Researchers of the University participate in Pau (France) in a meeting on the European project EMERGENTcy

Researchers from the University of Navarra (department Microbiology and Parasitology) have participated in a meeting held in Pau together with the different partners of the European project EMERGENTcy. The initiative, which was launched last March, aims to study how to prevent the presence of antibiotics in rivers, as well as bacteria and genes resistant to antibiotics themselves.

The project, funded with 1.299 million euros by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra program (POCTEFA 2021-2027), has a total investment of 1.99 million euros. Led by NILSA, its partners are the University of Navarra, Navarrabiomed, the University of Zaragoza, the National Center for Scientific research based in Paris, the New Aquitaine Ecocène business and the Occitan Eurocob. The study will end on December 31, 2026 and is based on the conclusions already reached by its predecessor, OUTBIOTICS.

At the meeting held in Pau, which took place at laboratory of IPREM, the different partners exchanged ideas on the management of project, the sampling methodology and the different analytical models used to diagnose a selection of antibiotics or pharmaceuticals of concern, as well as bacteria and resistance genes. Preliminary results on the elimination of these emerging contaminants were also presented.

Specifically, project focuses on the identification of these pollutants in transboundary rivers: pesticides, medicines, coffee, hormones or drugs, among which antibiotics are relevant because of their danger to the natural environment. In addition, the increase of issue and types of antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest public health challenges in the world.

In addition to a first diagnostic phase (detection and quantification of antibiotics in the cross-border territory), the project includes a second phase of elimination (through solutions jointly provided by the participants), and a final phase of prevention (in their use).

POCTEFA is a European cross-border cooperation program created to promote sustainable development of the border territory between Spain, France and Andorra. It is the sixth generation of EU financial support to this area. To this end, it co-finances cooperation projects designed and managed by actors on both sides of the Pyrenees, helping to reduce differences and join forces to achieve a sustainable development of the region and its cohesion.