Infectious diseases become harder and harder to treat because microbes develop mechanisms to resist therapeutic interventions. Thus, antimicrobial resistance spreads as a "silent pandemic" and poses a huge challenge to global health, national health systems and individuals. For 2050, the UN predicts 10 million deaths per year related to antimicrobial resistance.

Find out what Empa researchers are developing in the laboratory to meet this challenge. How can the development of resistance be slowed down? What options do we have for using existing drugs more appropriately and more efficiently? And how can we prevent the transmission of dangerous germs from contaminated surfaces like door handles to human hands, for example? If we discover the weak spots of bacteria and use their living, natural competitors or enemies, can we win this battle?

Empa researchers are investigating these and other questions in a variety of projects. If you are interested in innovative developments and new concepts in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, then drop by: Join us on the frontline of this crucial battle against drug-resistant infections.

Please note that this edition of wissen2go will be held in English and only online via Zoom.

Programm

Registration 

This event is free of charge, but registration is required for participation. We therefore ask you to register at by Sunday, 12 May 2024.

Welcome and Introduction
Qun Ren, Group Leader, Biointerfaces Laboratory

New Devices to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance

Giorgia Giovannini, Laboratory of Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles

New methods to detect bacteria will offer a rapid, sensitive, and selective diagnosis of bacterial infections, facilitating prompt administration of an appropriate therapy and helping limit the development of antimicrobial resistance.

How to Stop the Surface-mediated Transfer of Pathogens

Mihyun Lee, Biointerfaces Laboratory

Surface transmission plays a crucial role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. High-touch surfaces such as door handles could be coated with innovative antimicrobial and antiviral nanomaterials to stop the surface transfer of pathogens.

Nanomaterials meet Light: A Power Couple to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

Giacomo Reina, Particles-Biology Interactions Laboratory

With the use of near-infrared light, graphene-based coatings can kill germs like viruses and bacteria without inducing resistance and without harming human cells. The newly developed could thus be applied in many medical settings to fight infections.