Abel Soto-Gamez, from the departments of Biomedical Sciences and Radiotherapy Oncology, will receive €127,893, including a contribution from the Proefdiervrij Foundation. His project aims to develop a new ex vivo model for stem cell transplantation research, which could potentially replace resource-intensive animal models and improve translational outcomes for cancer patients suffering from chronic organ dysfunction as a result of their treatment.
Adéla Melcrová, from the Biomaterials & Biomedical Technology (BBT) department, has received €100,000 to conduct research into a multi-pronged approach to resistant bacteria. Her research focuses on how antibiotics that disrupt the outer membrane of bacteria can work synergistically with intracellular antibiotics. Resistant bacterial infections caused nearly five million deaths worldwide in 2019, and current treatments are often ineffective. Melcrová recently discovered that certain antibiotics dissolve crucial domains in the outer membrane of bacteria, thereby disabling nearby proteins responsible for resistance to intracellular antibiotics. By combining these membrane-disrupting antibiotics with intracellular antibiotics, previously resistant bacteria can become susceptible again. This project will thoroughly investigate this new combination treatment with antibiotics, potentially increasing our ability to combat antimicrobial resistance.
