The Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net) recently hosted a panel discussion on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Liverpool. Titled “The Drugs Don’t Work: Tackling the Biggest Global Health Crisis of Our Time.” The event brought together leaders from politics, research, and global health organisations to emphasise the urgent need for international collaboration to address AMR.
A global health crisis
Antimicrobial resistance, which currently contributes to almost 5 million deaths globally each year, is a pressing global health threat that, if left unaddressed, could result in up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. The panel discussion, organised by CAMO-Net’s Liverpool hub based at the University of Liverpool, and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI)., took place ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR taking place in late September 2024.
A panel of global experts
The evening was hosted by former BBC correspondent Naomi Grimley and Ryan Wain, who is the Executive Director of TBI. Featuring an introduction from Professor Alison Holmes OBE, CAMO-Net lead and David Price Evans Chair in Global Health and Infectious Diseases, and a keynote speech from Andrew Gwynne MP, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention.
The expert panel consisted of Kat Lay, The Guardian’s global health correspondent, Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool and a Professor of Obstetrics, Dr Janet Midega, Drug Resistant Infections Research Lead at the Wellcome Trust, and Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President & Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in Malaysia.
Andrew Gwynne MP: The UK Government’s commitment
Andrew Gwynne MP, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, delivered a keynote address via video link from Westminster, where he was engaged in parliamentary duties. He announced the UK Government’s renewed focus on AMR, pledging to support groundbreaking research that will tackle the economic and medical challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance. “This government will lead, not follow,” Gwynne stated. “We will fund new research into the economics of AMR, in partnership with the World Organisation for Animal Health, to understand the true cost of this crisis and inform better policy decisions moving forward.” He further affirmed the UK’s commitment to working alongside global partners to secure fair and equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable antimicrobials.
Gwynne also highlighted the key strengths of researchers in the city and his determination to work with them to address AMR. In a subtle reference to the anti-science rhetoric which gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gwynne said, “We can’t get enough of experts.” Gwynne’s words highlighted the indispensable role that researchers, clinicians, and global health leaders play in addressing AMR, drawing attention to the importance of collaboration between governments and scientific communities.
Liverpool: a centre of expertise in AMR research
The University of Liverpool’s long-standing expertise in infectious diseases, pharmacology, and data sciences positions it as a global leader in AMR research. Professor Alison Holmes OBE, CAMO-Net lead and the University’s David Price Evans Chair in Global Health and Infectious Diseases, highlighted Liverpool’s innovative contributions to the field: “At the University of Liverpool, we have major programmes of research addressing antimicrobial resistance, ranging from molecular to the social determinants of health.” She emphasised the need for global partnerships, noting that “the breadth and depth of Liverpool’s research is fully integrated with the community and collaborate locally, nationally, and internationally.”
Professor Louise Kenny also emphasised the critical need for support at a national level: “AMR is the definition of a ‘big, hairy problem,’ and if we want to tackle it effectively, we need government backing at scale, not just in funding but in infrastructure and resources. The North of England has the expertise, the innovation, and the will. What we need is the investment to unlock our full potential.” Her call for greater attention to research infrastructure highlighted the disparity in funding between regions.
The role of global collaboration
Dr Janet Midega underscored the importance of collaboration in research and policymaking, stating that “it is impossible for any one country to address AMR alone.” She called for equitable partnerships between high- and low-income countries to ensure that AMR solutions are accessible to all. “We are working with global leaders to make sure that the political declaration coming out of the UN high-level meeting translates into action at the country level,” Midega said.
Professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman, who is also Vice Chair of the World Health Organization’s Science Council, echoed these sentiments and stressed the importance of learning from previous global health challenges: “If there’s one lesson from the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics, it’s that we need to act now, not wait until it’s too late. AMR demands the same level of urgency and international cooperation, with clear commitments to equitable access to treatments and diagnostics.”
Looking ahead: the UN General Assembly high-level meeting
The upcoming UN General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR in September 2024 will be a critical moment for global health leaders to come together and develop tangible solutions to the AMR crisis. The Guardian’s Kat Lay stressed the importance of raising public awareness: “AMR is an abstract issue for many, but we need to inject humanity into the conversation and make people realise the real-world impacts it has on their lives.”
The event in Liverpool not only celebrated the city’s leadership in AMR research but also reinforced the message that only through international collaboration, strong political will, and equitable access to medical solutions can we truly address the global threat of AMR.
