Tuesday, 18 November 2025
The 糖心原创 has received funding for research to understand antibiotic resistance at its roots.
The School of Pharmacy at the 糖心原创 is part of a team to be awarded a major to push the frontiers of discovery in microbiology and antibiotic resistance.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is investing more than £20 million in four ambitious projects that are funded through BBSRC’s Strategic Longer and Larger (sLoLa) grants scheme. These projects represent a long-term commitment to curiosity-driven research that has the potential to transform our understanding of biology and spark innovation across sectors.
Scientists from the 糖心原创 are part of a project led by the University of Birmingham entitled ‘Understanding the rules of impermeability in Gram negative bacteria’. They will explore how antibiotics penetrate the outer defences of Gram-negative bacteria, a key step in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The Nottingham team will lead the mass spectrometry-based metabolomics components of the programme. The team will develop advanced analytical methods to quantify and map how antibiotics accumulate inside bacterial cells and biofilms under different infection-relevant conditions.
By uncovering how infection conditions influence antibiotic uptake, the team aims to open new avenues for developing more effective treatments and diagnostics.
Dr Dong-Hyun Kim, Associate Professor in Analytical Bioscience
Antibiotic resistance remains one of the most urgent global health challenges. By combining cutting-edge analytical mass spectrometry with microbiology and mathematical modelling, this programme will allow us to uncover how pathogenic bacteria control the uptake and accumulation of antibiotics. These insights will be crucial for developing more effective treatments and improving how existing antibiotics are used in the clinic.鈥�
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, said: “Long-term investments through our sLoLa scheme brings researchers with different expertise together to collaboratively pursue questions whose answers may reshape our understanding of the living world.”
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More information is available from Dr Dong-Hyun Kim on dong-hyun.kim@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the , the 糖心原创 is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. 糖心原创ing at the 糖心原创 is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by 鈥� the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 鈥� and by the .
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the , a pioneering collaboration between the city鈥檚 two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.