UK Supports Further Research in Global Fight Against AMR

Over £30 million of funding has been announced by the UK Government as commitment to leading research initiatives in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance. The funding will be delivered via four new projects as part of the Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). One of these projects will be delivered by BBSRC and NERC on behalf of UKRI.

Seed funding will be targeted in low and middle income countries where the burden is greatest and is crucial for the health and economic prosperity of the world’s poorest.

The new projects are;

Committing £20 million to the Combating Antibiotic Resistance bacteria Biopharamaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X): This non-profit international partnership supports innovative early product development research projects focused on the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria. This commitment will support scientific research around the world to develop new vaccines and alternatives-to-antibiotics against drug-resistant bacterial infections in humans.

Providing £5 million for a new bilateral partnership with Argentina supporting research to tackle AMR in agriculture and the impact on the environment. Delivered by BBSRC and NERC the partnership will be match-funded by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) in Argentina.

Investing £5 million in the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). The funding will support FIND’s work to enhance the impact of diagnostic tools, specifically targeting POC diagnostics for AMR Surveillance.

Investing £1 million in the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP). This funding will support GARDP’s programme on sexually transmitted infections (STI). The funding will focus on the development of a new antibiotic for drug-resistant gonorrhoea.

These projects are funded by UK aid and will primarily benefit people in low and middle income countries, where the burden of infection is greatest.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, England’s Chief Medical Officer said that the announcement was “further evidence of the UK collaborating with international partners to lead global efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The GAMRIF investments aim to protect the world’s most vulnerable and tackle AMR where the burden of infection is greatest. I am pleased that the UK will be working in partnership with a range of leading organisations to deliver vital research activities across the One-Health spectrum, together this represents a formidable force against the threat of superbugs.”