Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is seen as one of the top ten global health threats, and now science funding body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has established eight new networks which will collaborate to develop new approaches aimed at addressing the problem.
The network of AMR researchers, which includes specialists in agriculture, environment, policy and social sciences, will share funding of £4.8 million awarded as part of UKRI’s tackling infection’s strategic theme. The programme will continue into 2025, where a budget of at least £7 million will allow for the establishment of transdisciplinary research programmes.
UKRI described AMR as 'one of humanity’s biggest threats'. By 2050, as many as 10 million people could die each year as a result of AMR, while World Bank predicts that from 2015 to 2050, the cost of AMR will be $ 3.5 billion per year on healthcare alone.
Dr Colin Miles, Head of Strategy, Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Growth at UKRI said: "Rather than taking single-discipline approaches, we need researchers from across the disciplines to come together and look at all aspects of the problem – from human behaviours and how we grow crops and rear animals for consumption to how we manage the environment or use technology, clinical management strategies and challenging established cultural norms."
For example, one of the eight networks is focused on support for early career researchers, across a range of disciplines, to enable them to become future leaders in the AMR field. The Future AMR Network, will take on AMR in the areas of agri-food, environment and medicine, using approaches in the arts, and AI, behavioral economics, clinical engineering and discovery. This network will be led by Dr Linda Oyama of the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University, Belfast.
"By connecting and expanding UK AMR communities with researchers from a broad range of disciplines and career stages, we aim to significantly advance current understanding, generate new ideas, and escalate discoveries beyond what is achievable from a single discipline or career stage," Oyama said.
Fungal pathogens are also of concern, with the WHO setting out the first ever list of such pathogens during 2022. One of the eight UKRI networks, Fungal One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Network, led by Dr Sarah Tonkin-Crine, of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, will focus on the emergence of antifungal resistance and the development of countermeasures.
Tackling infections is one of five strategic themes for UKRI. The other four are: building a greener future; building a secure and resilient world; creating opportunities and improving outcomes; and health, ageing and well-being. A total of £185 million is being invested across the five themed areas.
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