Cornell's Holger Sondermann was recently named a 2008 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. Sondermann, the Robert N. Noyce Assistant Professor in Life Sciences and Technology in the Department of Molecular Medicine in Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, will receive $240,000 over four years to help support his research.

Sondermann will investigate how communities of harmful bacteria are able to form biofilms -- microbial blankets that shelter the bacteria from attack by antibiotics. His work could lead to the development of novel antibiotics for eradicating difficult-to-treat infections.

Biofilm formation, said Sondermann, plays a crucial role in hospital-acquired infections, in the pathogenicity of microbes in Legionnaires' disease and in infections accompanied with cystic fibrosis. The pathogenic colonization of organs, heart, ear and lungs, as well as infections resulting from catheters and prosthetic implants, also involve biofilms.

"The Pew award will allow me to approach my research project in a much broader way and will allow me to tackle more risky projects," said Sondermann. "Infectious diseases remain the second-leading cause of death worldwide, emphasizing the limitations of current treatments and the need for novel approaches."

Sondermann's research team will study the signaling mechanisms controlling major virulence pathways. "We hope to translate our findings into novel therapies that will reduce the spread of infections and infectious diseases by focusing on biofilms -- community forms of bacteria that are both very common and widespread."

"Pew's Program in the Biomedical Sciences is designed to enable scientists to take calculated risks, expand their research and follow unanticipated leads," said Rebecca W. Rimel, president and chief executive officer of The Pew Charitable Trusts. "Pew is honored to invest in these brilliant minds and to provide financial and professional support as they pursue their pioneering breakthroughs."