Research funded under the ABM competition is expected to allow the development of new standards for treatment, diagnosis, rehabilitation or prevention, as well as increase knowledge of the most clinically and cost-optimal therapies. Our university will receive nearly 15 million PLN from the agency. It will carry out one project on its own, and two - in consortium with the Human Biome Institute company, with which we signed an agreement on scientific cooperation in the area of human microbiota in July 2022. More about the signing of the agreement with the Human Biome Institute company
How to combat C. difficile most effectively
C. difficile is the most common intramural infection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Determining the most effective method of treating infections caused by this bacteria is the topic of a project whose principal investigator is Ernest Kuchar, MD, PhD, from the Department of Pediatrics with the Isolation and Observation Ward UCC MUW. Researchers want not only to increase the likelihood of a cure, but also the lack of recurrence of C. difficile infection within the first 12 weeks after the initial infection.
The project was very highly rated and ranked second on the Medical Research Agency's ranking list. MUW is a leader in it, Human Biome Institute is a consortium member. The project was prepared by a team led by Dr. Jarosław Biliński of the Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine UCC MUW. Project title "Multicenter, randomized, open-label, four-arm study on the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation vs bezlotoxumab vs fidaxomicin vs vancomycin in the treatment and relapse prophylaxis of Clostridioides difficile infection. STOP-CDI study".
Fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract
Developing a standard for decolonizing antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract of patients is the goal of another ABM-funded project. MUW is a leader in it, Human Biome Institute is a consortium member. The project's principal investigator is Dr. Jarosław Biliński of the Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine UCC MUW. Project title "Multicenter, randomized, open-label, three-arm study on the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation vs probiotic therapy vs eubiotic-gut-microbiota-boosting diet in order to antibioticresistant bacteria (ARB) decolonization from the gastrointestinal tract of patients colonized with clinically most significant ARBs. Looking for a strategy to overcome the WHO alarm on the antibiotic resistance "new pandemic" threat. STOP-ARB study".
Experts estimate that up to 10 million people worldwide will die annually from antibiotic resistance by 2050. The WHO and the Global Institutions for Infectious Diseases (CDC, ECDC) are calling for an active search for new strategies in the fight against antibiotic resistance. The method proposed in the project to fight antibiotic-resistant infections will not only be new, but also revolutionary, given the lack of other treatments that work for this indication. It is worth noting that the team of Dr. Jarosław Biliński and Prof. Grzegorz Basak has already shown that transplantation of the intestinal microbiota and/or other microbiota modulating agents could be a new method of decolonization and reduction of the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections.
Opportunity for patients with advanced liver cancer
The third funded project is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Second Department of Clinical Radiology, the Chair and Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery and the Department of Nuclear Medicine UCC MUW. The principal investigator is Dr. Karolina Grąt. The researchers will conduct a randomized clinical trial comparing surgery with interventional radiology techniques as an option for partial liver resection in patients whose initial number or size of tumors in the liver preclude surgery.
The project is expected to end in 2029. Its results will answer the question of which technique has the highest efficacy and safety for patients. The Project title is "Comparison of the effectiveness of three different methods of achieving liver parenchymal hypertrophy in patients qualified for partial resection of the organ."
What are head-to-head studies?
Head-to-head studies allow direct comparison of the efficacy and safety of alternative treatment options. This makes patient treatment more effective and improves the quality of patient care.