IMI Invests in Clostridium Difficile Research
As a result of The Innovative Medicine Initiatives drive to do more research on Clostridium difficile, in November 2017 COMBACTE-CDI was added to COMBACTE. Exactly 3 years later, during the C.diffile awareness month, we asked the vision on C.diff. research and the work of COMBACTE-CDI from our IMI representative, Nathalie Seigneuret.
The initiative of IMI
A specific bacteria that deserved particular attention of IMI was Clostridium difficile. While it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in several countries, there were still gaps in the understanding of the epidemiology and clinical impact of C. difficile infection (CDI). This was the cause for IMI to launch a Call for proposals on C. difficile in 2016 which resulted in the project COMBACTE-CDI.
Nathalie Seigneuret: looking back
As a scientific officer at IMI, one of my core tasks is to follow up projects throughout their whole life-cycle, starting from idea generation, the evaluation of proposals received in response to the Call for proposals and the launch of the project, right through to monitoring and assessing the project’s activities (both scientific and financial, via reporting, amendments and reviews), and project closure.
In this respect I have been following COMBACTE-CDI from the very beginning and providing the consortium with the necessary support to ensure its success in delivering on its objectives. Over the past 3 years I have seen how hard the consortium has worked to generate robust, comprehensive data to increase awareness of CDI, and best practice for its diagnosis, treatment and management. Another task I have is to encourage the consortium to disseminate and communicate on the project, as well as to promote synergies with other projects, something that is especially critical in the AMR field. As they are all part of the IMI ND4BB programme, it is easy for COMBACTE-CDI to collaborate with other COMBACTE projects and share learnings, notably in relation to the observational trial ANTICIPATE which also targets C. difficile infections.
With just a few months left before the end of the project, I’m really looking forward to the final results of COMBACTE-CDI which I am sure will contribute to reducing the burden of CDI across Europe.
Related updates
Reflecting on COMBACTE-CDI
November is Clostridioides difficile Awareness Month
