Dental News - Major collaboration announced to help tackle global antibiotic resistance

Major collaboration announced to help tackle global antibiotic resistance

Deaths due to antibiotic-resistant infections globally number nearly one million each year. The announced expansion of research at CARe means more funding and researchers to prevent these deaths. (Image: angellodeco/Shutterstock)

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 6. January 2023

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GOTHENBURG, Sweden: The University of Gothenburg has announced further investment into an already robust research programme on antibiotic resistance. The Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at the university has already been leading research since 2016 and, starting in January of this year, will be expanding to employ nearly 150 researchers in 20 specialised departments.

As medicine struggles to keep up with the ever-evolving strains of antibiotic-resistant infection, the expansion of CARe will offer more resources for finding solutions that save lives. Increased contributions are coming from even more partners, including Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Chalmers University of Technology and Region Västra Götaland. Together with the University of Gothenburg’s support, CARe’s increased funding will allow researchers from a broad range of fields beyond medicine to collaborate.

Prof. Joakim Larsson, principal investigator from the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Infectious Diseases and director of CARe, said in a press release: “CARe members include, for example, doctors, microbiologists, molecular biologists, chemists, technologists, engineers, environmental scientists, mathematicians, economists, political scientists, architects, and philosophers. In various ways, they all contribute their specific expertise. Extending the collaboration further across more disciplinary boundaries will transform the centre’s ability to make an impact.”

Prof. Ann-Marie Wennberg, director of Sahlgrenska University Hospital and University of Gothenburg professor, elaborated on the importance of CARe: “Close collaboration between healthcare and academia means that research results can yield tangible benefits for patients more rapidly. That’s one reason why Sahlgrenska University Hospital thinks this collaboration is so important. Along with our partners, our ambition is to tackle one of the biggest global health challenges: antibiotic resistance.”