2013 Press Releases

€6 million research award for CFMATTERS

20 Sep 2013
A major EU-funded project focused on antibiotic treatment in Cystic Fibrosis patients has been launched in UCC. Pictured is Dr Barry Plant of the College of Medicine and Health, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and the HRB Clinical Research Facility, UCC/CUH who will lead an international consortium of Cystic Fibrosis clinicians and scientists in this collaborative venture (Image by Provision).

A major EU-funded project focused on antibiotic treatment in Cystic Fibrosis patients has been launched in UCC.

"CFMATTERS”, an acronym for “Cystic Fibrosis Microbiome-determined Antibiotic Therapy Trial in Exacerbations: Results Stratified”, will receive approximately €6 million in funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme.

Dr Barry Plant of the College of Medicine and Health, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and the HRB Clinical Research Facility, UCC/CUH will lead an international consortium of Cystic Fibrosis clinicians and scientists in this collaborative venture.

A unique project, CFMATTERS is the first randomised, controlled trial comparing the use of microbiome-directed antibiotic treatment versus standard therapy for patients with CF experiencing respiratory infections.  

Announcing the funding Dr Barry Plant commented, “CFMATTERS offers a personalized approach to antibiotic treatment. It will enhance individual patient responses and decrease drug resistance by employing next generation technologies.”

“CFMATTERS brings together a powerhouse of international expert clinicians and scientists to further enhance the understanding on how best to treat all chronic and acute infections”.

The diverse group includes renowned CF experts from both academic institutions and hospitals from across Europe and the United States of America. Partners include University College Cork and Teagasc Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Ireland), Queen’s University of Belfast, Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Dundee (United Kingdom), the Université Paris Descartes and Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (France), Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg (Germany), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), and the University of Washington in Seattle (USA).

These academic institutions will also cooperate with small business enterprises including clinical data management specialists, Clininfo S.A. (France) and a research project management company, GABO:milliarium (Germany).

Mr. Philip Watt, CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland stated, “This is a tremendous opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader in Cystic Fibrosis care and drug resistance. The success of CFMATTERS will have important positive implications for all patients with CF and their families”. 

Denis Coughlan an Irish patient with Cystic Fibrosis added, “This new approach to treating infection, I believe offers all patients a new radical approach with potentially significant benefits”.

Cystic Fibrosis affects over 70,000 people worldwide with over 90% dying prematurely from respiratory infections which have overlapping chronic and acute bacterial components caused by a multitude of infective and potentially resistant microorganisms.

 

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