Name of the research center: MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CENTER ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE/ acronym MULTIREZ

Director of the research center: Associate Professor Florin Horhat MD, PhD

Date of establishment/ acknowledgement: 05.03.2021

Research areas/ research opportunities:

The MULTI-REZ Advanced Research Center was born out of the ongoing need to study the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance.

Current research activities include:

– involvement of members in editing and translating specialized chapters in treatises on clinical microbiology with international circulation (Murray), dissemination of information in the medical community (annual organization of specialized postgraduate courses), participation in symposia and the Centenary of the Cantacuzino Institute, participation in national and international conferences.

Together with our colleagues from the all the Faculties of our university, we have successes to conduct experiments that include tests for antibacterial activity on several multidrug resistant pathogens. We will continue multidisciplinary studies in order to find a new therapeutic alternative for infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria.

In order to achieve high quality scientific work, to increase the research standards and to ensure sufficient funding opportunities we will collaborate with researchers from other universities. At this stage we are already collaborating, in this regards, with Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timisoara, Polytechnic University of Timisoara and Polytechnic University of București.

In most cases, clinical research teams require the intervention of the medical microbiologists to complete their studies related to the infections caused by multidrug resistant pathogens. Having a research team members trained in 2 specialties, Medical Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, would certainly contribute to the collaborative work and enable the researcher who finalizes the research project to be able to participate in the clinical aspects of laboratory research.

There has been an increasing interest in biofilms in recent years, so that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited biofilm-associated diseases as major healthcare safety challenges faced by the medical community. It was estimated that over 65% of health care-associated infections are caused by biofilms.

For this reason, we would like to see incorporated in the future research activity the microbial biofilm study based on the following research topics:

–  Study of microorganism growth in biofilms;

–  To establish the mechanism of biofilm resistance to antimicrobial agents;

–  Studies on the potential of medical procedures to impact on biofilm flora and to inoculate distant sites;

–  Development of methodology for prevention and control of biofilms from catheters, water unit lines and other clinically important solid surfaces;

–  Finding several derived compounds and essential oils that could influence biofilm formation by inhibiting peptidoglycan synthesis.

Members list:

Titular members:

Nr.

Name and surname of the titular member (didactic/ research personnel)

Didactic/ research degree

1.

LICKER MONICA-SORINA

Professor MD, PhD

2.

HORHAT FLORIN-GEORGE

Associate Professor MD, PhD

3.

HOGEA ELENA

Associate Professor MD, PhD

4.

BERCEANU DELIA

Senior Lecturer MD, PhD

5.

MUNTEAN DELIA

Senior Lecturer MD, PhD

6.

PILUT CIPRIAN NICOLAE

Assistant Lecturer, PhD

7.

STANGA LIVIA

Assistant Lecturer, PhD

8.

RADULESCU MATILDA

Assistant Lecturer, PhD

9.

POPA MIHAELA DIANA

Assistant Lecturer, PhD

10.

BAGIU IULIA-CRISTINA

Assistant Lecturer, PhD

11.

MUSUROI CORINA

Assistant Lecturer, PhD

12.

VULPIE SILVANA

Assistant Lecturer, PhD

 

Associated members:

Nr.

Name and surname

Student, masters student, PhD student, postdoctoral student, auxilliary and non-teaching staff

1.

Izmendi Oana Gianina

PhD student

2.

Voiculescu Elena Adela

PhD student

3.

Vulcanescu Dan Dumitru

PhD student

4.

Zembrod Beatrice Sarah

PhD student

 

Internal collaborators:

Nr.

Name and surname (didactic/ research personnel)

VBUMP Affiliation (Discipline and department)

1.

TAMAS LIVIU-ATHOS

Discipline Biochemistry, Department IV: Biochemistry and Pharmacology

2.

DOBRESCU AMADEUS EMANUEL

Department X: Surgery II

3.

PIRTEA LAURENTIU

Department XII: Discipline of Obstetrics-Gynecology I

4.

GAFENCU MIHAI

Department XI: Discipline Pediatrics III

5.

DAVID VLAD-LAURENTIU

Department of Pediatrics XI

6.

CUMPANAS ALIN ADRIAN

Discipline Urology, Department XV: Orthopedics-Traumatology, Urology, Radiology and Medical Imaging

7.

CRĂINICEANU ZORIN

Discipline Plastic Surgery, Aesthetics and Reconstructive Microsurgery

8.

CIUCA IOANA

Discipline Pediatrics II, Department XI

9.

BREBU DAN ALIN

Department X, Discipline of Surgery II

10.

BARDAN TIBERIU-RĂZVAN

Discipline Urology, Department XV: Orthopedics-Traumatology, Urology, Radiology and Medical Imaging

11.

BADITOIU LUMINITA

Discipline of Epidemiology, department XIII Infectious Diseases

 

External collaborators:

Nr.

Name and surname (didactic/ research personnel)

Affiliation (Department, institution/university, city, country)

1.

FILIMON MARIOARA NICOLETA

Department of Biology – Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, at West University of Timisoara, Romania

2.

JIANU CALIN

Discipline Additives and ingredients in the food industry, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Banat Timisoara, Romania