University of East Anglia Launches New Health Unit to Tackle Gastrointestinal Infections with NIHR Funding

University of East Anglia Launches New Health Unit to Tackle Gastrointestinal Infections with NIHR Funding

(IN BRIEF) The University of East Anglia (UEA) has received £1.8 million in funding to establish a new research unit focused on gastrointestinal infections, alongside £1 million for the Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB). Located in Norwich and part of the £80 million nationwide funding initiative by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the unit will work to improve diagnostics and preventive strategies against gastrointestinal infections, which impact 17 million people in the UK annually. This research partnership, led by UEA with contributions from the UK Health Security Agency, QIB, and Newcastle University, aims to strengthen the UK’s health security and pandemic preparedness, addressing both current and emerging health threats.

(PRESS RELEASE) NORWICH, 4-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of East Anglia (UEA) is set to establish a cutting-edge research unit in Norwich dedicated to advancing the study and prevention of gastrointestinal infections, supported by a £1.8 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). An additional £1 million has been allocated to the Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), making this collaborative effort a central part of a broader £80 million investment by the NIHR aimed at fortifying the UK’s health protection research infrastructure.

This new facility will operate in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), QIB, and Newcastle University, with UEA serving as the lead institution. The unit’s mission is to address the widespread public health burden of gastrointestinal infections, improving diagnostics, prevention, and responses to potential pandemic threats stemming from such illnesses. The work aligns with the UK’s long-term health security strategy, which includes combating threats like antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and other emerging health hazards.

Professor Paul Hunter, designated director of the new unit, emphasized the critical need for this research, noting that gastrointestinal infections affect around 17 million people in the UK each year and cost the British economy approximately £9 billion annually. “Our research will provide better protections against these infections, enhancing public health and supporting the economy,” said Hunter.

As part of its sustainability mission, QIB Interim Director Prof. Martin Warren highlighted the initiative’s alignment with QIB’s focus on gut health, microbiology, and food safety, all key to protecting public health. The project will prioritize innovative outbreak detection, advanced diagnostics, and prevention strategies to strengthen the UK’s health resilience.

The NIHR-funded Health Protection Research Units (HPRUs) play a vital role in the UK’s health research landscape, providing a framework for collaboration between universities and the UKHSA to address both immediate and long-term health threats. Newcastle University will bring expertise in gastrointestinal epidemiology and epidemic modeling, further enriching the collaboration and supporting evidence-based policies for food safety.

Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne recognized the funding as a crucial step toward bolstering the nation’s health security infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of shifting focus from treatment to prevention in line with the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. This funding will enable the new HPRU to drive significant progress in public health protection across the UK.

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SOURCE: University of East Anglia