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Idea - FICS

Studentsourcing Antibiotics-Discovery

Team and Contact Details

Student Name School Degree Year Email
Mishal SafdarBiological SciencesUndergraduateThird[email protected]
Afraa WaleedBiological SciencesUndergraduateThird[email protected]
Ayesha ShaukatBiological SciencesUndergraduateThird[email protected]
Manal FatimaBiological SciencesUndergraduateThird[email protected]

Inter School Idea ? Yes
Do you need expertises from another area: Yes
If Yes please provide details of expertises you need: Analytics

Idea Details

Idea Name: Studentsourcing Antibiotics-Discovery
Slogan: Explore the hidden treasure
Supervisor Name: Dr. Wasim Sajjad
Supervisor Designation: Assistant Professor Microbiology NUMS
Supervisor School: SEECS
Supervisor Department: Biological Sciences
Contact number: 0346 3112030
Email ID: [email protected]
Abstract:
    Most of us take for granted the Earth’s crust that we call soil, but it is precious. Soil has shaped the course of human history by providing us with lifesaving drugs. In particular, most of the antibiotics we use to treat infectious disease come from bacteria in soil. Our goal is to search for new molecules against ESKAPE pathogens while exploring the native soil and preserving the bio-assets.
What is the unmet need in society that your idea will fulfill ?
    Pace of antibiotic discovery is not keeping up with the rapid evolution of resistance in microbes. Many pharmaceutical companies have reduced discovery programs. The US-FDA approval of new antibacterial decreased by 56 percent. So, while the crisis escalates, the commitment to drug-develop is urgent
Who needs it ? How many would benefit ?
   There is a crisis brewing with potential for enormous health, economic, and political consequences. Many diseases caused by bacteria are becoming untreatable due to the proliferation of pathogens resistant to the effects of antibiotics. Pharmaceutical industries and general public will get benefit.
How will the solution works
    We aim to explore the native soil and diverse environ of Pakistan in search of new isolates with potential of producing active molecules. We will apply different scientific approaches to design novel media for culture dependent microbes. Using spot method for rapid screening and eliminating the outliers will enable us to search for target molecules against ESKAPE. Our Tiny Earth Partners from USA will assist us in chemical analysis of any novel active metabolites.
Who are your competitors ? How is your solution different
    Most of the APIs are imported which escalate the bills and there is no competitor in Pakistan due to non-functional R&Ds. However, the global competitors with developed technologies is unbeatable but it will pave a way for indigenization and to sensitize the stakeholders about local production.
Status: new
Entry Date & Time: 2022-12-15 (1945)