Superbugs are outsmarting our antibiotics, but can science catch up?
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health. As more bacteria evolve to resist treatment, we face a growing risk of once-treatable infections becoming deadly again. With few new antibiotics in development, the medical world is in urgent need of a new approach.
At Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), researcher Richa Sharma is exploring a game-changing approach: instead of trying to kill harmful bacteria, her research focuses on weakening their ability to cause disease.
By chemically modifying parts of the bacteria that are essential for infection, her method reduces their impact, without immediately triggering resistance. The goal is to design antibiotics that are harder for bacteria to adapt to, giving us a safer, longer-lasting way to fight infections.
Contact Richa
Related videos
How does zero gravity in space impact the human liver?
When gravity disappears, the body changes in ways we’re only starting to understand — and the liver is no exception. Postdoctoral researcher Sinem Helvacıoğlu Akyüz (VUB) is studying how microgravity affects liver cells, especially the proteins responsible for moving drugs through the body. Her research could lead to better protections for astronauts — and new insights into treating disease on Earth.
Transforming drug testing with 3D cell culture
How processed food affects your brain
Parkash Singh Rawati (VUB) is studying the link between processed food, gut bacteria, and brain inflammation. His work focuses on a gas called hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), produced by gut bacteria when we eat too many refined or processed foods. This gas may be a hidden driver of brain inflammation linked to conditions like multiple sclerosis. By comparing the gut microbiota of MS patients with healthy individuals, Parkash hopes to open the door to new treatments, from targeted probiotics to diet-based strategies for protecting brain health.
