Research project BL/02/IN19 (Research action BL)
The main objective of this Network is to increase collaboration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microbial biofilms in various settings, including humans and animals and the (hospital) environment, and to explore alternatives to treatment of infectious diseases.
Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix, and an estimated 60-80% of all chronic infections are biofilm-related. Resistance and tolerance in microbial biofilms contribute to treatment failure leading to increased morbidity and mortality and worldwide AMR will likely led to 10 million deaths per year. There is a growing sense of urgency about the problem of AMR and the role of biofilms in reduced susceptibility leading to the development of action plans at national (e.g. National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in India) and international (e.g. EU One Health Action Plan against AMR) level.
Specific cooperation topics: the networking activities will focus on ‘critical priority pathogens’ identified by the WHO, including carbapenem and colistin resistant Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. More specifically we aim to
(i) Exchange know-how on specific models that can be used to study AMR in biofilms of such organisms, by organising training courses/workshops
(ii) Exchange of staff members to learn new techniques and data analysis tools
(iii) Exchange of resources, including antibiotic-resistant isolates and compound libraries
(iv) Identify future PhD students for double degree studies between Belgian and Indian institutes
(v) Exchange knowledge on genome-based surveillance of AMR
The creation of the network will allow thepartners to further develop their ongoing research projects, will strengthen research capacities and will form the foundations for sustainable international cooperation beyond 2024, between the applicants, andalso between other research partners in both countries.
