FIND-BACT Study: Finding INnovative Diagnostics for BACTerial infections in children | PhD Opportunities | Queen's University Belfast
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FIND-BACT Study: Finding INnovative Diagnostics for BACTerial infections in children

School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences | PHD

Applications are now CLOSED
Funding
Funded
Reference Number
SMED-2251-1004
Application Deadline
28 October 2024
Start Date
1 October 2025

Overview

Detecting bacterial infection in children is very challenging, particularly in previously well children presenting to the Emergency department (ED) with fever as well as in children with chronic illnesses, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF). Often this can mean clinicians prescribe antibiotics to children “just in case” because missing a bacterial infection in a child is very serious. This results in potential antibiotic overuse with the risk of antimicrobial resistance developing. New ways of detecting bacterial infection and type in children are therefore urgently needed. The team at Queen’s University Belfast have completed a large discovery project, called the Febrile Infants Diagnostic assessment and Outcome (FIDO) study. FIDO identified several novel biomarkers to predict bacterial infection in children. In addition, the team have a collaboration with researchers in Canada to develop a new way of detecting bacterial infection by testing for bacteria genetic material, termed cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood. The proposed FIND-BACT project aims to validate the use of FIDO biomarkers in children presenting to ED with fever and in patients with CF bacterial lung infection as well as to investigate the potential role of cfDNA from blood samples for detecting bacterial type in these patients.

Title: FIND-BACT Study: Finding INnovative Diagnostics for BACTerial infections in children
Aim: The overarching aim is to develop novel methods of detecting bacterial pathogens in children.
Background: Detecting bacterial infection in children is very challenging, particularly in previously well children presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with fever as well as in children with chronic illnesses, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF). Often this can mean clinicians prescribe antibiotics to children “just in case” which leads to antibiotic overuse with the risk of antimicrobial resistance developing. New ways of detecting bacterial infection and type in children are therefore urgently needed. The team at Queen’s University Belfast have completed a large discovery project, the Febrile Infants Diagnostic assessment and Outcome (FIDO) study, which identified novel biomarkers to predict bacterial infection. Other new techniques for detecting bacterial infection using blood samples have been discovered such as the use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This study aims to test these new bacterial detection methods in patient samples collected from children.
Methods:
The first year of the project will include working with the clinical team to secure research ethics approval and develop the protocol for the study. This will also include initial development of the next generation sequencing (NGS) genetics protocols for detection of cfDNA in blood samples. These will be initially designed from simulated specimens and then optimised for clinical sample detection.
During the second year of the project, in collaboration with the clinical research team, recruitment of 100 children presenting to ED with fever will take place and where possible additional blood samples will be taken and stored for further analysis. Recruitment of 20-40 children with CF will also take place with collection and storage of additional blood samples as well as sputum and non-sputum respiratory samples (e.g. cough swabs, breath analysis etc.). Alongside sample collection, initial analysis for cfDNA will begin on collected blood samples based on protocols developed in year one.
For the third year of the project following completion of cohort sample collection, plasma samples collected will be used to perform validation of an identified biomarker signature (based on FIDO discovery cohort analysis). Should validation fail to show adequate diagnostic performance, additional biomarker candidates will be selected form the FIDO discovery study to further refine the signature. Developed NGS techniques will then be applied to clinical blood samples to evaluate the performance of cfDNA detection in blood samples from febrile children with bacterial infection as well as those with CF lung disease. Further development of NGS detection assays in collected respiratory samples will also be performed to determine the potential performance of these techniques in detecting bacterial lung infection.
Outputs/Benefits:
The validation of novel biomarkers and NGS methods for detection of bacterial infection aims to lead to introduction of new diagnostic techniques for use in clinical care, resulting in the development of associated guidelines using these novel diagnostics in order to improve antimicrobial stewardship and targeted antibiotic therapy in children.

Funding Information

Funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). For UK domiciled students the value of an award includes the cost of approved tuition fees and maintenance support the 2025/26 rates are still to be confirmed (current rates for 2024/25 are Fees £4,786, Stipend £19,237). To be considered eligible you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the full 3-year period prior to the start of the studentship and you must be ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the first day of the start of the studentship. For further information about eligibility criteria please refer to the DfE Postgraduate Studentship Terms and Conditions at https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/student-finance-postgraduate-studentships-terms-and-conditions

Project Summary
Supervisor

Dr Helen Groves

Research Profile


Mode of Study

Full-time: 3 Years


Funding Body
DfE
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