Grants

Since the first call in 2018, we have granted funding for ten projects described below. The grant call for 2021 with a focus on prevention of antibiotic resistance related to infections in elderly persons was our first international call and rewarded grants for projects in Ghana, Portugal and Sweden. Our next call for applications is expected to open in the beginning of 2022.

Grantees

Previously funded projects

PPCIRA

National Program for Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention, Portugal

The PPCIRA is running a project to prevent urinary tract infections in Portuguese care facilities for elderly. The project focuses on training and methods to achieve behaviour change among healthcare staff and relatives of the patients. Read more

Christian Giske

Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm

Christian’s research addresses a novel approach to clear the gut of resistant bacteria. The treatment uses bacteriophages, viruses that can target bacteria selectively. This approach could potentially prevent severe resistant infections such as bloodstream infections.

Staffan Hildebrand

Film director, in collaboration with ReAct

Staffan has previously documented the global response to HIV and AIDS on film for more than 30 years, in close collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and is now making a documentary about antibiotic resistance. The film will be edited in two versions, one targeting proffessionals such as political leaders, public health officials and journalists, and another targeting high school students. The aim is to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance on all levels.

Peter Bergman

Senior lecturer/senior physician, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm

Peter is running a clinical study to investigate if higher doses of vitamin D would be an effective way to prevent respiratory tract infections among elderly. Vitamin D in lower doses have long been recommended to prevent osteoporosis, but there are indications that a higher dose could also prevent respiratory tract infections. Read more

Susanna Brighenti

Associate Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm

Susanna is exploring how to treat antibiotic resistant M. tuberculosis bacteria using agents that modulate host immune responses. Multidrug resistant tuberculosis is a serious threat to the global efforts to control the spread of the disease. Project success could improve current treatment strategies and reduce transmission of resistant tuberculosis in the society.

Sara Lindén

Professor, University of Gothenburg

Sara is developing strategies to counteract infections by activating mucosal defence mechanisms, a part of the immune system. The focus is on H. pylori, a common type of bacteria that requires severe antibiotic treatment to eradicate and is prone to developing antibiotic resistance. Success could lead to new methods to clear certain pathogens without relying on antibiotics.

Augustina Frimpong

Postdoctoral fellow, University of Ghana, Accra

Augustina is doing an exploratory study on pneumonia among elderly in Ghana. The aim is to develop evidence for effective preventive interventions, for example if vaccination programmes for pneumonia in Ghana should also target elderly persons. Read more

Sanna Koskiniemi

Senior lecturer, Uppsala University

Sanna is investigating if modified probiotics could be used to eradicate resistant bacteria in the normal gut flora of a patient. Her research could lead to new treatments and better methods for preventing the spread of resistant bacteria.

Peter Bergman

Senior lecturer/senior physician, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm

Peter researches how the immune system can be used as a way to prevent or treat bacterial infections.

Åsa Sjöling

Senior lecturer, Karolinska Institutet

Åsa studies how the bacteria that is the main cause of tourist diarrhea
colonize the gut and cause disease, and if shifting the gut microbiota could prevent diarrhea. If successful, this could lead to better preventive treatment of diarrhea and thereby decrease the need for antibiotic treatments.