Objective
"We wish to exploit the need for effective treatment for nosocomial diarrhoea especially that caused by Clostridium difficile
disease (CDD). Patients treated with broad spectrum antibiotics are at greatest risk of CDD diarrhoea and many of those
affected are hospitalised elderly patients with serious underlying illnesses. Antibiotics can cause disruption of the normal
intestinal flora, an important part of the immune system, leading to an overgrowth of CDD. Currently, some 2350 patients
suffering from chronic CDD in a number of countries have been treated by faecal bacteriotherapy (FB), using samples
collected from donors. Although this procedure is reported, in a number of small studies, to be around 90% effective, it is
hazardous, in that infection from the donor could be transmitted to the patient and it involves delivery of faecal samples into
the duodenum via a nasal probe.
We propose to treat CDD using a modified FB to restore the patient’s original intestinal flora (employing samples collected
from the patients themselves prior to their treatment) We will produce novel enteric-coated capsules, containing processed
freeze dried colonic flora that can be swallowed by a patient to restore their intestinal flora and immunise them against
further infection by CDD. RFID tags will be employed to associate capsules with the relevant patient and assist with sample
inventory.
3 SMEs in 3 EU states and 5 distinguished research providers along with 1 OTHER SME in the coordination role will collaborate to provide the necessary technology to the project. The coordinator has previously coordinated an EU proposal and acted as a participant in projects over several
Frameworks. The outcome will be a non-antibiotic medicament to treat and prevent CDD The consortium plan to patent the
IPR from the project, exploit and disseminate the technology worldwide and carry out animal and hospital clinical studies.
There are no gender issues related to the proposal but animal and human studies will require ethical approval."
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
FP7-SME-2011
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
BSG-SME - Research for SMEsCoordinator
SK8 6GN Cheadle Hulme
United Kingdom