A delegation of staff from the University of Liverpool recently visited Anglesey, Wales to honour the life and generosity of the late Emeritus Professor David Price Evans.

Professor Price Evans is one of the University’s largest benefactors, supporting life changing developments in the field of medicine both prior to and after his death in 2019. This builds upon his important contribution to the University as a scientist and researcher. He dedicated much of his life to pharmacogenetics research as both Head of Medicine from 1968 until 1983 and Chair of Medicine from 1972 to 1983.

During the visit to Anglesey, where Professor Price Evans enjoyed his retirement, his family and friends of celebrated his life with a small service. This was followed by a reception held at the home of Professor David Owens FRCP, a long-time friend and colleague of Professor Price Evans.

Attendees heard from Professor Louise Kenny CBE, Executive Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences on how Professor Price Evans’ incredible contribution to the University throughout his life and death has enabled important advancements in our understanding of infectious diseases. This includes the work of Professor Greg Lip, the David Price Evans Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine and Professor Alison Holmes OBE.

Professor Alison Holmes was officially introduced as the David Price Evans Chair in Global Health and Infectious Diseases, a role created by Professor Price Evans’ bequest and named in his honour. Professor Holmes spoke about the impact of the donation and the global collaborations that have been enabled by it.

Professor Holmes leads the Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net), a unique multidisciplinary, global collaboration. CAMO-Net is largely funded by Wellcome, but was brought to Liverpool thanks to the David Price Evans fund.

CAMO-Net is comprised of teams from Brazil, India, South Africa, Uganda, and the UK, and aims to address the global impact of antimicrobial resistance on human health. This will be achieved through optimising antimicrobial use through a sustainable global research ecosystem, developed across low, middle, and high resource settings, and across urban and rural environments.

Professor Holmes said: “It is a privilege for me to honour the legacy of Professor Price Evans through this role, and through the development of the David Price Evans Infectious Diseases and Global Health Group, which is contributing to the University’s existing academic activity and developing some new initiatives such as the CAMO-Net collaboration. Professor Price Evans has inspired a generation of scientists working in medicine, and I am delighted to have the chance to play a small part in building on his legacy here in Liverpool.”

Professor Louise Kenny commented: “David Price Evans will always be recognised as an important figure in the proud history of medical education at the University of Liverpool, and thanks to his generous and substantial contribution as a benefactor, his legacy will live on as a vital figure for future advancements in the field he dedicated his life to.”

For more information about the David Price Evans Infectious Diseases Research Group, please visit: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/dpe-id

You can also find more information about CAMO-Net here: https://camonet.org

A publication in September 2023’s edition of The Lancet about our work on optimising antimicrobial use in highly populated urban environments:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered an increasing threat to public health and a cause of great concern worldwide.

AMR is a complex One Health issue, in which agriculture, livestock, companion animals, and the environment play roles. Transmission of organisms and resistance genes occurs across these pathways and antibiotics and their metabolites reach the environment via a range of routes, including directly from humans or through waste. The accumulation of antimicrobials within the environment can contribute to selective pressures for the acquisition or development of AMR.

The use of antimicrobials is a major driver of AMR, thus optimising the prescribing of antimicrobials is a potentially effective strategy to reduce AMR. The term “antimicrobial stewardship programme” (ASP) defines a set of actions that promote and enforce the adequate use of antimicrobials (ATM) to reduce selective pressure while improving patient outcomes.2 It focuses on avoiding ineffective prescriptions, finding the adequate moment to start treatment, the adequate choice of drugs, the adequate/short duration of treatment, deescalation once there is a diagnosis, and PK/PD optimisation of antimicrobial use.

Read the full article for free at The Lancet.

Last week, The University of Liverpool hosted the first official gathering of the global partners from the Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net) for a welcome reception and the inaugural CAMO-Net Management Board Meeting.

The welcome reception in Liverpool gave the opportunity for researchers to highlight projects and innovations already taking place within Liverpool and London, whilst also providing the chance to network and share knowledge. The scope of activities and discussion focused on innovation in technology and data usage at the molecular, patient, drug and health sector level, through to the whole population level.

Before exploring exhibitions from researchers based in Liverpool and London, attendees heard from Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool,. Professor Kenny highlighted antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as  one of the greatest threats to the health of communities around the world, and how timely the CAMO-Net collaboration is in tackling this important challenge.

Professor Kenny said: “Global threats require a global partnership and so we are delighted that nationally here in the UK CAMO-Net has strengthened a long-standing strategic alliance with Imperial College London and that our two institutions are part of this wonderful global network of interdisciplinary experts, who will ensure that lifesaving drugs are preserved for future generations.”

CAMO-Net will use its extensive network of interdisciplinary experts, partners at the forefront of relevant technological innovation and links with policymakers to conduct research to actionably improve antimicrobial use in humans through three interlinked themes identified through a Wellcome-commissioned roadmap.

Chibuzor Uchea, Research Manager of Drug Resistant Infections at the Wellcome Trust also addressed the event, and highlighted the vital work of the project. He said, ““The inappropriate human use of antimicrobials is a key driver of AMR and importantly the driver most under our direct control. Supporting research into the optimal use of antimicrobials is vital to preserve and sustain their efficacy. CAMO-Net has huge potential for creating significant and lasting impact in the AMR field.”

Professor Alison Holmes OBE, Principal Investigator for CAMO-Net UK, hosted the event. Professor Holmes commented: “Not only will this network provide a unique opportunity to advance multidisciplinary research to improve and sustain access to effective antimicrobial treatments and address AMR, it has shared international learning embedded within it and also represents a major commitment to more equitable research models.”