Genomics to combat resistance against antibiotics in community-acquired LRTI in Europe

Objective

GRACE is a Network of Excellence focusing on the complex and controversial field of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), which is one of the leading reasons for seeking medical care. The promiscuous use of antibiotics to treatmen t of LRTI accounts for a major part of the community burden of antibiotic use and contributes dramatically to the rising prevalence of resistance among major human pathogens. The overall objective of GRACE is to combat antimicrobial resistance through i ntegrating centres of research excellence and exploiting genomics in the investigation of community-acquired LRTI. Microbial and human genomics will be integrated with health sciences research consisting of clinical observational and intervention studies , health economics and health eduction to specifically change practice in managing community-acquired LRTI. GRACE is exceptional as it brings together investigators from basic laboratory sciences, clinical medicine, and health economics. In the jointly e xecuted research programme, 17 academic groups, spread accross 9 EU Member States and 5 SMEs will participate. GRACE will organise professional education, including web-based teaching and practical courses, through two leading European scientific societ ies (ESCMID and ERS) to disseminate the excellence of the programme. A high level of co-ordination will be obtained through a professionaly IT-supported and rigorous management structure, so as to achieve optimal synergy of the components of GRACE. We ai m to develop a genomic laboratory network in 8 European countries and a primary care research network in 11 European countries during the first 18 months of the project, and then to build on the infrastructure to create the jointly executed research prog ramme. The consortium will become a virtual "European LRTI Research Centre" potentially leading to a forum promoting research and good practice in the field of community-acquired LRTI.

Fields of science

• natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
• medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
• medical and health sciencesclinical medicine
• social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicshealth economics
• medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance

Programme(s)

• FP6-LIFESCIHEALTH - Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health: Thematic Priority 1 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• LSH-2004-2.1.2-1 - Management of lower respiratory tract infections

Call for proposal

FP6-2004-LIFESCIHEALTH-5
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (35)