Project description
Fighting antibiotic resistance in wastewater
Beneath the surface of Europe’s wastewater treatment plants, a silent threat is brewing. The very microbes that clean our water may also be spreading antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), fuelling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – a growing health crisis. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ARFMW project dives deep into this microbial paradox. It combines ecology, engineering, and cutting-edge molecular tools. Specifically, the research will decode how these functional microbes carry and spread ARGs without compromising water purification. Their insights could reshape how Europe monitors and manages AMR in wastewater, safeguarding both public health and the environment. ARFMW is a crucial step towards cleaner water and a safer future.
Objective
The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) adopted by the European Union recognizes biological treatment processes as sustainable and cost-effective solutions for pollutant removal from wastewater, thereby mitigating ecological damage. However, there is a growing awareness that the biological units within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve as hotspots for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which presents significant health risks. Preventing the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) while maintaining the wastewater treatment efficiency is a great challenge for WWTPs. ARFMW project focuses on functional microbes in WWTPs, which are not only pivotal to pollutant degradation but also potential reservoirs for ARGs. Our objective is to employ a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ecological and engineering principles with cutting-edge multi-omics analyses and molecular techniques, to elucidate the AMR characteristics of functional microbes and their impact on wastewater treatment. Hosted by the Water Technology group, Aarhus University, under the supervision of Prof. Barth F. Smets, I will expand my core research skills in microbial technology and water engineering to operate lab-scale bioreactor for investigating the relationship between the spread of ARGs in functional microbes and the performance of wastewater treatment. During the secondment at University of Helsinki, Finland, under the guidance of Prof. Marko Virta, I will gain complementary skills in advanced molecular techniques (epicPCR) to identify comprehensive host information of specific ARGs. Additionally, this project will augment my transferable skills such as project management, communication and leadership, thereby propelling me to become a mature researcher. ARFMW will also engage with the public to raise awareness about AMR; anticipated results will aid Europe in optimizing its wastewater-based AMR surveillance plan for regional sustainable development regarding clean water.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology bioremediation bioreactors
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.