OHAMR Call for proposals 2026

General Information

• Type: Partner looking for project
• Organisation: Gdansk Iniversity of Technology
• Country: Poland (PL)
• Career stage: Early Career Researcher (up to 8 years** since PhD).

Research area

• Scientific area(s) of the call:
  1. Topic 1: Identify and develop new combination treatments using existing or innovative antimicrobials or antimicrobial with adjunctive treatments to extend drug efficacy and combat resistance.
• One Health Setting:

  H - Human Health

  A - Animal Health

• Keywords:

  photoinactivation; phototherapy; resistance; biofilm; molecular;

• Brief description of your expertise / expertise you are looking for:

  I am an early-career researcher specializing in antimicrobial photoinactivation (aPDI/aBL) and alternative strategies against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. My work focuses on Streptococcus spp. and Candida spp., with expertise in both planktonic and biofilm models. I have hands-on experience in: • photoinactivation of clinically relevant bacteria (Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, opportunistic pathogens); • testing natural products and novel antimicrobial candidates against Candida spp.; • synergy assessment using multiple quantitative methods (checkerboard, time–kill, MBEC); • in vitro safety and toxicity testing (mammalian cell viability, Ames test, Comet assay); • in vivo infection models, particularly murine vaginal infection with Streptococcus agalactiae or Candida albicans. I am scientifically focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial tolerance and resistance to antimicrobial therapies, particularly within the Streptococcus group (virulence, stress response, and adaptation pathways). What I can offer to a consortium • advanced expertise in photoinactivation and alternative antimicrobial strategies; • established protocols for bacterial/fungal biofilms and synergy assays; • capability to perform in vitro safety testing and selected in vivo models; • interest in contributing to mechanistic studies, combination therapies, and preclinical evaluation within AMR-focused projects.

• Brief description of your project / the project you would like to join:

  I am looking to join a consortium working on synergistic combinations of antibiotics with alternative or non-traditional therapies. I am particularly interested in projects involving photoinactivation (aPDI/aBL) or bioactive natural products, but I am open to other innovative antimicrobial approaches. I am flexible regarding experimental models and can work with existing protocols or help develop and optimize new ones. The ideal project pipeline would include: • high-throughput or systematic screening of potential synergistic interactions, • mechanistic studies to understand the basis of synergy, and • evaluation of safety and efficacy in relevant in vivo infection models for the most promising combinations. I am highly motivated to contribute both experimentally and conceptually to projects aiming to advance new therapeutic strategies against AMR.

Michał Karol Pierański

• Organisation: Gdansk Iniversity of Technology
• Position: Assistant Proffessor
• E-mail: michal.pieranski@pg.edu.pl
• Web: mostwiedzy.pl/pl/michal-pieranski,1513400-1