Trio awarded the Areas of Advance prize for work on antibiotic resistance

CARe was established as a centre at the University of Gothenburg in 2016 within the framework of UGOT Challenges, a five-year interdisciplinary research programme. In 2020, efforts began to expand CARe to include Chalmers, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Region Västra Götaland. The first step in this process was when Fredrik Westerlund, Department of Life Sciences, was appointed to the steering group of CARe led by Erik Kristiansson, Department of Mathematical Sciences. Two years later, in 2023, the new and expanded version of CARe was established, with Michaela Wenzel, Department of Life Sciences, as Deputy Director.

‘During CARe’s first years, antibiotic resistance research at Chalmers grew significantly. That made us an important part of CARe. Michaela has done an excellent job in creating balance between the universities. Today, CARe operates fully across both Chalmers and the University of Gothenburg,’ says Erik Kristiansson.

Interdisciplinary focus

Within CARe, an important task is to maintain contacts and communication with the public as well as with other antibiotic resistance research centres in Sweden and the Nordic countries. The work has a strong focus on interdisciplinarity.

‘CARe includes not only research within related fields such as biology, chemistry and physics, but also social sciences, ethics and politics,’ says Michaela Wenzel.
‘CARe involves several departments at Chalmers, for example Life Sciences and Mathematical Sciences, but also Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Physics, and Architecture and Civil Engineering. We are open to involving additional departments,’ adds Fredrik Westerlund.

How does it work to bring together more than 150 researchers from such different fields?
‘It is not as difficult as one might think, since we share the same goal: to counter the negative effects of antibiotic resistance. Although we work in different ways, we value each other’s contributions, and it’s inspiring to see how unexpected collaborations can emerge at our meetings,’ says Michaela Wenzel.

Erik Kristiansson also sees it as an exercise in communicating across disciplinary boundaries and reaching a broader audience.
‘As researchers, we need to be able to speak with more people than those sitting in the room next door,’ he says.

Makes collaborations emerge naturally

Antibiotic resistance is a highly complex challenge that no single research discipline can solve alone. The goal of CARe is to promote interdisciplinary research that can tackle the issue of antibiotic resistance from multiple angles.

‘This may mean developing completely new antibiotics, understanding how resistance arises and spreads, or working on political measures and policymaking. Sweden is doing a very good job, and we want to share best practice internationally,’ says Michaela Wenzel.

The purpose of CARe is not primarily to allocate research funding, but to serve as a focal point.
‘We don’t work top-down; instead, we create platforms where new collaborations emerge naturally,’ says Michaela Wenzel.

In this way, several successful initiatives have been supported.

‘One example is research on antibiotic resistance in the environment, particularly in wastewater from hospitals, which contributed to a UN directive on wastewater treatment Another example involves Chalmers researchers developing antimicrobial materials for wound care’, says Michaela Wenzel.

She is currently working on AI-based molecular prediction, aiming to find new treatments for tuberculosis and fungal infections that spare the patient’s gut flora and reduce side effects.
‘Hopefully, this will help patients complete their treatment and reduce the risk of resistance.’

Erik Kristiansson also uses AI and large datasets to analyse how resistance genes are transferred between bacteria in different environments. Fredrik Westerlund researches the use of DNA barcoding (like barcodes in shops) to, for example, trace the spread of bacteria between patients.
‘The technique is based on nanofabrication and microscopy, and we are also developing simpler versions that can be used in developing countries,’ he says.

The trio see the award as something greater than a personal achievement.
‘I am more pleased that this research field is gaining recognition than that we as individuals are,’ says Fredrik Westerlund.
‘It also shows that medical issues are being prioritised at a technical university. Compared with ten years ago, Chalmers now holds a much stronger position in antibiotic resistance research,’ says Erik Kristiansson.

The Area of Advance award is handed out on Chalmers' Annual Ceremony on 6 November.

Justification

‘Michaela Wenzel, Fredrik Westerlund and Erik Kristiansson are awarded the Areas of Advance prize 2025 for their efforts to strengthen interdisciplinary research collaboration on antibiotic resistance, one of the major global threats to human health.

The three laureates have taken the initiative and great responsibility for broadening expertise within and further developing the Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe). The centre brings together around 150 researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers, supported by Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Region Västra Götaland, and aims to reduce mortality, morbidity and socioeconomic costs related to antibiotic resistance through advanced interdisciplinary research in the field.

Through their roles in management, collaborative bodies and the steering group, the laureates have contributed to the relaunch of the centre, identifying and inviting complementary scientific expertise. The further developed centre has attracted significant external funding from various sources, including international research initiatives and regional support programmes, thereby strengthening the centre’s capacity to contribute new solutions to this global health challenge.

CARe is an excellent model for regional collaboration across disciplinary and organisational boundaries to jointly contribute to groundbreaking solutions to global societal challenges.’