THE BARRIER PROGRAMME

Our Research

Understanding how bacterial membrane permeability and efflux influence antimicrobial accumulation and resistance.

THE RESEARCH CHALLENGE

Understanding antimicrobial accumulation

For an antimicrobial to kill a bacterial cell, it must first enter the cell and reach its target at a sufficient concentration. In Gram-negative bacteria, this is influenced by the bacterial envelope, which restricts antimicrobial entry, and efflux systems that actively remove antimicrobials.

BARRIER aims to understand how these processes interact to determine antimicrobial accumulation and ultimately influence antimicrobial resistance.

OUR RESEARCH AREAS

Four disciplines, one research programme

BARRIER combines complementary experimental, computational and mathematical approaches to understand antimicrobial accumulation and resistance.

Extreme close-up of a spore and cell structures observed under a microscope, highlighting intricate biology details.

MICROBIOLOGY

Understanding bacterial permeability and efflux

<Overview of BARRIER’s microbiology research and the experimental approaches being used to investigate antimicrobial permeability, efflux and resistance. 100-150 words>

Key research questions

  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>

BIOINFORMATICS

Using biological data to understand antimicrobial resistance

<Overview of BARRIER’s bioinformatics research and how computational approaches are being used to investigate antimicrobial permeability, efflux and resistance. 100-150 words>

Key research questions

  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>
Close-up of a colorful abstract representation of DNA strands, illustrating science and genetics.
Vials arranged in a lab rack, showcasing scientific organization and research preparation.

METABOLOMICS

Understanding bacterial metabolism and antimicrobial response

<Overview of BARRIER’s metabolomics research and how metabolic profiling is being used to investigate antimicrobial permeability, efflux and resistance. 100-150 words>

Key research questions

  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING

Predicting antimicrobial transport and accumulation

<Overview of BARRIER’s mathematical modelling research and how mathematical approaches are being used to investigate antimicrobial permeability, efflux and resistance. 100-150 words>

Key research questions

  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>
  • <Research question>
Person writing math equations on a whiteboard, focusing on integrals and formulas.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

An integrated approach

BARRIER brings together expertise across microbiology, bioinformatics, metabolomics and mathematical modelling to build an integrated understanding of antimicrobial accumulation and resistance.

The people behind BARRIER

Meet the researchers bringing together expertise across microbiology, bioinformatics, metabolomics and mathematical modelling

Meet the Team →