Why is this research important to Alberta?
- Chronic wounds and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are major and growing healthcare challenges in Alberta, driving prolonged hospital stays, increased costs, and poor patient outcomes.
- Biofilm-associated infections affect most chronic wound patients and are difficult to treat with existing therapies.
- This project addresses a critical gap by developing a genomics-informed, non-antibiotic solution to improve infection control and healing.
- It aligns with Alberta’s priorities in health innovation, reducing system burden, and advancing life sciences commercialization.
- By supporting local clinical validation and industry partnerships, the project strengthens Alberta’s position as a leader in precision health and biotechnology innovation.
What is the goal of this work? How will genomics be used?
The goal of this project is to:
- Clinically validate ComBatic™, a novel antimicrobial wound care technology, and demonstrate its effectiveness against biofilm-driven infections.
The project uses genomics to:
- Analyze microbial populations in wounds before and after treatment, enabling precise measurement of how infections respond at the DNA level.
- Identify which pathogens are present, how they change over time, and how effectively the treatment disrupts biofilms.
- Create genomic profiles to correlate, using advanced data analytics, with clinical outcomes such as healing rates and infection reduction.
The project involves collaboration between MHCombiotic, clinical partners, and academic experts in microbiology and genomics.
- By integrating genomics into clinical workflows, the project enables more informed treatment decisions and generates high-quality evidence to support adoption.
The outcome is a validated, scalable solution that improves infection management without contributing to antibiotic resistance.
What are the expected benefits, and how will the research findings be shared?
This project delivers economic, health, and social benefits.
- Economically, it supports commercialization of a high-value Alberta-based technology targeting global wound care markets.
- Clinically, it improves patient outcomes by accelerating healing, reducing infections, and lowering risks of complications such as amputations and sepsis.
- It also reduces healthcare costs through fewer interventions and shorter treatment durations.
- Socially, it improves quality of life for patients with chronic wounds.
Findings will be shared through clinical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and engagement with healthcare systems and industry partners to support adoption and scale-up.
Related Resources
Related information can be accessed through:
- Industry partner website: https://www.mhcombiotic.com