Gathering forces in the fight against antibiotic resistance

The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics has long been on the rise worldwide. A study published in The Lancet in 2022 shows that over one million people died as a direct result of antibiotic resistant bacteria in 2019. They further estimate that 10 million could die due to resistance by the year 2050.

Portrait of a man — Professor and leader of CANS, Arnfinn Sundsfjord. Foto: Jan Fredrik Frantzen/UiT

The situation is still considered to be under control in the Nordic countries. Nevertheless, the Nordic research communities in this field have taken a global responsibility to finding good solutions to the problem.

Especially Important for Cancer Patients

Some of the questions being addressed at the conference are how bacteria develop their resistance mechanisms, and how can we delay this development. What are the most important global challenges in this field, and how can we prevent a return to a world without effective medicines against bacterial infections?

If the healthcare system is left without access to effective antibiotics, it will indeed become extremely difficult to provide good patient care, especially to cancer patients who depend on antibiotics to be able to undergo radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

"Antibiotic resistance is a stubborn problem that requires a broad, interdisciplinary approach. That's why we are gathering outstanding research forces in the Nordics for the exchange of ideas and fresh research results in a joint effort for new solutions", says Arnfinn Sundsfjord, professor at UiT and leader of CANS – Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies.

These are the eight Nordic research centers that are gathering in Tromsø from March 13 to March 15:

CANS – Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (UiT)
Uppsala Antibiotic Centre
Umeå Centre for Microbial Research
Centre for Antibiotic Research (Gothenburg)
The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (Copenhagen)
The Finnish Multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance Research (Helsinki and Turku)
Turning the Tide of Antimicrobial Resistance (Oslo)
CAMRIA: Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance with Interdisciplinary Approaches (Bergen and Stavanger)

The conference is organized by CANS – Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies at UiT. The center is funded by UiT The Arctic University of Norway and Tromsø Research Foundation (TFS).

Frantzen, Jan Fredrik jan.f.frantzen@uit.no Kommunikasjonsrådgiver

Published: 12.03.24 13:53 Updated: 19.03.24 10:38

Health