£50,000 gift to advance research on antimicrobial resistance

In the UK, infections commonly caused by Klebsiella, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bloodstream infections, are increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Sean’s gift will support the work of Professor Joanne Santini at UCL’s Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, focused on using precision laboratory techniques to develop innovative bacteriophage-based treatments addressing antimicrobial resistance. This represents a crucial step towards reducing mortality and improving health outcomes in the UK and globally.

Sean Yazbeck, founder of several successful technology enterprises, is an advocate for industry-academia collaborations aimed at accelerating scientific discovery. 

"The UK is widely recognized as a global leader in biomedical research, making it the ideal environment to advance crucial innovations like bacteriophage therapy," said Sean. "UCL, with Professor Santini’s groundbreaking work, is at the forefront of addressing antimicrobial resistance and pioneering impactful solutions."

Professor Joanne Santini said:

“Sean’s donation significantly enhances our ability to accelerate crucial studies and brings us closer to potentially transformative treatments for patients facing life-threatening infections. His support comes at a critical time for our research.”

Baroness Julia Neuberger, a member of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, which recently held a session on 'The Antimicrobial Potential of Bacteriophages' where Professor Santini provided evidence, also expressed her support:

“Sean Yazbeck’s donation represents an important contribution towards addressing antimicrobial resistance, a significant public health threat to the UK. Supporting research into innovative treatments such as bacteriophage therapies is critical for safeguarding public health and advancing medical progress in this vital area.”

Angharad Milenkovic, Vice-President (Advancement) at UCL, said:

“We are very grateful for Sean Yazbeck’s support of UCL’s work on antimicrobial resistance. This donation reinforces UCL’s position at the forefront of global health research and highlights the significant role of philanthropy in advancing vital scientific discoveries.”