Novel Combination Strategies to Combat Complex Respiratory Polymicrobial Infections Associated with Cystic Fibrosis

The overall aim of this four year collaborative project with industry is to develop much needed, novel therapeutic strategies to combat complex polymicrobial respiratory infections associated with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. Lung infection is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in CF patients and now more commonly presents in chronic form as a complex mixed infection of bacteria and fungi. The project will test the efficacy of combination therapies comprising NovaBiotics' proprietary peptides/lipopeptides plus existing antimicrobials and/or mucolytic biofilm dispersants. In addition, mixed species co-infection models will be developed including biofilm models to assess the novel mono- and combination therapies under physiologically relevant conditions.

This MRC CASE studentship will partner the Aberdeen Fungal Group, an internationally recognised research group studying fungal pathogenesis and fungal immunology with NovaBiotics Ltd, a leading clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the design and development of first-in-class anti-infective therapies for difficult to treat, poorly served infectious conditions infectives. The student will be part of a vibrant, dynamic academic research group and will benefit from the expertise of a cutting-edge antimicrobial discovery company with a robust drug candidate pipeline.