President of Mauritius visits the Babraham Research Campus and the Babraham Institute

The Babraham Institute and Babraham Bioscience Technologies were pleased to host a visit today to the Babraham Research Campus from the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Her Excellency Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, and representatives from the Mauritius High Commission in London. Her Excellency met Mr Derek Jones, CEO of Babraham Bioscience Technologies, the campus development company, Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of the Babraham Institute and Dr Marc Veldhoen, group leader within the Institute’s immunology research programme.
 
Dr Gurib-Fakim took part in discussions about the Babraham Research Campus and its role supporting biomedical enterprises within the life science community in Cambridge and the UK. Professor Michael Wakelam presented the Institute’s world leading bioscience research and its work and collaborations with the companies established on the campus. Dr Marc Veldhoen presented a more in-depth view into one area of the Institute’s research - how nutrition affects the immune system.
 
Mr Derek Jones, CEO of Babraham Bioscience Technologies said: “It was an honour to host Her Excellency and accompanying party and to be able to share our thoughts on why the Babraham Research Campus is so successful within the Cambridge Cluster. Her Excellency was particularly interested in how we foster an entrepreneurial culture within both the academic setting of the Institute and the more commercial environments of the campus companies.”
 
Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of the Babraham Institute said: “It was extremely interesting to hear about Her Excellency’s experience of academic and commercial research in the Republic of Mauritius and exchange thoughts on why the partnerships at the heart of the Babraham Research Campus are so effective. I was very glad to be able to introduce her to the spectrum of research undertaken by the Institute and demonstrate the world-class Institute facilities made possible by BBSRC investment.”
 

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Her Excellency Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius outside Babraham Hall. Left to right: Mr Derek Jones, Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Mr Deodass Kalisetty-Appadu (Secretary to the President) and Professor Michael Wakelam.