UNILORIN Research Group Wins N1.7bn Grant To Develop Antibiotic Alternative

A University of Ilorin research group, Innovative Veterinary Solutions For AntiMicrobial Resistance (INNOVET-AMR) 2 Research Group has won a worth N1.7 billion worth of grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada to develop innovative solutions for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food-producing animals.

Leader of the Research Team, Dr Ismail Odetokun disclosed this during a visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN) in his office in Ilorin.

Other members of the team include the Director of UNILORIN Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ibrahim Raufu, Prof. Wasiu Jimoh, Dr Ismail Adeyemo, Dr Basiru Afisu, Dr Aremu Abdulfatai, and Dr Olayiwola Ahmed – all from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Collaborating with researchers from Spain’s Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) and the Royal Holloway University of London, UK, the UNILORIN group will focus on developing a Bacteriocin-Rich Extract (BRE) as a potential antibiotic alternative.

Their project, titled “Bacteriocin-rich Extract from Engineered Lactic Acid Bacteria as an Antibiotic Alternative for Therapeutic and Prophylactic Use in Ruminants and Aquaculture (BAC4RumA),” aims to explore the effectiveness and economic benefits of BRE as a treatment and preventive measure against bacterial infections in livestock and aquaculture.

Odetokun pointed out that the project not only seeks to develop a patentable product, but also plans to recruit four postgraduate students and participate in capacity-building initiatives throughout the 32-month project duration.