The core of the research is the development of materials that prevent bacterial growth
Over the next six years, an interdisciplinary, international consortium led by Maastricht UMC + researcher Dr. Chris Arts will conduct research into new technological solutions for the explosively increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The research focuses on raising public awareness of AMR and on the development of alternatives to traditional antibiotics by applying new material technology.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in which bacteria are increasingly resistant to antibiotics, is an explosively growing problem worldwide. For example, AMR increases the risk of life-threatening infections after surgery, resulting in poorer treatment results and, in part, an increase in healthcare costs. “If almost everyone continues to underestimate this problem, 10 million people worldwide will die annually from AMR by 2050,” said Dr. Chris Arts, “and these are still conservative estimates” “No new antibiotics have come onto the market in the last 20 years. That is why it is so important that we start researching alternative technologies to reduce the use of antibiotics. ”
Materials
The core of the research is the development of materials that prevent bacterial growth. Innovations in the field of biomedical materials play a key role in this, according to Arts. “Bacteria are experts in biological warfare. They continuously fight with other species and our own cells. It is therefore not surprising that bacteria are becoming resistant to the antibiotics that we release on them. However, if we can make their immediate surroundings or, for example, the surface of our implants in such a way that bacteria do not feel at home there, we can prevent infections while not fearing the increasing development of AMR. ”
Cooperation
The many aspects of AMR are investigated in a broad project. To better understand how bacteria grow on a surface, advanced imaging techniques from the Maastricht M4i Institute are used. In addition, the project also devotes explicit attention to the implementation of new techniques and social awareness around AMR.
Consortium
Within the framework of the National Science Agenda, NWO has awarded a grant of 9.8 million euros to the DARTBAC project: Dutch Antimicrobial Resistance Technology development and Biofilm Assessment Consortium. In addition, the industry partners of the DARTBAC consortium contribute an additional contribution of 1.3 million euros to the budget.
The academic partners in the project: Amsterdam UMC, Leiden UMC, Maastricht UMC +, RIVM: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, UMC Groningen, UMC Utrecht, University of Amsterdam & Maastricht University.
The Industrial partners: B. Braun Aesculap (DE), BiosparQ (NL), Bonalive (FI), CAM Bioceramics (NL), DSM (NL), MadamTherapeutics (NL), OS-1 (NL), PCI Biotech (NO) , & Zorginnovaties Nederland (NL). Other partners: AMR-Insights, Federation Medical Specialists Knowledge Institute, Dutch Orthopedic Association & ReumaNederland.
The project’s special website: www.NWA-Dartbac.nl
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