National Research Program in Norway Targeting Antimicrobial Resistance

Following the recommendation of an evaluation committee composed of internationally renowned experts, BFS will support four projects with a total amount of 75 million NOK. In addition, 5 million NOK has been set aside for supportive, crosscutting activities.

The selection process following the launch of the BFS Research Programme on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is now completed and four large projects will receive funding through. The program launch in June 2018 came after consultation with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and other key Norwegian research milieus. The foundation received 16 applications of which six went on to the final round.

Joint Projects Engaging Universities and Hospitals in Norway and Abroad
The evaluation process focused on the scientific quality and plans for generation and pursuit of novel scientific ideas. There are no geographical or thematic considerations. The projects cover the three themes of the Programme: treatment, diagnostics and surveillance. They engage host institutions in Tromsø, Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo.
Universities will lead three of four projects, while Haukeland University Hospital will lead one project. The University of Bergen, Stavanger University Hospital, University hospital of St. Olav, Oslo University Hospital, The University Hospital of North Norway and Drammen Hospital all participate as partners. In addition, there are national partners such as the Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. All projects have international partners.

AMR targeted from several angles and locations
The projects will receive BFS support for four years. From Oslo, Professor Jukka Corander will lead a project focused on E. coli, a common cause of infections in the blood and urinary tract that increasingly develops resistance towards antibiotics.
From Haukeland University Hospital, the project led by Professor Elling Ulvestad will evaluate methods for faster and more precise diagnosis of acute respiratory infections, which can reduce the use of so-called broad-spectrum antibiotics – an important goal in combating resistance. The project led by Professor Marit Otterlei at NTNU in Trondheim aims to make it harder for bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance, and look for alternative methods for combating bacteria.
The project led by Professor Arnfinn Sundsfjord in Tromsø focuses on a specific microbe (Klebsiella pneumoniae) which plays a major role in the global spread of antibiotic resistance in both humans and animals.

– With our grants Bergens Research Foundation aims to make a substantial difference – and what could be more important to our children and grandchildren than enabling our health care system to offer effective future treatment against infections”, says Stener Kvinnsland, Chair of the Board of Directors of Bergen Research Foundation.

– We hope that our foundation’s research initiative will stimulate to increased collaboration between the Norwegian research communities in this field and look forward to monitor the progress, says CEO of Bergen Research Foundation, Sveinung Hole.