ENABLE-2 will receive extended funding through 2028

In the Research Bill 2024, the Swedish government is investing SEK 6.5 billion in free research and innovation of the highest quality. As part of this investment, SEK 100 million is allocated to ENABLE-2, the international platform for the identification of new antibiotics with its hub at Uppsala University. The amount will be SEK 25 million annually through 2028.

“As a support infrastructure through the early stages of antibiotic development, we provide a unique resource, and the many high-quality applications we receive from all over Europe confirm that we fill a great need. Therefore, the Swedish government's announcement is very positive and encouraging message to research groups in both Sweden and Europe,” states Anders Karlén, Professor of Computer-aided drug design and coordinator of ENABLE-2.

In the spring of 2024, ENABLE-2 published a long-awaited breakthrough in the fight against resistant bacteria, as researchers at Uppsala University's Faculties of Pharmacy and Medicine have identified a new and highly promising antibiotic class published in the scientific journal PNAS. Currently, the platform's portfolio includes four programmes based at Justus Liebig University Giessen, The Ineos Oxford Institute at the University of Oxford, Leiden University, Queen's University Belfast and Uppsala University.

“Today, ENABLE-2 accepts applications from publicly funded research groups in Europe, and with the Research Bill consolidating our platform we aim to increase our capacity even further. In parallel, we are looking at the possibilities to expand our operations via additional funding to include the global biotech industry, but today we are celebrating this announcement, which takes us another important step in the right direction,” says Anders Karlén.

Text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt