UNILORIN Researchers Secure N1.7bn Funding to Develop Innovative Antibiotic Replacement

UNILORIN Research Group Gets N1.7 Billion Grant To Create Alternative Antibiotics

University of Ilorin receives N1.7 billion grant from Canada's IDRC to combat antimicrobial resistance in food-producing animals. The INNOVET-AMR 2 Research Group will develop novel approaches, including a Bacteriocin-Rich Extract, as a potential antibiotic substitute, in collaboration with international partners.

 

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, has awarded a N1.7 billion grant to the Innovative Veterinary Solutions For AntiMicrobial Resistance (INNOVET-AMR) 2 Research Group at the University of Ilorin. The goal of the grant is to develop novel approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals that produce food.

Dr. Ismail Odetokun, the head of the research team, revealed this to Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), the university vice-chancellor, at his Ilorin office.

The Director of the UNILORIN Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Professors Ibrahim Raufu and Wasiu Jimoh, as well as Drs. Ismail Adeyemo, Basiru Afisu, Aremu Abdulfatai, and Olayiwola Ahmed, all from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, are other team members.

The UNILORIN group will work with scientists from Royal Holloway University of London, UK, and Spain's Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) to create a Bacteriocin-Rich Extract (BRE) as a possible antibiotic substitute.

Their project, titled, “Bacteriocin- rich Extract from Engineered Lactic Acid Bacteria as an Antibiotic Alternative for Therapeutic and Prophylactic Use in Ruminants and Aquaculture (BAC4RumA),” seeks to investigate the efficacy and financial advantages of BRE as a preventative and therapeutic approach for bacterial illnesses in aquaculture and cattle.

In addition to creating a product that can be patented, Odetokun noted that during the course of the project's 32 months, four postgraduate students would be hired and capacity-building activities will be taken part in.