With global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) threatened by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), how can social science play a critical role in finding solutions?
The Fleming Fund launches the International Reference Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The Fleming Fund invest £1m to support a new International Reference Centre for AMR to provide technical assistance and quality assurance in One Health surveillance.
AMR cannot be effectively managed without employing a One Health approach - tackling the threat through human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment. National data on AMR in non-human sectors is sparse, capacity for surveillance is low and policies to regulate medicines are less well developed.
For this reason, the Fleming Fund has invested in a new International Reference Centre for AMR run through the UK agencies of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
The centre will seek to improve the balance of the One Health approach and take needed steps to improve the animal and environmental surveillance for AMR. Specifically, the centre will provide technical assistance, training and quality assurance to aid the increase in AMR surveillance in low- and middle-income countries across Asia and Africa.
The establishment of the International Reference Centre for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in partnership with the Defra Group agencies APHA, Cefas and the VMD is an important step forward in our work to tackle AMR. We look forward to working with partner nations around the world to help address the threat posed by AMR at a global level, by providing expert advice and training to support capacity development in areas such as awareness, laboratory capability and surveillance.
Defra Biosecurity Minister, Lord Gardiner
The International Reference Centre for AMR will aim to:
- Raise awareness of AMR
- Develop capacity of partners for surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial usage (AMU)
- Provide expert advice on new or emerging resistances that present a threat to animal or public health
- Provide verification testing at our UK laboratories
- Promote good agricultural practices
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