The University of Minho, reaffirming its commitment to the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge for the benefit of society, announces the creation of a Therapeutic Phage Production Laboratory.

This pioneering project comes in response to the growing need for innovative solutions to tackle the global crisis of antibiotic resistance, one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Phage therapy, an emerging therapeutic alternative, has been gaining relevance as a promising approach to combating resistant bacterial infections.

In recent years, the Centre for Biological Engineering (CEB) at the School of Engineering of the University of Minho has played a prominent role in this area at national level. In collaboration with the Queen Astrid Military Hospital in Brussels, CEB researchers have contributed decisively to the recent authorisation of phage therapy for hospital use by INFARMED, supporting the treatment of several patients in Portugal.

The Laboratory will be dedicated to the production of therapeutic phages, which are essential for the advancement of this therapeutic approach, and will position the University as a national and international reference in the fight against antibiotic resistance. The creation of this laboratory reinforces the University of Minho’s commitment to scientific innovation and knowledge transfer, promoting the development of solutions with a direct impact on health.

SOURCE: UMinho