Initiative in Gothenburg tackles global antibiotic crisis

Each year, more than a million people die from infections that fail treatment with available antibiotics. By 2050, that number could rise to ten million – more than the number of people who die from cancer today. The UN warns of a post-antibiotic era, in which also routine operations and cancer treatments that rely on preventive antibiotics will be much riskier.

Long-term investment

The Center for Antibiotic Resistance Research in Gothenburg (CARe) is a partnership between its host institution, the University of Gothenburg, and Chalmers University of Technology. With a five-year grant of SEK 20 million (about USD 1.8 million) from the foundation, the center will have the long-term resources needed to continue developing solutions that make a difference for healthcare and society worldwide.

“Through this investment, the Zachariassén Family Foundation is helping Sweden maintain its strong position and its role as an international leader in the fight against one of the greatest societal challenges of our time. It is important support for a research environment that has already demonstrated international impact,” says Malin Broberg, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg.

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Real-world impact

CARe brings together more than 160 researchers from 19 institutions, with expertise spanning medicine, natural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences.

“Antibiotic resistance is a global problem that affects people, animals, and the environment. Solutions require efforts at all levels – from basic research and medicine to policy and social development. Here in Gothenburg, we have built an environment that unites this breadth and translates it into real change,” says Professor Joakim Larsson, Director of CARe.

CARe’s research helped prompt the UN General Assembly to adopt new guidelines aimed at reducing emissions from antibiotic production. The center’s experts are also regularly consulted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and several national agencies in their work to develop guidelines to curb the spread of resistance.

Innovative tools for the future

CARe is developing methods for monitoring antibiotic resistance through wastewater analyses – a tool that may become especially valuable in low-income regions. Other areas of focus include development of antibacterial materials that reduce infection risks during surgery, and AI-based tools that improve the precision of antibiotic treatments.

“This support enables us to deepen our collaborations, advance our research, and take new steps together with the University of Gothenburg – contributing to sustainable solutions for society’s major challenges. That is exactly what Chalmers stands for,” says Michaela Wenzel, Associate Professor at Chalmers and Deputy Director of CARe.