REVOLUTIONARY research spearheading the global war on deadly superbugs building resistance to medicines and antibiotics is today is being launched in Southampton.

Leading scientists are set to gather at the University of Southampton for the launch of a task force aiming to eradicate microscopic bacteria resistant to traditional drugs.

The university’s new Network on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention (NAMRIP) has been formed to find ways of tackling the deadly microbes before they enter the body and trigger infection, illness and disease.

Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Dame Sally Davies will lead a keynote speech highlighting the NAMRIP’s world-class work drawing from its experts in health, medicine, biological sciences, chemistry and engineering.

Scientists will also reveal research which could reduce the number of painful urinary tract infections suffered by long-term catheter users.

The university’s Biological Science Centre’s senior research fellow Dr Sandra Wilks lead the study, launched in partnership with the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences and funded by a Knowledge Mobilisation Fellowship in Healthcare Technologies from the University’s Institute for Life Sciences.

She said: “This has greatly enhanced our understanding of the components and stages involved in the formation of crystalline biofilms and encrustations.

"It provides important information, which will aid in the development of anti-biofilm materials and treatments to manage and ultimately prevent blockage, improving the quality of life of many long-term catheter users.”