The project entitled ‘RNA Therapies, Immunotherapy and Advanced Diagnostics against Antimicrobial Resistance (END-RAM, in spanish)’ is funded by the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) and the State Research Agency (AEI) within the TransMisiones 2024 call for proposals.
With a budget of almost seven million euros and a duration of four years, the initiative aims to develop new tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
END-RAM brings together six companies from the biotechnology and technology sector, including: Certest, hiberus, Levprot Bioscience, BioClonal, Curapath and Nostrum Biodiscovery. It also has the collaboration of seven research organisations, including the Carlos III Health Institute, the University of Zaragoza, the University of Navarra, the Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, the Superior Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (CSIC), the Institute for Biomedical Research of Barcelona and the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem worldwide. It happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop mechanisms that allow them to evade the action of drugs, making it difficult to treat infections and increasing the risk of the spread of serious disease and mortality.
In this context, the END-RAM project is articulated in two fundamental ideas. Firstly, it seeks to improve the advanced diagnosis of antimicrobial resistance through the development of an innovative rapid test and a predictive tool based on artificial intelligence with application in massive sequencing techniques. Secondly, it is committed to next-generation therapies, including cell-specific nucleic acid treatments and immunotherapy to combat the most dangerous resistant bacteria for public health.
The coordination of this project represents, in the words of our CEO: ‘A great opportunity for cooperative research in the face of a global health threat such as antimicrobial resistance’.
END-RAM represents a joint effort between the private sector and research organisations to address a problem of major health, economic and social impact. With this project, Certest and its partners seek to advance innovative solutions to help curb the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and improve the efficacy of treatments for difficult-to-fight infections.
“MIG-20242017 project subsidised by the CDTI and supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.”
