Professor Craig MacLean has been awarded an Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) Synergy Grant to develop pilus-dependent bacteriophage as a tool to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The IOI Synergy Grants scheme is an internal Oxford-wide funding call for AMR-focused research with translational potential and with a strong focus on collaboration across university departments and disciplines. The Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) has awarded over £2m to six projects across the University of Oxford and each project will receive funding of up to £500,000 over a two-year period.
One such project Led by Prof Craig MacLean, Department of Biology, will develop Pilus Dependent Lytic Bacteriophages (PDBs) to selectively kill resistant-bacteria and stop the spread of antibiotic resistance. Prof MacLean will collaborate with colleagues in Oxford’s Department of Engineering, Nuffield Department of Medicine and the Big Data Institute.
Other projects awarded across Oxford include new antibiotic drug discovery, development of diagnostic tools to accurately diagnose infections, phages to kill drug-resistant bacteria, and behaviour change interventions to reduce antibiotic usage. Professor Sir Stewart Cole, Executive Chair of the IOI said,
“AMR is a multi-faceted problem that cannot be solved by working in silos. Experts from medical sciences, life sciences and social sciences must work in unison to protect the existing antibiotics and find new ones. The IOI Synergy Grants bring together Oxford’s world-class researchers in an integrated multidisciplinary approach to shape the future of modern medicine. The projects exemplify the tremendous range of AMR research across the university, from new diagnostic tools to patient-facing interventions. The quality of research is outstanding, and I look forward to seeing real-world applications arise from the IOI Synergy initiative.”
AMR has claimed nearly 24 million lives between 1990 and 2024. Without urgent solutions, it is expected to cause more than 39 million deaths between now and 2050.
To read more about the projects funded see: Ineos Oxford Institute awards over £2m to innovative projects to tackle antimicrobial resistance | Ineos Oxford Institute
