Annual Research Showcase Success – 2025
Clinicians, academics and partners from across the Norwich Research Park gathered for our Annual Research Showcase on Monday 29 September 2025.
The event, held at the Quadram Institute, showcased excellence and innovation and allowed researchers to network and form collaborations. To allow for even more attendees, over 50 additional colleagues watched the sold out event live over MS Teams.
Prof Jon Lartey, Associate Director for Research, opened the afternoon and spoke about the changes which were taking place as the new Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group takes shape. In the last year, three new Clinical Associate Professors have been appointed and we continue to perform well and above expectations nationally.
From the Quadram Institute, CEO Prof Daniel Figeys updated the audience on the QIB’s three strategic priorities – healthier lives, safe food and future food, and Dr Emily Jones, Research Scientist, spoke about joint research taking place between NNUH and QIB around women’s health.
From the UEA, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Philip Baker spoke about how focusing on diet, nutrition and the gut microbiome across the park will support the NHS 10-year plan, particularly the switch from treatment to prevention. Prof Andrew Wilson also shone a light on the challenges which a research team can face and what he learnt from his own experiences with TIPAL: facing the challenges of COVID-19 and the Suez Canal Blockage.
Adam Peel from the NNUH, shared his experience of getting into research as a Nurse and his subsequent PAC-MAN study. The showcase was also a chance for several of our Clinical Associate Professors to present their work: Dr Zoe Venables spoke about how skin cancer research is not only important but also interesting and exciting, whilst Prof Caroline Barry and Professor Martyn Patel shared their PISCES Study and their experiences of working with palliative care patients on research projects.
Prof Simon Rushbrook, Dr Amera Elzubeir and Dr Meha Patel, three researchers from three different institutes showcased the potential that collaboration has and the work they have all been doing on Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.
Finally, researchers and professionals from beyond the NRP gave presentations to help inform, encourage and inspire those working in research. From the UKRI, Dr Yan Yip shared more information about the MRC and the use of AI in research. Dr Sarah Robinson, from Health Innovation East shared case studies on the impact of projects such as CHARMER and the work Health Innovation East has supported around transforming wound care. Dr Serge Engamba, spoke about research in a Primary Care setting and Ross and Ron, two of our NNUH Public Research Champions, inspired with their own experiences of taking part in research.
Each session was followed by time for questions and answers and during the break TriNetX, the world’s largest global health research network, had a stand so that attendees could find out more about accessing extensive real-world data.
Dr Bernard Brett, Medical Director at the NNUH, who also gave a talk as part of the day’s agenda, said: “Thank you to the R&D team for organising this event which highlighted a wide range of impactful research which will translate into better patient care. Thanks to all the speakers and researchers for all their hard work and achievements.
“We already undertake high quality research but we have enormous potential and determination to move further and faster. Forming our hospital group gives us a larger catchment area, and with a system-wide electronic patient record and a willing population we will have the ability to recruit large number of patients into research studies.
“Working collaboratively with our Norwich Research partners, with such fantastic expertise and facilities on or doorsteps provides us with a unique opportunity to excel in the fields of research and innovation. We know that being more research active has clear benefits for patients, including better outcomes, and the wider community. Academic growth in our workforce is vital and will positively impact on their experience working here and I’m excited for the greater research opportunity the group and the Norwich Research Park will give us.”
