Hub exhibits AMR work in UK Parliament

Hub Director Professor Fiona Tomley, Programme Manager Dr Daan Vink and co-Investigator Professor Ludovic Pelligand joined other antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research experts at ‘Superbugs’, an event organised by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and the UK Veterinary Vaccinology Network.

UK Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty gave a key note address in which he highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary (‘One Health’) approach. The event, held on 25 February, was a great opportunity for the Hub to communicate its work to members of both houses of Parliament, as well as to policy and research officers in Parliament, and others interested and active in AMR work. It was also useful to network with other researchers in the field.

A year ago, the UK Government published a 20-year vision and five-year national action plan outlining how the UK would be tackling AMR by 2040. The plans cover human health as well as animals and the environment. These include a commitment to working with veterinarians and farmers to reduce antibiotic use in animals by 25% between 2016 and 2020.

The event provided the opportunity for leading UK-based research groups working on AMR to showcase their work on the fight against drug resistant infections.