THE COVID-19 CHALLENGE MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER FROM THE SOIL TO OUR HEALTH; NORWICH RESEARCH PARK’S VISION IS TO CHANGE LIVES AND RETHINK SOCIETY THROUGH PIONEERING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, REFRAMING THE FUTURE OF RESEARCH AND DELIVERING REGIONAL GROWTH. Norwich Research Park is a thriving business and research community of around 30,000 talented people, including 17,000 students, 3,000 researchers and clinicians, and personnel at over 150 companies, and we are continuing to expand. One of the largest single-site concentrations of research in food, genomics and health in Europe, the Park has world-leading credentials. We bring together four independent internationally-renowned research institutes: John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory; with University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), supported and funded by The John Innes Foundation and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Together we create a community of people, place and resources that stimulates ideas and delivers innovation to change lives and rethink society. www.carbonbalancedprinter.com Healeys Print Group - Reg. 2108 FOREWORD CHRISTIE WATSON, AUTHOR & PROFESSOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH HUMANITIES Professor Christie Watson graduated from Creative Writing That is what we have seen from the people working across MA (prose) at UEA in 2009 and in 2020 was appointed Norwich Research Park. Individuals and organisations looking Professor of Medical and Health Humanities. She has to themselves and what they each can do to help, and then published two works of fiction, including the Costa First Novel coordinating, coming together with compassion and the Award-winning Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away, and two non-fiction conviction that they can make a difference. works: The Language of Kindness: A Nurse’s Story and The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion. Christie was a When people unite from diverse backgrounds to face a common registered nurse for 20 years and this year re-registered as challenge, there is a real opportunity to gain deeper understanding a nurse, joining the Emergency COVID-19 nursing register. and new ways of looking at things. The COVID-19 crisis has taught us the true meaning of caring for I have often advocated for an interdisciplinary approach to FOREWORD one another. My experience of returning to clinical nursing at this healthcare and the need to treat the whole person. This pandemic time showed me the incredible courage of individuals in the face has been a stark reminder that human health occurs within of this unknown and terrifying illness. Perhaps the most distressing society, that health issues have dramatic consequences for our thing of all this year is the idea that we may not be able to be cultural, economic and emotional wellbeing. with loved ones if they are sick or dying, and yet nurses will Across the Park community, institutes, organisations and always be there holding the hand of our relatives when we can’t. researchers have been employing their expertise to help us to Nurses remind us that we are never alone, not even now. really understand COVID-19. Researchers are responding to the Image: Cheryl George During this time of great suffering I’ve witnessed many acts of disease itself – looking at how it affects the body, how we can compassion. Communities have come together and people are test for and treat its physical effects – but also the impacts on thinking of other families, as well as their own. We must hold onto our whole selves, our work and our relationships. that, the importance of reaching out and of working together. A holistic understanding will be vital as we continue to deal with the pandemic and look to the long-term consequences for our health and wellbeing, for our economy and society. Our best tools for moving forward together from this crisis will be collaboration and kindness. 03 MEETING THE COVID-19 CHALLENGE: AT A GLANCE LEADERSHIP FIRST RESPONSES GETTING TO GRIPS History will record the personal At the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, our Park 06-09 Biochemists across the Park are developing 10-13 tragedy, the terrible fear, and the united to support NHS staff to continue to care deep insights into how the virus behaves and economic shock. But, history will for our community safely and with confidence. how it affects our health and wellbeing. also examine what we did and 14 what we learned. DAVID PARFREY, MANUFACTURING SEQUENCING NORWICH RESEARCH PARK Our staff and students were 1,600 willing to adapt quickly and GENOMES flexibly to help where they could and to re-position their research to SEQUENCED answer newly emerging questions raised by the pandemic. 24,000 LOSS OF SMELL PROF FIONA LETTICE, FACE SHIELDS PROF DYLAN EDWARDS 4,000L UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA & EAR COMFORT HAND 15 BANDS SANITIZER The crisis has undeniably inspired innovation, fostered new SUPPORTING collaborations and forged a collective KEY WORKERS CONFIRMING AS SYMPTOM will to achieve common goals. AND ASSESSING TREATMENTS 16 PROF NEIL HALL, EARLHAM INSTITUTE FREE DAY CARE & The remarkable relationships ACCOMMODATION LEAVING LOCKDOWN we have with the scientific institutes on the Park are EVALUATING now even closer. MASKS AND 17 PROF KRISTIAN BOWLES, NORFOLK AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY 04 HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST INTERVENTIONS DEVELOPING TESTING LIFE UNDER LOCKDOWN Our Park is leading the way in creating 18-21 Our researchers are examing the wide-ranging 22-25 cutting-edge tests and innovative solutions impacts of COVID-19 and identifying those in for testing populations. society who will need the most help to recover. OUR COMMUNITY TESTING IN OUR IMPACT ON COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE 30,000 3,000 people researchers and clinicians VOLUNTEER TASKFORCE 17% REDUCTION IN 17,000 150 CO2 EMISSIONS students companies DURING LOCKDOWN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE BUILDING A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY TESTING TRACKING HEALTH 10 of the Park's scientists in the top 1% of the AND WELLBEING "most highly cited"in the world 1,000 people Norwich ranked in the top 10 of UK cities reporting on for quality of research lifestyle choices AGRI INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS BIOTECH PARK EXPERTISE FOOD, HEALTH AND GENOMICS An unbroken MICROBIOME chain of research excellence in CHANGING INDUSTRIAL MED £50,000 food, genomics BIOTECH BIOTECH TECHNOLOGY GRANT FOR WORK AND and health. RAPID GLYCON TEST RELATIONSHIPS 05 PROTECTING THE PROTECTORS One of the most crucial aspects of the COVID-19 crisis has been 20 8 100s the unprecedented need for personal protective equipment volunteer lab technicians of hours of (PPE) for frontline health and social care workers. Facilitated by organisations assembling volunteer work and individuals PPE over 7 weeks Research and Innovation Services at the University of East Anglia (UEA), a team of scientists, local businesses and individuals came together to produce a contingency supply of thousands PRODUCED of clinically approved face shields for health trusts throughout Norfolk, and a number of pharmacies, community hospitals, hospices and care homes across Norfolk and Suffolk. 12,000 12,000 FACE SHIELDS EAR COMFORT BANDS The project began with Dr Aram Saeed, Associate Professor in Healthcare Technologies (School of Pharmacy), and science engagement specialist Prof Ben Garrod (School of Biological The face shields – consisting of a 3D-printed headband, a sheet Sciences) approaching the local tech community for assistance of clear plastic and buttonhole elastic – were assembled by a in providing access to 3D printers and sharing software and team of eight science technicians, led by Paul Disdle, along with skills. Over 750 businesses and individuals responded and UEA’s two academics in the University’s New Science Building. Research and Innovation Services rapidly assessed their capacity FIRST and resources to meet the urgent need for PPE. At the height of the seven-week programme, UEA processed around 200 face shields every day and delivered 1,200 to NNUH each week, At the same time, UEA Health and Social Care Partners worked who then in turn distributed them to the James Paget University closely with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) to Hospital, Great Yarmouth and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn. RESPONSES determine the clinical specification required and to test prototype The remainder were shared with other health and care organisations. face shields produced by Professor Sheng Qi and Dr Mahmoud Our institutes and organisations responded Abdelhamid from UEA’s School of Pharmacy. Following this testing Dr Abdelhamid also developed a design for 3D-printed ear rapidly to the immediate demands of the and evaluation, NNUH approved the use of 3DVerkstan and Prusa comfort bands to hold face masks off the ears, preventing them face shield designs and full production, incorporating quality from becoming sore and painful when worn for hours at a time. onset of COVID-19, and in particular, to control checks and quarantine, started in early April. Project collaborators included: Altair Astro UK; Birds of Dereham; Bosch the needs of frontline medical staff at (Suffolk); CF Tech; Copyshop (Great Yarmouth); DMP 3D; Drone Training Ltd; the hospital and throughout the region. “I am truly humbled by the overwhelming Greg Rowe Ltd; Haas; Hexatomic; John Mayes Engineering Ltd; Knit Wit; Littlewood Lodge; LSI Architects; Norwich Print Solutions; Norwich University support we have received from local people