This guest blog comes from Dr Kusum Rani, Post-doctoral researcher from CAMO-Net India, who travelled to London, UK on a CAMO-Net travel grant to work on molecular diagnostics at CAMO-Net UK’s Imperial College London site.

Between February 20 and March 25, 2026, I had the opportunity to undertake an off-site placement at the Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, UK, under the CAMO-Net Off-Site Placement Programme. Hosted within the laboratories of Professor Jesus Rodriguez-Manzano, the placement focused on gaining practical exposure to advanced molecular diagnostic platforms, biosensor technologies, and automated laboratory systems relevant to infectious disease diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance research.

Why biosensors and rapid diagnostics?

Rapid and accurate diagnostics are increasingly important for improving patient management and supporting antimicrobial stewardship, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Conventional diagnostic workflows are often time-consuming and dependent on centralized laboratory infrastructure, which can delay timely clinical decision-making.

Emerging biosensor and point-of-care diagnostic technologies offer the potential for faster, portable, and more accessible testing solutions. The placement aimed to explore how these technologies could support ongoing research activities at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, particularly in urinary tract infection (UTI) point-of-care testing, bloodstream infection diagnostics, and antimicrobial resistance detection.

Five weeks of hands-on learning

The placement was structured across multiple training components, combining theoretical understanding with practical laboratory experience.

SmartLid™ sample extraction technology

A major focus of the training involved hands-on experience with the SmartLid™ Blood Kit for DNA extraction workflows. The training covered sample preparation, extraction procedures, workflow optimization, and quality control measures relevant to bloodstream infection diagnostics.

This experience provided important insights into how rapid extraction technologies could potentially be validated for CRE/ESBL-positive blood culture samples within the Indian healthcare setting.

Dragonfly™ automated diagnostic platform

The placement also included practical training on the Dragonfly™ platform, designed for automated and semi-automated molecular diagnostic workflows. Training involved system operation, workflow execution, troubleshooting, and maintenance procedures.

Particular emphasis was placed on understanding the platform’s potential application in malaria diagnostics and other infectious disease workflows requiring rapid and reproducible molecular testing.

Biosensors and Lacewing technology

Another important component of the placement involved introductory training in biosensor technologies, particularly Lacewing technology and its potential applications in rapid diagnostics.

The exposure highlighted how biosensor platforms can integrate molecular detection, electrochemical sensing, and miniaturized systems to support future point-of-care diagnostic development. These insights directly contributed to ongoing work on biosensor-based POCT strategies for urinary tract infections at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Strengthening collaboration and capacity building

Beyond technical training, the placement created opportunities for scientific exchange and collaborative discussions between Imperial College London and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. The programme emphasized the importance of international collaboration in strengthening diagnostic research capacity and facilitating technology transfer to resource-limited healthcare settings.

Discussions during the placement also explored future opportunities for collaborative validation studies, workflow optimization, and implementation research related to antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease diagnostics.

Looking ahead

The knowledge and technical skills gained during this placement will support future research activities involving:

• validation of rapid diagnostic technologies for CRE/ESBL bloodstream infections,
• development of biosensor-based POCT platforms for UTIs,
• and implementation of advanced molecular diagnostic workflows in the Indian setting.

The experience also reinforced the importance of adapting innovative technologies into clinically practical, scalable, and affordable solutions suitable for real-world healthcare environments.

Final reflections

This placement highlighted how rapidly diagnostic technologies are evolving and how interdisciplinary collaboration between microbiology, molecular diagnostics, biosensors, and engineering can drive innovation in infectious disease management.

The experience not only strengthened technical expertise but also reinforced the value of global scientific partnerships in addressing antimicrobial resistance and improving access to rapid diagnostics where they are most needed.

This guest blog comes from Dr Sathyanarayana Reddy Bygari, CAMO-Net India’s Clinical Pharmacist from Amrita, who travelled to Kampala to learn from his colleagues in the lab at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University.

When I look back at this training, it feels less like a formal programme and more like a journey where I slowly started connecting different pieces of my work together.

I began with HPLC analysis of β-lactam antibiotics in plasma. At first, it was mainly about understanding the process and getting comfortable with the system. However, as I spent more time in the lab, things started to make more sense. I began to understand why drug-like ceftriaxone and vancomycin, and a coloured outlier, were behaving differently in plasma. One of the most rewarding parts was developing a solid analytical method for ceftriaxone and vancomycin. It was not just about following steps – it was about understanding why each step mattered.

At the same time, I was introduced to R programming, which was completely different from laboratory work. In the beginning, it felt challenging, but starting with small exercises helped me gradually build confidence. Eventually, I worked with a dummy dataset where I practised data cleaning and generated concentration–time curves. What stood out most was how the principles from the laboratory and data analysis complemented one another, especially in population pharmacokinetic (popPK) modelling.

What made this experience even more meaningful was the guidance I received throughout. Learning under mentors such as Dr Christine Sekaggya, Dr Allan Bugyebi, Dr Sandra Naluyima, and Dr Allan Kengo gave me clarity and direction. Even now, continuing with virtual mentorship has helped me remain engaged and motivated in my ongoing work.

Currently, I am working on developing an analytical method for Ceftazidime–Avibactam and Aztreonam. I am looking forward to taking this work further during my return to India, where I plan to validate and optimise it at the pharmacokinetic unit, Laboratory Services, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences.

This experience has made me pause and think about the bigger picture. I realised that building pharmacokinetic work does not happen all at once – it starts small, often from scratch, and grows step by step with the right learning and practice. This training, for me, felt like that starting point. It gave me not only the technical skills, but also the confidence to begin something independently and continue developing it further. I now feel more prepared to take these first steps and continue growing in this field.

Overall, this journey has helped me grow not only in technical skills, but also in how I approach my work. I feel more confident working in the laboratory and handling data, and I am excited to continue building on what I have learned.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my support system at Amrita – Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Fabi J, and Dr Kusum Rani – for their unwavering encouragement and support throughout this journey, and I am deeply thankful for having them by my side.

What I Take Away from This: I started with just learning the basics, and somewhere along the way, I realised I was building something I once thought was far beyond me.

In February 2026, CAMO-Net attended the AMR 2026 Summit in Sydney, Australia, bringing together more than 290 participants from 37 countries across government, research, policy, and practice. The three-day meeting focused on how global commitments on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can translate into delivery, with discussions spanning data, financing, stewardship, and implementation.

With contributions from CAMO-Net colleagues based in the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Timor-Leste, our presence reflected the network’s role in connecting research with real-world implementation across different health system contexts, and its ongoing involvement in shaping global AMR discussions. A central theme of the summit was the gap between commitment and delivery. In the opening keynote, Australia’s Ambassador for Global Health, Chris Cannan, emphasised the need to align policy and investment: “Only through aligning our diplomacy… with our investments can we cut the outbreak risk and build resilient health systems.”

This focus on implementation was reflected in sessions involving CAMO-Net researchers. Professor Alison Holmes, CAMO-Net lead, moderated a session on the AMR implementation divide, which explored why national plans often struggle to translate into action. Discussions highlighted the importance of country ownership, governance, and context-specific delivery rather than additional global commitments.

Across the programme, CAMO-Net members contributed perspectives grounded in frontline experience. Professor Nelson Martins, CAMO-Net Timor-Leste lead, highlighted how supply chain challenges affect access to antibiotics in Timor-Leste, noting the delays caused by procurement and budgeting processes: “When approval comes late… by the time the drugs arrive, it’s already too late for the clinic.” In a session on antimicrobial stewardship, Dr Senjuti Saha, CAMO-Net Bangladesh lead, emphasised the role of communication and community engagement in addressing AMR: “99.9999 percent of the world will not read our papers… That’s why working with communities… is so important.”  Similarly, Professor Anna Levin reflected on how resistance reflects broader system challenges: “Resistance… is really a reflection of the systems not working.”

The importance of communication, and how it is done, was also highlighted in sessions involving CAMO-Net South Africa co-lead Associate Professor Esmita Charani. Drawing attention to how global health narratives are shaped, she noted: “When we use images of people from low- and middle-income countries it is often images of women and children of colour who are given far less power, agency, dignity, and respect… this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

This reinforced a broader theme across the summit: that communication is not neutral, and that how AMR is presented can influence trust, engagement, and ultimately action.

Alongside these contributions, the summit reinforced several consistent messages: that data must lead to decisions, that financing and accountability remain key constraints, and that implementation depends on aligning incentives, systems, and local context.

CAMO-Net’s involvement across these discussions reflects its focus on moving beyond high-level commitments to practical, context-specific solutions. By contributing evidence and experience from multiple countries, the network continues to support global efforts to ensure that antimicrobials remain effective and accessible.

The recently published AMR 2026 Summit Report brings these discussions together, alongside a set of practical actions intended to support progress through to 2029.

This year Munich, Germany, welcomed ESCMID 2026. The conference brought together the international infectious diseases and clinical microbiology community, providing a platform to share new research, exchange ideas and strengthen collaborations across disciplines. As one of the largest meetings in the field, the congress continues to play an important role in shaping responses to emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance.

CAMO-Net was strongly represented across the programme, with contributions spanning keynote discussions, oral presentations and a wide range of posters. These covered diverse areas including antimicrobial stewardship in low-resource settings, behaviour and decision-making in antibiotic use, diagnostics and surveillance technologies, and clinical outcomes in infectious diseases.

A highlight from the programme was a keynote contribution from Professor Senjuti Saha, who reflected on the role of genomics, data systems and equitable capacity building in strengthening surveillance and global health security. Her perspective reinforced the importance of integrating technological innovation with locally led research and infrastructure.

Researchers from across the network contributed to the poster sessions, including CAMO-Net South Africa, where work focused on practical approaches to antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention in resource-limited hospital settings, as well as developing frameworks to better understand health equity in AMR. Contributions from CAMO-Net Uganda explored factors influencing antibiotic use among people living with HIV, while colleagues from CAMO-Net Brazil presented work on clinical outcomes and infection patterns in complex care settings. Other presentations highlighted advances in diagnostics and data-driven tools to support more informed antimicrobial use.

Together, these contributions demonstrated the strength of CAMO-Net’s multidisciplinary approach and its focus on linking research with real-world practice. ESCMID Global provided an opportunity to showcase this work on an international stage, while also building connections that will support future collaboration across the network and beyond.

Pictures from the conference

Relive the conference through pictures from our researchers

This guest blog comes from Chris Deputy, CAMO-Net Communications Manager, who travelled to Kampala to exchange comms and public engagement knowledge with the team there.

Earlier this year, I travelled from Liverpool to Kampala to work with our friends at the Infectious Disease Institute (IDI), Makerere University, or as we know it, CAMO-Net Uganda, on everything CAMO-Net communications. This was funded by a CAMO-Net off-site placement grant, which was originally intended for travel to CAMO-Net South Africa (and I still will go there – their work with Eh!Woza is genuinely inspiring to me and I can’t wait to go back to Cape Town and learn from Tasha and her team). However, with timings and the priorities around building CAMO-Net communication capacity with Uganda’s Clare Kahuma, I went to Uganda instead.

Being a very sensitive and delicate young man, I tend to get sick on almost every trip I take, and this trip was no different. I’ve lost count of the times my infectious diseases colleagues in Liverpool have patched me up upon my return home. It’s almost like I take my job in this AMR world so seriously that I incubate harmful bacteria inside my body just to see if the antibiotics are still working, because I am a consummate and dedicated professional doing my bit to address AMR by putting my own body on the line. You are welcome society.

I’m not sure exactly what meal caused my latest malady. I really love the food in Uganda and I’ve eaten some incredible matoke in the past, especially when it’s partnered with delicious g-nut sauce. However, one day I ate some matoke that tasted like it had been found it in the bin three weeks prior and plated up with the carcass of a naked mole rat that had died from the plague last year and then exhumed from its pit of eternal doom just to be set afloat in a bowl of oily water drawn from the gutters of the Kisenyi slum. But being a polite gentleman and not wanting to cause any offence, I ate it all.

The next day, and every subsequent day of my placement, I spent slowly dying as a waterfall of dismay left my body. On the positive side, I had put on a few extra pounds over the Christmas period and so this was an excellent way to lose some of my unwanted winter fat. I’d like to publicly thank Dr Hope Mackline who came to my rescue with some medication that worked very quickly.

My malaise aside, Uganda was a great experience. It was my second time in the country (and yes, I got sick the first time too) and my favourite thing about it (apart from the matoke) is the people. Our colleagues at IDI are incredibly generous and friendly people, and are always ready to greet you with a smile and a warm embrace. We are very lucky that they also happen to be extraordinary scientists, researchers, clinicians, and administrators, so I learned a lot about how they operate at a world-class level in an environment with limited resources. I’m really proud to call the people at IDI my colleagues.

First on the agenda was a meeting with Dr Andrew Kambugu, CAMO-Net Uganda’s leader, to set our priorities. It was also my first experience of the aforementioned generosity of the Ugandan people. Andrew is an incredibly busy man, and I turned up almost 30 minutes late for our meeting – most people would have cancelled the meeting there and then, but luckily for me Andrew waited. I would have been on time of course if it hadn’t been for my extended tour of the Kampala traffic – my taxi driver took us to the wrong place initially, so we sat together in gridlocked traffic  for an hour talking about why Museveni is the only realistic option to lead the country. I didn’t argue with him. However, I ended up getting out of the taxi about a 15 minute walk away from the Makerere University campus and power walked through the intense humidity. After almost being killed three times by boda bodas driving the wrong way down a path only intended for pedestrians, I made it to our meeting, sweaty and discombobulated (but fortunately, alive).

Andrew and I spoke with Clare, Mackline, and Ellon Twinomuhwezi (our wonderful CAMO-Net Capacity Strengthening lead) about local priorities, and not just what we communicate, but why it matters in context. Discussions around the capacity strengthening website and wider communications approach quickly became practical sessions, with a shared focus on how tools and platforms can better reflect the scale and impact of work happening at CAMO-Net.

These are the things we worked on every day during my visit. Clare is doing some great work and together we’re improving our web and social media presence, highlighting the excellent work that all of our CAMO-Net colleagues from around the world are doing. Things, of course, were already very good (because I did them), but they will soon be getting even better (because Clare is helping). We were able to map out practical next steps, from strengthening social media consistency and planning to identifying more proactive storytelling opportunities that better reflect the depth and reach of activity across the network. Having that focused time together made a real difference, creating a clearer, shared direction that we can now build on.

A key part of the visit also involved working closely with communications colleagues at Makerere University. It’s very important to put on your underwear before you put on your trousers. In other words, the only way to get your external comms right is to get your internal comms working first. So, with this in mind, we brought together IDI comms and Makerere comms. One thing I’ve learned over my storied career is that if you offer people food, people will come. We were lucky to have attracted Makerere’s Deputy Chief of Public Relations to our meeting (a much more important Deputy than me) over brunch. We discussed how to raise awareness of what IDI does in Uganda, especially with CAMO-Net, and how we can use the strong comms network of Makerere University to amplify our own work.  These sessions were really useful in aligning approaches, understanding existing systems, and identifying where CAMO-Net activity could be more effectively embedded within institutional channels.

We also began developing a documentary-style video focused on one of CAMO-Net Uganda’s research projects. This included planning, scripting, and filming in the PK Lab, as well as capturing wider content across IDI and Makerere University. Working with the team on this brought together research, storytelling, and patient engagement in a way that felt both collaborative and purposeful. The video is currently in edit and should be ready soon!

Some of the most impactful moments for me personally though came from the engagement activities I attended. Meeting patients at the Mulago National Referral Hospital and hearing about their experiences will stay with me for a long time. Whilst there, I watched the IDI Drama team perform some comedy, music, dance, and drama for the patients to teach them about appropriate antibiotic use. It was a great experience, and seeing how engaged the patients were as they watched and learned was amazing. IDI’s work here is something we could all learn from – engaging people with context specific techniques. And context is incredibly important. If I went to my local hospital and danced to a drum as people waited to see a doctor, I’d probably end up as an inpatient on the mental health ward. But this style worked so well in this context. I think we could all learn from this, and each hub should get to work on developing their own contextual public engagement activities.

What stood out most during my time in Kampala was how well-connected and influential the Uganda team is nationally. There is a clear sense among the team that the work being led here is not only contributing to global conversations around antimicrobial resistance, but actively shaping approaches within the country. That makes collaboration across CAMO-Net both meaningful and necessary.

This placement reinforced the importance of investing in relationships, understanding context, and learning how to say no to food that you know is going to make you sick. This experience will continue to shape how I approach communications across the network moving forward.

CAMO-Net colleagues gathered in Timor-Leste recently, bringing together researchers and leaders to share progress, deepen collaboration, and strengthen locally led work addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The visit brought CAMO-Net lead Professor Alison Holmes, Head of Operations Kerri Hill-Cawthorne, and Brazil hub co-lead Professor Anna Levin together with the Timor-Leste team, led by Professor Nelson Martins. The meetings connected colleagues across hubs to learn from each other’s work and shape the future of the network collectively.

Highlighting locally led work in Timor-Leste

Across several days in Dili, CAMO-Net colleagues met with key national partners and institutions, including the Ministériu da Saúde, Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV), Laboratory Nacional, Universidade da Paz (UNPAZ), and INSP-TL. Discussions focused on strengthening research partnerships, public health collaboration, and capacity development to support antimicrobial optimisation in Timor-Leste.

The team’s strong national relationships and respected leadership create real opportunities to help shape Timor-Leste’s health and research landscape, making collaboration across CAMO-Net incredibly impactful.

The team also had internal sessions with the Menzies Timor-Leste team to explore the country’s current AMR landscape, achievements to date, and ongoing challenges faced in Timor-Leste. Conversations highlighted locally led initiatives such as the introduction of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for key antibiotics – an important step in supporting responsible antibiotic use and strengthening antimicrobial stewardship across the healthcare system.

Professor Nelson Martins said, “Welcoming colleagues to Timor-Leste creates an opportunity to share the progress we are making locally while strengthening connections across CAMO-Net. Our work here is shaped by collaboration – learning together, adapting together, and building solutions that reflect our context.”

Strengthening collaboration across hubs

The visit provided valuable space for cross-hub exchange, enabling colleagues from different regions to share insights, discuss common challenges, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

Professor Alison Holmes said, “CAMO-Net is built on partnership and mutual learning. Spending time together in Timor-Leste helps us understand local priorities more deeply while reinforcing that the network is shaped by the expertise and leadership of every hub.”

Professor Anna Sara Levin added, “The incredible work being undertaken by this young country is truly inspiring. There is a strong sense of forward momentum, with emerging leaders bringing a refreshing outlook to building infrastructure and shaping the future.”

A shared commitment moving forward

The gathering highlighted the central role of Timor-Leste within CAMO-Net and demonstrated how collaboration across hubs supports sustainable progress in addressing antimicrobial resistance. By bringing colleagues together around locally led work, the visit reflected the network’s commitment to shared leadership, partnership, and collective learning.

A reflection on travel as a form of education

In this guest blog, Andiswa Kona from CAMO-Net South Africa, reflects on her recent trip as part of our travel grant scheme.

For Early Career Researchers, travel is an essential form of education. I was very appreciative to receive a CAMO-Net Capacity Strengthening Travel Grant. The travel grant enabled me to attend the 10^th Regional Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Conference hosted by ReAct Africa and South Centre. The conference took place between the 11^th-12^th June 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia.I attended the sessions on the intersection of public policy, climate change and AMR. These sessions were pertinent to the policy work that we are doing as part of the CAMO-Net South Africa project. It was apparent that the role of researchers is essential in the policy-making process, and that there is a need for strategic research communication that reaches policymakers to ensure that research creates an impact.

Conferences are events that bring people from different cultures into one space, and that engaging with this diversity is not always easy, particularly if English is not everyone’s first language. This requires a level of understanding and grace towards others, because if one cannot speak English, it means that one must know another language. Speaking and understanding other languages, apart from English, should be acknowledged, and celebrated. Headphones were available for non-English speakers with live translation in their language of preference. For example, for people who come from French speaking countries.

Conferences are also spaces for reflection. Specifically, attendance at this conference allowed stakeholders in the AMR space to acknowledge the strides that they have made in talking about the global challenge of AMR. It was inspiring to engage with young researchers and community activists from Africa who are using creative and participatory methods to talk about AMR. In particular, there were sessions on how drawings, paintings and short story books are being used to talk about AMR in the African context. This highlighted the need to continue the conversation on youth and community engagement on different online platforms, so that information and knowledge can reach different populations.

During the conference, I had the privilege of attending the Youth and Community meeting with AMR leaders from across Africa. This meeting was facilitated by the ReAct Africa Youth Task Force. The goal of the meeting was to strengthen community and youth collaboration in AMR and cross-sectorial action for health. There were youth researchers, healthcare workers and community activists from Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda and other African countries were attended this meeting, and the conference the conference. It was an honour learn from young people active in community engagement on AMR. This helped me to reflect on how, in 2026, I hope to continue talking about youth community engagement in relation to AMR in South Africa. This travel grant helped me to reflect and learn whilst respecting how other Africans narrate their stories. It also motivated me to continue telling the South African story of AMR through youth community engagement.

Guest blog by: Phornpimon Tipthara

In June 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the CAMO-Net UK Meeting in London from 2–6 June, with support from the CAMO-Net Travel Grant. The meeting brought together CAMO-Net members from different countries and institutions, creating a valuable space for learning, sharing experiences, and building new connections across the network.

The main purpose of my participation was to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for future research collaboration. During the meeting, I participated in group discussions, informal networking sessions, and side conversations with researchers and practitioners working across various CAMO-Net themes. These interactions helped me better understand the wide range of expertise within the network and how teams work in different contexts.
One of the most valuable aspects of the meeting was the open and friendly atmosphere. Conversations did not stop at formal sessions, but continued during breaks and social activities. This made it easy to share experiences, challenges, and ideas in a relaxed and supportive way. Through these discussions, I was able to build new professional relationships that I hope will grow into meaningful collaborations in the future.

The meeting also helped me gain a clearer understanding of CAMO-Net’s overall goals, structure, and long-term vision. Seeing how research activities across countries are connected through shared themes—such as technology innovation, context and behaviour, and medicines management—gave me a broader perspective on how my own work fits within the network.

I am based at the Mahidol Oxford Research Unit (MORU) in Thailand, which serves as one of CAMO-Net’s technology development centres, with a focus on clinical pharmacology. Thailand plays an important role in supporting technology innovation research within the network. Through existing partnerships with hospitals, laboratories, NGOs, and industry, our work contributes to strengthening research capacity and supporting context-specific solutions for antimicrobial optimisation. Attending the UK meeting helped me see new ways that Thailand and MORU can further contribute to CAMO-Net activities through collaboration, mentoring, and shared learning.

Overall, participating in the CAMO-Net UK Meeting was a very positive and motivating experience. It strengthened my connection to the network, expanded my professional network, and inspired a new research idea aligned with CAMO-Net’s objectives. I am grateful to CAMO-Net for the support and look forward to continuing collaboration to strengthen future research and capacity-building efforts across the network.

Guest blog by Patricia Nabisubi, CAMO-Net Uganda

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is often discussed in terms of policies, surveillance frameworks, and global strategies. Yet, in practice, the effectiveness of these efforts depends heavily on the people working behind the data, their skills, confidence, and ability to translate evidence into action. My recent hands-on AMR training in Ghana marked a defining moment in my work, fundamentally changing how I approach AMR research, analysis, and collaboration.

Before this training, my work was grounded in strong analytical concepts but often involved fragmented workflows. Data cleaning, analysis, and interpretation existed as separate steps rather than as a single, intentional process. During the training, this changed. Through sustained hands-on engagement with real AMR datasets, I developed a coherent, reproducible AMR analysis pipeline that integrates laboratory results, surveillance data, and epidemiological context in a structured manner.

This shift transformed my work from exploratory analysis to purpose-driven research. Instead of analysing data in isolation, I now design analyses with clear downstream use in mind, whether for surveillance reporting, antimicrobial stewardship discussions, or informing policy-relevant conversations. The pipeline I developed during the training is not just a technical output; it is a practical tool that will continue to evolve as my research progresses.

Equally transformative was the way the training reshaped my confidence as a researcher. Making analytical decisions in real time, understanding how those decisions shape conclusions, and communicating results clearly strengthened my sense of ownership over my work. AMR analysis moved from a collection of methods to a strategic instrument that can be adapted, shared, and scaled.
The training also expanded my work beyond individual effort by opening doors to regional collaboration. Engaging with researchers and staff from the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) created opportunities for meaningful technical exchange and shared learning. These interactions went beyond networking; they laid the foundation for future collaborations, joint research ideas, and cross-regional capacity building. Through these exchanges, my work became part of a broader scientific conversation rather than a standalone activity.

Perhaps the most lasting impact of the training was its reshaping of my research trajectory. It sparked new questions and possibilities: How can AMR analysis pipelines be harmonised across countries? How can data better support stewardship decisions in resource-limited settings? How do we move from isolated excellence to sustained regional capacity? These questions now actively guide my current and future research.

This training did not simply add skills to my toolbox; it reframed how I work. It connected data to decision-making, individual effort to collective impact, and present activities to future collaborations. What began as a training experience has become the starting point for a new phase of my work, one defined by stronger analytical foundations, deeper partnerships, and research designed from the outset to matter.