PHARM-ERA – Protecting our planet against pharmaceutical pollution

The contamination of global soil and aquatic ecosystems by pharmaceuticals, antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, and pathogens is a pressing concern, threatening both our environment and human well-being. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Pharm-ERA project brings together academics, public and private stakeholders, and EU policymakers to address this urgent issue.

 With 10 doctoral projects spanning scientific disciplines such as environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, microbial ecology, molecular biology and modelling, Pharm-ERA seeks to develop innovative solutions and improve monitoring techniques and environmental risk assessment. The ultimate aim is to protect the diversity and functions of microbial life in contaminated ecosystems while ensuring the sustainability of our planet and promoting human and animal health.

Effect assessment of pharmaceuticals on the environment: from molecular to community responses (WP4 lead by Dr. Natàlia Corcoll)
WP4 aims to assess ecotoxicological effects of pharmaceuticlas (PhACs) and their transformation products (TPs) on ecosystems along the soil-water-sediment continuum taking into account effects at different levels of biological organisation from molecular early responses to community effects. 

4.1 Assess PhACs and associated TPs effects on organisms along the soil-water-sediment continuum  
4.2 Assess PhACs and associated TPs effects on microbial biodiversity 
4.3 Development and implementation of omics approach to investigate PhACs effects at molecular levels in periphyton 
4.4 Determine the influence of confounding factors on microbial response to PhACs and associated TPs exposure 
4.5 Explore microbial adaptive mechanisms to PhACs across different scales of biological organisation.

Members

Natàlia Corcoll 
Ana Luisa Mejía Camacho (PhD student)