As a result of an extremely generous anonymous donation of £125,000, ANTRUK now has sufficient funds to conduct its first research project. The project is focussed on finding Antibiotic Resistance Breakers (ARBs), that is molecules that are not antibiotics per se but in combination with an antibiotic can break resistance. Dr David Brown, the Charity’s chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee has written a review about the Antibiotic Resistance Breaker concept and this can be found by clicking here – https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/dr-david-brown-chair-of-our-scientific-and-technical-advisory-committee-has-antibiotic-resistance-breaker-review-published/
The intention is to assay up to 1700 drugs and nutraceuticals which are contained in the drug pharmacopoeia and the GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) list for ARB activity in four species of Gram-negative bacteria. Resistance breaking activity will be examined for the five most common antibiotic classes to which resistance has been found. I estimate that the results of this first programme will be available by the end of 2016. In the meantime the Charity needs to raise up to £1 million to take this first project to its next stage.