Química Clínica Aplicada is pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s emerging group grant is the project titled "Community Carriers of Enterobacteria Producing Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases and Plasmid-Mediated Carbapenemases in the Health Regions of Terres de l’Ebre, Camp de Tarragona, and Girona". This initiative represents a significant advancement in the study of bacterial resistance, a crucially important topic in the field of global public health.

The lead researcher, Pedro Morral Parras, from the Microbiology Research Group at the Hospital de Tortosa Verge de la Cinta, along with a team of collaborating researchers including Mar Olga Pérez Moreno, Ester Picó Plana, M. José Centelles Serrano, and many others, has been recognized for their commitment to excellence and innovation in microbiological research.

The collaborative researchers, including Frederic Gómez Ballester, Montserrat Motjé Casas, Esther Clapés Sánchez, and an extended team of experts, are working diligently to develop a deeper understanding of how antibiotic-resistant enterobacteria spread within communities, a critical step towards developing effective intervention and treatment strategies.

The scholarship was presented by Mr. Lluís Ferré and Mr. Gerard Vergés, managers of QCA, in a ceremony that underscored the company’s ongoing support for scientific advancement and cutting-edge research in health and microbiology. This support not only reflects QCA's commitment to innovation but also its determination to contribute to community well-being through backing scientific research.

At QCA, we believe that supporting projects like this is essential to address emerging challenges in public health and to promote better quality of life through science. We congratulate the research team for their excellent proposal and look forward to the outcomes of their work in the near future.

Congratulations to the winning team and to all participants for their dedication and efforts in making the world a healthier place!