Development of new antibiotic adjuvants to control biofilm resistance

At the heart of InnovAntiBiofilm is the sustainable development of new adjuvants to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against biofilm infections. This will be achieved through the sustainable biosynthesis of plant molecules and the rational development of derivatives. These scientific activities, along with capacity building and networking, talent development of young researchers, mentoring, inclusion, and the strengthening of research management and administrative skills, form the core of the project concept.

This is achieved through UPORTO’s partnership with outstanding EU institutions that possess recognized expertise in Medical and Combinatorial Chemistry (CEA), Metabolic and Bioprocess Engineering (Fraunhofer IME), as well as R&D management, access to funding, and industry connections (KPMG). These internationally leading partners will provide critical expertise to support UPORTO in the heterologous biosynthesis of phytochemicals and the development of innovative phytochemical derivatives with enhanced antibiotic adjuvant activity for biofilm control, while strengthening UPORTO’s competitiveness and administrative capabilities in research and development.

The goals of InnovAntiBiofilm align with the specific challenge and scope of HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-02-01 of the Twinning call, aiming to bridge networking gaps and deficiencies between research institutions in widening countries and internationally leading EU partners.

InnovAntiBiofilm facilitates the development of a consolidated strategic research approach and a guideline for the utilization and commercialization of results, which will have a strong regional, national, and European impact. The project integrates synergies across complementary research fields such as biotechnology, microbiology, synthetic chemistry, and pharmacognosy, aiming to achieve scientific breakthroughs that can enhance global health and economic outcomes.