A research team at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is leading a $28 million initiative aimed at developing a precision phage platform to address public health challenges. The five-year project, titled “Microbe/phage Investigation for Generalized Health Therapy,” involves collaboration with several prominent institutions, including Ginkgo Bioworks, Baylor University, University of Minnesota, Oregon State University, and Oregon Health & Science University.
The initiative focuses on advancing the use of bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—as tools to combat bacterial infections and improve health outcomes. Researchers aim to create a versatile platform capable of precisely targeting harmful bacteria while minimizing impacts on beneficial microbes. This approach could provide an alternative to traditional antibiotics and address issues such as antibiotic resistance. The project brings together expertise from academia and industry to explore innovative solutions in microbial science and biotechnology over the next five years.
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