Category: News and press

Design contest for first global Antibiotic Resistance Symbol

Anders BjersNews and press

A design contest to find the first global Antibiotic Resistance symbol has been launched today by the European Union Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI). The contest is not about creating another logo, it should be something tangible that can be crafted by anyone and worn by everyone; like the AIDS ribbon. Be a changemaker and take part in the contest or encourage the public to participate!

Read more on the contest at the EU-JAMRAI website (link, opens in a new window)

Read the EU-JAMRAI press release (pdf, opens in a new window)

New AMR surveillance data and survey results from ECDC

Anders BjersNews and press

On the occasion of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2019 the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is today publishing its annual update on antibiotic resistance and antibiotic consumption surveillance data from EU/EEA countries. ECDC is today also releasing the results of a survey on healthcare workers’ perceptions of antibiotics. Read more below on the new reports:

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Europe 2018
The results presented in this report are based on antimicrobial resistance data from invasive isolates reported to the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) by EU/EEA countries. EARS-Net is the main EU surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that cause serious infections. Data reported from the network serve as important indicators on the occurrence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Europe.
Find the full report on the ECDC website.

Antimicrobial consumption – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2018
The results presented in this report are based on antimicrobial consumption data from the community and hospital sector, reported to the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net) by EU/EEA countries. The collected data are used to provide timely information and feedback on indicators of antimicrobial consumption. These indicators provide a basis for monitoring the progress in Europe towards prudent use of antimicrobials.
Find the full report on the ECDC website.

Survey of healthcare workers’ knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in EU/EEA
This survey is the first multi-country and multi-professional study that provides an evidence base on the knowledge and perceptions of healthcare workers across EU/EEA countries. Understanding the magnitude of some these drivers on healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours is critical in implementing and developing interventions to preserve antibiotic effectiveness. The survey findings are a base to support strategies for policy development, education and communications campaigns targeting healthcare workers on antibiotic resistance in Europe.
Find the full survey on the ECDC website.

JPIAMR Supported Research Spotlights

Anna SundinNews and press

JPIAMR has today published research output and impact from three of the seven projects funded in the first JPIAMR Joint Call 2014, Innovative approaches to address antibacterial resistance. This call was promoted by 14 funding agencies in 12 countries, and had a total budget of 13,8 M€. The projects have resulted in a pending patent for a TB compound, a new approach to interrupting bacteria communications, and innovations to make existing antibiotics remain effective.

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson, Acting Chair JPIAMR Management Board, says:

– Results generated from this call shows how JPIAMR funding can make a difference, and lead to ground-breaking research and innovations.

Read more on each project in the folder and research spotlights below:

JPIAMR in first SEDRIC Global Meeting

Anders BjersNews and press

JPIAMR participated in the first SEDRIC Global Meeting on the 9th of October 2019 in London. The title of the meeting was ‘Mobilising epidemiology and surveillance data to inform patient care pathways”. JPIAMRs Laura Marin was one of the panellists on the ‘International Activities’ session. The session was a roundtable discussion on the topic ‘mobilising surveillance and epidemiology data to inform patient care pathways’. The panel also had participants from WHO, CDC and Fleming Fund on international AMR surveillance efforts.

JPIAMR supports ten networks in the area of one health surveillance.

AMR top priority in European Council Conclusions

Anders BjersNews and press

We want to highlight this summers EU Council Conclusions (through the EU Ministers of Health) that reaffirms the challenge of AMR as a top priority for the EU. The Conclusions indicate that EU Member States should be supported in their efforts to combat AMR, but they also need to do more at national level. The Council agrees that the European Commission and EU Member States should further support JPIAMR efforts:

“The Council notes with great concern the market failure in antibiotic development and underlines the need for urgent action to stimulate the development of new antimicrobials, alternative therapies and rapid and modern diagnostics, including methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. EU and global coordination and cooperation on research programmes and incentives are needed, and the Council recognises, inter alia, the proposals and activities of the ‘Antimicrobial Resistance Review team’, the ‘Breaking Through the Wall’ report and the ‘Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance’.” (see p.8)

“Calls upon Member States and the Commission to: Boost research, development and innovation related to AMR, and support EU and global coordination and cooperation including activities through the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance and the Global AMR R&D Hub. (see p. 12)”

Please find the full Conclusions here.

JPIAMR funded networks in joint workshop

Anders BjersNews and press, VRI

The research networks ARCH and GAP-ONE will have a joint workshop in Verona, Italy, on October 24-25th, 2019.

The joint workshop gathers members of the two networks for development of the “Bridge the Gap: Survey to Treat” white paper series. This workshop brings together experts from 19 nations who will work towards a One Health approach to bridge the gap between antibiotic resistance surveillance, stewardship and policy. The networks were funded by JPIAMR in two separate calls; the 2018 Network Call on Surveillance and the JPIAMR-VRI Network Call 2018.

Please find the preliminary agenda and more information here.

Report: Regional AMR Workshop in Latin America

Anders BjersNews and press

On June 5-7, 2019, the regional JPIAMR workshop Experiences and Areas of Interest for Strengthening Antimicrobial Resistance Networks was held at the Science Cultural Centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The workshop had excellent results in terms of attendance, subjects covered and impact on national, regional and global AMR networks and groups.

Next steps and activities:

  • Information sessions (INFODAYS) will be held throughout the year for researchers and other stakeholders about JPIAMR and H2020 calls on this subject that are open to third countries.
  • In line with the conversations held between producers and other AMR players, further joint meetings and activities will be held to identify the problems faced by everyone on this issue.
  • Participation in all AMR dissemination and awareness activities through the available internal and external channels. Likewise, world awareness days, such as the World Microbiome Day on 27 June, will be taken advantage of by publishing posts and articles on AMR.
  • Joint activities with other areas of government will be planned, to present AMR efforts in dissemination fairs with great geographic coverage, such as TECNÓPOLIS and TECNÓPOLIS FEDERAL, and other activities achieved through the Linkage area.

Download the full report: Regional Seminar Report – Experiences and Areas of Interest for Strengthening Antimicrobial Resistance Networks (pdf, 1 MB, opens in a new window).

Three JPIs join forces for international showcase in Stockholm

Anders BjersNews and press

JPIAMR, Water JPI and JPI Oceans, along with the Swedish Research Council and Formas, are gathering experts to discuss the area of emerging contaminants and pathogens; with one prime example being antibiotic resistant bacteria and their serious risk to our freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Title: Challenges of Contaminants of Emerging Concerns, including Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

When: August 28; 16:00-17:30

Where: Tele2 Arena, Stockholm, Sweden

Have a look at the showcase programme, register, and follow the official #WWWAMR!

Come see JPIAMR at FEMS 2019

Anders BjersNews and press

Members of JPIAMR will attend FEMS 2019 from July 7-11 in Glasgow, Scotland. If attending as well, please stop by our poster on the JPIAMR Virtual Research Institute.

This poster describes how JPIAMR uses the Strategic Research and Innovation agenda to outline different joint actions, with a focus on the JPIAMR- Virtual Research Institute. Come and talk to us to find out more!

When: Tuesday July 9; 17.00-19.00

Poster Session: Education / Professional Development / Policies

Poster number: PT138

JPIAMR Roadmap of Actions 2019-2024

Anna SundinNews and press

In May 2019, JPIAMR published the JPIAMR Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), which emphasises the One Health approach to address AMR and outlines six key priority topics within the AMR field: Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Surveillance, Transmission, Environment and Interventions.

The SRIA provides a framework for the JPIAMR Roadmap of Actions 2019-2024 that will guide future joint transnational actions of the JPIAMR as well as to serve as an information resource for other strategic initiatives to support coordination and synergistic actions. The Roadmap defines future JPIAMR research calls, network calls, strategic workshops and JPIAMR-VRI activities.

Download the JPIAMR Roadmap of Actions 2019-2024 (pdf 4MB, opens in a new window)