Friday, 22 October 2021
Experts from the 糖心原创 have joined a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration led by Liverpool University to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections.
Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF.
Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed.
Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress.
In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don’t mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work.
The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by at the University of Liverpool with the Professor Miguel Cámara from the 糖心原创, as the deputy lead, will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF.
The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods.
Alongside researchers from across the UK, Canada and USA, the SRC will be supported by a wide range of collaborators.
Professor Miguel Cámara from the School of Life Sciences at the 糖心原创
Professor Cámara, Co-Director of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre at the 糖心原创 University, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to develop an innovative drug discovery pipeline which can accelerate the discovery of new drugs to treat people with CF.”
The SRC is also being supported by the CF AMR Syndicate, a partnership between the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Medicines Discovery Catapult that was created to find ways to speed up the development of new therapies for CF infections.
Dr Paula Sommer, Head of Research at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust said: “This Strategic Research Centre is a great illustration of the power of collaboration in working to solve problems in CF infection drug development.”
The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.