SHIELD Doctoral Network

Welcome to SHIELD Doctoral Network 

Strategies for Healing Implant-associated infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices 

SHIELD is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (DN) funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe. It brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of 26 partners from academia, industry, hospitals, and research foundations across 11 countries to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine: implant-associated infections (IAIs). 

Central to SHIELD’s mission is the training the next generation of scientific leaders. The network will equip 16 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) with multidisciplinary expertise in biomaterials, microbiology, and clinical research. DCs will gain the skills needed to advance infection control and medical device innovation. 

Why SHIELD

Medical implants have revolutionised healthcare, improving mobility, restoring function, and enhancing quality of life. However, their success is increasingly threatened by implant-associated infections, which are often caused by biofilm-forming bacteria that resist antibiotics and evade immune responses. 

With the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), IAIs pose a growing public health challenge. SHIELD aims to develop innovative, interdisciplinary solutions that prevent and treat these infections, improving implant safety and longevity. in orthopaedics, otology, and odontology. 

SHIELD Vision

SHIELD envisions a future where implant-associated infections (IAIs) no longer compromise the success of medical implants.  

By integrating cutting-edge research in biomaterials, microbiology, and clinical science, SHIELD will develop innovative antimicrobial solutions—such as smart coatings, peptides, and phage therapies—that improve implant safety and longevity. Through a unique interdisciplinary training programme, SHIELD will empower 16 Doctoral Candidates to become leaders in translational research, bridging laboratory discoveries with practical healthcare applications to enhance patient outcomes across orthopaedics, otology, and odontology. 

SHIELD is structured around three scientific pillars: 

1. Regenerative Medicine – promoting healing and tissue regeneration. 

2. Biomaterial Science – designing surfaces that resist bacterial colonization. 

3. Translational Research Models – validating therapies in clinically relevant settings. 

Link to: Aims for the SHIELD Doctoral Network 

Doctoral Candidates

SHIELD will recruit and train 16 Doctoral Candidates across Europe, each working on a cutting-edge research project within the network. These projects span: 

• Development of antimicrobial coatings and bioactive surfaces. 

• Phage-based therapies and antimicrobial peptides. 

• Clinical studies and diagnostics for infection control. 

• Preclinical models to study biofilm mechanisms and implant integration. 

Each DC will benefit from: 

• Interdisciplinary supervision from academic, clinical, and industrial experts. 

• International secondments to partner institutions. 

• Structured training in scientific, technical, and transferable skills.

• PhD enrolment at leading European universities.