the following areas: Intellectual Property, Market Size along with Business Analysis Team management Consultancy Team the pitched our business idea on Friday the 19th November and we were selected to go through to the finals in January 2022. In the finals we pitched our business idea again and were awarded with People's choice Award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/blogs/entering-the-dragons-den-of-the-biotech-industry/ |
| Description | speed networking event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We attended a speed networking event for pupils in year 12 at Wymondham Sixth Form College. This involved talking about our career trajectories, what we do as scientists on a day to day basis and importantly the important work being carried out here at the Quadram Institute. Students were keen to hear more about the interaction of food and the gut microbiota and their influence to health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |