JOURNAL OF IIMER May 2026 SEE ME A clinical innovation fund which benefits patients through research by bringing together Quadram Institute (QI) scientists and doctors at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) has selected five new projects for funding. The Quadram Institute Clinical Seedcorn Fund was first established in 2021/2022 to help clinicians develop research ideas with scientists at the Quadram Institute. The fund supports secondments of NHS staff to Quadram Institute laboratories and associated research costs. Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB) in partnership with the Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity have provided £100,000 each to jointly fund £200,000 of new collaborative clinical research projects. Included in this is a project entitled SEE-ME - Retinal Biomarkers of Visual Disturbances in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – and this will be run by ‘Ian Gibson fellow’ Dr Katharine Seton (QI) and NNUH consultant ophthalmologist Mr Colin Jones (NNUH). This is a very novel research pathway and another spin-off from the ME research being carried out at the centre. Further information: quadram.ac.uk RESTORE-ME Clinical Trial The RESTORE-ME trial - a phase IIb, randomised, placebocontrolled study of microbiota replacement therapy at the Quadram Institute - remains the UK’s only clinical trial of its kind for ME, and one of the first to use objective outcome measures. Progress has taken longer than originally anticipated. Microbiota replacement therapy is regulated by the MHRA as an investigational medicinal product, and obtaining the necessary manufacturing licence and regulatory approvals has proved a complex and time-consuming process. The pandemic added further delay to building and infrastructure work required at the Quadram Institute. The research team continues to work on related studies that will optimise the trial protocols alongside the regulatory preparations. A further update will be shared as soon as there is more to report. Meanwhile the associated PPI group that has been formed for the trial continues to meet, with the next meeting scheduled for July. Further information: quadram.ac.uk Invest in ME Research Page 11 of 35
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