A group of Christchurch scientists is hoping to stop antibiotic-resistant superbugs in their tracks after securing $4.8 million in funding.

Health experts are concerned about the prospect of a global health crisis, as antibiotics become less effective at combating some infections.

Research leader Tony Kettle reports the money will be used to help find new ways to diagnose and treat bacterial infections, and fast.

"We can work out how bacteria evade our immune system. We can stop them from escaping our white blood cells and then allow the white blood cells to kill the bacteria."

Kettle is confident that can be solved, but time is of the essence.

"It could be 10 years, it could be 20 years but it's on the horizon - on the immediate horizon really - so we need to start acting now to prevent the potential calamity in the next decade or two."

The money has come from the Health Research Council.