Transdisciplinary Canadian team to build global AMR network

York University this week announced a $2 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to support the development of a global network to address infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance.

The One Health Network for the Global Governance of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (GRIDD) will be co-led by York University and the University of Ottawa and will include a transdisciplinary team of researchers from the social sciences and the human, animal, and environmental health sciences. The network will be closely integrated with related European efforts.

"As the causes of antimicrobial resistance are complex, our strategies to address it need to foster intersectoral policy coordination on a global scale to improve stewardship of this precious resource," Mary Wiktorowiz, PhD, a professor of global health policy and governance at York University, said in a university press release.

Feb 18 York University press release

NIH to fund new treatment strategy for resistant lung infections

Scientists from Purdue University will receive $3.2 million from the National Institutes of Health to develop a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant lower respiratory infections.

The money will enable the scientists to continue development of new inhalation therapies that incorporate synergistic antibiotics into a nano-sized liposome. Using liposomes for inhalation therapy minimizes local irritation in the airways, which can compromise patients' compliance, and allows for controlled release of the drugs.

"Our research not only develops new inhalation therapies, but also examines the mechanism of drug-induced pulmonary side effects and tries to find out how liposomes protect the airways from such side effects," lead researcher Qi Zhou, PhD, an assistant professor in Purdue's College of Pharmacy, said in a university press release. "In addition, such platform may also be applied for the treatment of other lung infections including tuberculosis and viral lung infections by loading different drugs."

Researchers from the University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, and Monash University in Australia are also involved in the project.

Feb 20 Purdue University press release