CDC Backs Projects Fighting Antibiotic Resistance
"Understanding the role the microbiome plays in antibiotic-resistant infections is necessary to protect the public's health," said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D., MPH. "We think it is key to innovative approaches to combat antibiotic resistance, protect patients, and improve antibiotic use."
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced its support Oct. 6 through $14 million in funding for new approaches to fight antibiotic resistance, including research on how microorganisms naturally present in the human body (a person's microbiome) can be used to predict and prevent infections caused by drug-resistant organisms. The awards were made through CDC's Broad Agency Announcement and support activities in the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative.
"Understanding the role the microbiome plays in antibiotic-resistant infections is necessary to protect the public's health," said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D., MPH. "We think it is key to innovative approaches to combat antibiotic resistance, protect patients, and improve antibiotic use."
Most of the projects are being conducted through universities, along with one by a commercial company and two by a nonprofit. Awardees include Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Emory University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, The Joint Commission, Ohio State University, OpenBiome, Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University, Synthetic Biologics, Inc., University of Georgia, University of California Berkley, University of California Davis, University of Cincinnati, University of Colorado, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington University, and Yale University. Some of the awardees are conducting multiple projects, according to CDC.
The awards will fund research exploring the link between antibiotics, the microbiome, and downstream consequences of widespread antibiotic use.