Use of Fungal Polysaccharides as a Sterilant

Team Fungi is a Class of 2025 undergraduate research team within the University of Maryland, College Park Gemstone Honors Program. 

Team Fungi seeks to alleviate medical and financial burdens on the healthcare system by improving current biofilm infection treatment methods, on medically implantable devices, through the use of fungal polysaccharides. 

When bacteria grow and form infections on the surface of medically implanted devices, it is difficult to treat the infection due to antibiotic resistance; as a result, some devices must be surgically removed. 

While our team is just getting started, we hope to fund our project early so we can begin our lab research as soon as possible. 

This fundraising campaign will allow us to purchase general lab supplies, fungal polysaccharides, and other materials needed to conduct our experiments. 

Your support will provide the opportunity for a team of undergraduate students to discover a treatment to inhibit biofilm formation in order to develop an equitable and low cost alternative.

Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Contributions to the University of Maryland are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please see your tax advisor for details.