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.