Prestigious EU grant awarded to research on implant infections
An international research project led from the University Av has received over €4.7 million in EU funding. The aim is to develop solutions for implant-related infections and prolong the lifespan of medical devices.
A major international research network based at the Institute of Clinical Avs has been awarded €4,725,090 (approximately SEK 52 million) from the EU’s Horizon Europe program. The project, called SHIELD, will develop new strategies to prevent and treat infections linked to medical implants.
“This is a fantastic opportunity. Receiving such substantial funding through tough EU-wide competition shows that our research is of the highest quality and that the topic is highly relevant,” says Margarita Trobos, associate professor of biomaterials at the Institute of Clinical Avs and coordinator of the project.
SHIELD stands for Strategies for Healing Implant-associated infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices. The research focuses on implants used in orthopaedics, otology, and dentistry—areas where infections can cause serious complications and lead to costly revision surgeries.
Extensive network across eleven countries
The project is funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks, a prestigious EU initiative aimed at promoting cutting-edge research and international collaboration. In total, 27 partners in eleven countries are involved, including universities, companies, research institutes, and hospitals.
The project will run for four years starting in the fall of 2025. Three of the 16 PhD students will be based in Gothenburg. The sixteenth PhD student in the network will be funded by Switzerland through the national research body SERI.
“This is a training program that will help shape the next generation of researchers. The doctoral students will have a unique chance to move between academia, industry, and healthcare, as well as to establish an international network,” says Margarita Trobos.
Preventing and treating infections
The research is based on three main approaches: regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and translational research models (models that connect basic research and clinical practice). The goal is to develop antibacterial materials, new therapies, and diagnostic tools that reduce the risk of infection and improve the durability of implants.
“We are exploring how to prevent bacteria from attaching to implants, and how to treat infections when they do occur. This includes using surface coatings, bacteriophages, and antimicrobial peptides.”
The research includes both pre-clinical and clinical studies, with the aim of understanding how infections develop and how to best prevent them.
Clear benefits for patients and healthcare
The benefits for patients are clear. With fewer infections and more durable implants, there will be less need for revision surgeries. That means faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and better quality of life.
“Infections are one of the most serious complications related to implants. If we can reduce them, we are not only improving healthcare—we are also improving everyday life for the patients. That is what motivates us,” says Margarita Trobos.
The project will run for four years starting in the fall of 2025. The sixteenth PhD student in the network will be funded by Switzerland through the national research body SERI.
Tough competition for EU grants
SHIELD was selected from among 1,417 applications. Only ten percent of them advanced to the funding stage, highlighting the high quality of the project.
“Competition for these grants is extremely tough, so we are incredibly proud to have been selected. It shows that our research initiative is both innovative and highly relevant from a European perspective,” says Margarita Trobos.
Text: Jakob Lundberg