European-funded consortium brings together researchers from 13 countries to evaluate bacteriophage therapy as a potential alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections.
Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center are partners in a major international clinical trial that aims to transform the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Supported by a €15 million European Union grant, the project will investigate whether bacteriophages—viruses that naturally infect and destroy bacteria—can provide a safe and effective alternative to conventional antibiotic therapies.
The study, known as P-PEAKS UTI (Personalized-Phage against E. coli with IV Antibiotic to Knockout Stable Biofilms in Urinary Tract Infections), brings together 20 research and clinical partners across 13 countries and is led by Dr. Gregory German, chronic infection clinic physician at St. Joseph's Health Centre, Canada. The Israeli research team is led by Prof. Ronen Hazan and Dr. Sahar Melamed from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and by Prof. Ran Nir-Paz from Hadassah Medical Center. Prof. Hazan and Prof. Nir-Paz are the initiators and co-leaders of the Israeli Phage Therapy Center (IPTC).
Approximately 220 women suffering from chronic, recurrent Escherichia coli urinary tract infections will be enrolled at clinical sites in Israel, the United States, Canada, France, UK, Italy, Spain and Estonia.
Recurring urinary tract infections affect millions of women worldwide and are becoming increasingly difficult to treat as antibiotic resistance continues to rise. Many patients experience repeated infections despite multiple rounds of antibiotics, underscoring the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies.
Rather than relying solely on antibiotics, the trial will evaluate personalised bacteriophage therapy. Bacteriophages, or phages, are naturally occurring viruses that selectively infect bacteria while leaving human cells unharmed. Because phages target specific bacterial strains, they may offer a more precise approach to treating persistent infections while helping reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance. During the trial, participants will receive either phage therapy or a placebo alongside a single intravenous dose of antibiotics, allowing researchers to rigorously evaluate the treatment's effectiveness.
Researchers from the Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will contribute their combined expertise in phage therapy, microbiology, infectious diseases, and translational clinical research as part of the multinational effort to generate the high-quality clinical evidence needed to bring phage therapy closer to routine medical practice.
"Non resolving infections and Antimicrobial resistance are few of the defining medical challenges of our time," said Profs. Hazan and Nir-Paz. "International collaborations such as P-PEAKS allow us to combine expertise across disciplines and countries to evaluate innovative therapies that could significantly improve outcomes for patients who currently have few treatment options."
The consortium represents one of the largest international efforts to clinically evaluate phage therapy for recurrnet urinary tract infections. Beyond the immediate goal of improving treatment for chronic UTIs, researchers hope the project will strengthen the scientific foundation for using bacteriophages against a broader range of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
If successful, the trial could help establish phage therapy as a valuable addition to the clinical toolbox against antimicrobial resistance, offering new hope for patients worldwide while advancing more personalised approaches to infectious disease treatment.
Facts Only
* A European-funded consortium brings together researchers from 13 countries to evaluate bacteriophage therapy for recurrent urinary tract infections.
* Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center are partners in a clinical trial.
* The project is supported by a €15 million European Union grant.
* The study is named P-PEAKS UTI (Personalized-Phage against E. coli with IV Antibiotic to Knockout Stable Biofilms in Urinary Tract Infections).
* The research investigates whether bacteriophages can replace conventional antibiotic therapies for recurrent urinary tract infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
* Approximately 220 women with chronic, recurrent Escherichia coli urinary tract infections will be enrolled in clinical sites.
* Clinical sites are located in Israel, the United States, Canada, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, and Estonia.
* Participants in the trial will receive either phage therapy or a placebo alongside a single intravenous dose of antibiotics.
* The Israeli team includes Prof. Ronen Hazan and Dr. Sahar Melamed from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Prof. Ran Nir-Paz from Hadassah Medical Center.
* Researchers aim to evaluate personalized bacteriophage therapy against antimicrobial resistance.
Executive Summary
A European-funded consortium, involving researchers from 13 countries, is evaluating bacteriophage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The project aims to determine if bacteriophages can offer a safe and effective treatment method compared to conventional antibiotic therapies. A major international clinical trial named P-PEAKS UTI will investigate this, with approximately 220 women suffering from chronic, recurrent Escherichia coli urinary tract infections being enrolled across sites in Israel, the United States, Canada, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, and Estonia.
The research is led by Dr. Gregory German and an Israeli team including Prof. Ronen Hazan and Dr. Sahar Melamed from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Prof. Ran Nir-Paz from Hadassah Medical Center. The study involves participants receiving either phage therapy or a placebo alongside a single intravenous dose of antibiotics to evaluate treatment efficacy. The collaboration leverages expertise in phage therapy, microbiology, and infectious diseases from participating institutions.
Full Take
This initiative reflects a significant pivot in infectious disease treatment, moving from broad-spectrum antimicrobial use toward highly targeted biological solutions against specific bacterial strains. The pattern of international collaboration across diverse medical and geographic systems suggests a recognition that solving antimicrobial resistance requires a unified, cross-disciplinary scientific approach rather than localized efforts. The framing positions bacteriophage therapy not merely as an experimental treatment but as a foundational tool for addressing the systemic challenge of multi-drug resistant infections.
The reliance on large clinical trials involving multiple modalities (phages plus antibiotics) introduces a necessary layer of complexity. While the stated goal is to find a safe alternative, the inherent uncertainty in personalized biological interventions necessitates extreme rigor in defining what constitutes "effective" and "safe" outcomes within this context. The successful translation into routine practice hinges not just on demonstrating efficacy, but on establishing an acceptable risk/benefit profile when contrasted with established antibiotic protocols.
The implication for the broader scientific landscape is that microbial ecology offers a viable pathway to mitigating resistance without simply adding new classes of drugs. However, the narrative must guard against premature optimism; the success of this approach depends entirely on the specificity and predictability of phage interactions across varied microbial environments. The potential benefit lies in creating an adaptive therapeutic strategy, but the burden rests on ensuring that the pursuit of innovation does not overshadow the careful calibration required for patient safety and broad applicability.
Bridge Questions: What are the established metrics that should guide the transition from clinical trial success to routine medical practice for phage therapy? How can international consortia best harmonize divergent regulatory standards while pursuing novel biological therapies? What are the long-term ecological consequences if phage therapy significantly alters the microbiome structure in a persistent manner?
Sentinel — Human
This text appears to be a factual summary of an international scientific collaboration, exhibiting the clear structure and specific detail typical of journalistic reporting on research findings.