Chemistry researcher awarded prestigious Sapere Aude Research Leader grant
Nicole Maria Hauser, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, has been awarded a prestigious Sapere Aude: DFF–Research Leader grant from Independent Research Fund Denmark. The grant, worth DKK 6.3 million, will support her project: "Combating Antibiotic Resistance Chemo-Enzymatically with Nature-Inspired Scaffolds".
Hauser's project addresses the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance by developing chemo-enzymatic strategies for the synthesis and diversification of glycosylated natural products with antibiotic activity. While many natural products exhibit potent activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens, their therapeutic potential is often limited by toxicity or other undesirable pharmacological properties.
The project combines synthetic organic chemistry with biocatalysis to selectively modify bioactive natural products. A central focus is the development of efficient glycosylation strategies using enzymes and stabilised activated sugar donors. By overcoming the limitations associated with conventional chemical glycosylation, particularly the need for extensive protecting-group manipulations, the research aims to provide more sustainable and efficient routes to structurally complex antibiotic candidates.
Beyond enabling access to new analogues with improved biological properties, the methodology has broader implications for carbohydrate chemistry and the synthesis of glycosylated molecules. The project is expected to advance the application of enzymatic glycosylation in complex molecule synthesis while contributing to the development of next-generation antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Receiving a Sapere Aude grant will also enable Nicole to expand her independent research programme, build a strong research team, and strengthen her international research profile.
Congratulations to Nicole on this significant achievement! We look forward to following the progress of her research.
The Sapere Aude programme supports talented early-career researchers who have demonstrated outstanding scientific achievement and the potential to build and lead independent research environments. This year, Independent Research Fund Denmark has awarded a total of DKK 249 million to 40 researchers across Denmark. Read about the other recipients here