image: From left to right: Nina Kostina and César Rodriguez-Emmenegger at the IBEC laboratories.
Credit: Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
César Rodriguez-Emmenegger, an ICREA Research Professor and principal investigator at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), has been awarded a coveted European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant, securing €2 million in funding over the next five years to support groundbreaking research. His project, PhagoSynCell, aims to combat one of the most pressing global health challenges: antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The ERC Consolidator Grant is one of the European Union’s most competitive and prestigious funding mechanisms, designed to support outstanding mid-career scientist in building and consolidating their independent research teams. Rodriguez-Emmenegger’s success places him among the top 14.2% of applicants, selected from over 2,300 submissions across Europe in this funding cycle.
Prof. Rodriguez-Emmenegger leads IBEC’s Bioinspired Interactive Materials and Protocellular Systems Group, which will spearhead the innovative PhagoSynCell project. This initiative focuses on the design and development of Phagocytic Synthetic Cells (PSCs)—synthetic, programmable cells capable of mimicking the natural process of phagocytosis to eliminate harmful pathogens without promoting the development of drug resistance.
A Revolutionary Approach to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance poses a critical global health threat, exacerbated by the slowdown in new antibiotic development. The PhagoSynCell project introduces a revolutionary solution: creating synthetic cells with advanced membranes engineered from novel self-assembling polymers. In future, these programmable membranes will endow the PSCs with the ability to predate on even the most resistant bacteria, and in this way protect us like the cells from the immune system do.
Pioneering Artificial Phagocytosis for Therapeutics
Beyond addressing antimicrobial resistance, PhagoSynCell seeks to establish the foundational principles of artificial phagocytosis. This approach has the potential to revolutionize medicine by introducing synthetic cells as quasi-living therapeutic tools. These advancements could pave the way for broader applications in immunotherapy, precision medicine, and beyond.
“This grant is a remarkable milestone, enabling us to push the boundaries of bioengineering and tackle a problem of profound global significance,” said Rodriguez-Emmenegger. “With PhagoSynCell, we aim to develop a safe and innovative therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria while laying the groundwork for future synthetic cell technologies.”
Funded by the European Union (GA: 101170207). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union can be held responsible for them