Category: News and press

AMR Dx Global Survey

Anna SundinNews and press, VRI

The JPIAMR-VRI network AMR DX Global has published a survey about the current state of training, teaching and awareness in AMR diagnostics. The main aim of this survey is to get a better understanding of the current and future needs, availability and gaps of AMR diagnostics training to a wide variety of stakeholders such as patients, healthcare workers, farmers, legislators, and innovators. As AMR concerns us all, the network accepts input from any type of stakeholder. This survey will help shape the input into the future VRI offerings.

The survey is open until 29 February 2020 and is completely anonymous. AMR Dx Global does not track your visit to the survey website. Join the survey AMR Diagnostics-Teaching and Training

AMR Diagnostics Teaching & Training Resource
The AMR DX Global mapping of teaching and training resources globally includes online (such as MOOCs, webinars, etc.) and offline resources such as (classes, workshops, conferences, etc.). The resulting database will feed into the future activities of the JPIAMR VRI.

If you like to join the family and promote an AMR diagnostics teaching & training resource you are involved with, you can use the following form: AMR Diagnostics Teaching & Training Resource – Self Registration

Hacking AMR 2019

Anna SundinNews and press, VRI

JPIAMR is organising an international hackathon in Stockholm 13-15 December 2019: Hacking AMR 2019 – Using the digital world to fight antimicrobial resistance

The hackathon aims to bring together scientists, designers, patients, developers, innovators, students and entrepreneurs to collaborate, dream up & create solutions to real-world problems to improve human, animal and environmental health and well-being with regards to Antimicrobial Resistance.

We have decided to allow for up to 10 extra spots in the participants group of Hacking AMR 2019! If you have heard of anyone that had previously missed the cut off date and really wanted to join this exciting, high energy, creative and fun JPIAMR-VRI activity, they have another chance to register until 10 December at midnight.

To read more about the event, please click here.

This Hackathon is a Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance – Virtual Research Institute (JPIAMR-VRI) activity supported and co-organised with the following groups: Swedish Research Council; Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Research Council of Norway; Uppsala Antibiotic Center (UAC); Hacking Health Foundation

#HackingAMR2019

Regional JPIAMR Workshop in Asia

Anna SundinNews and press

We are launching a regional JPIAMR Workshop in Asia: Fostering knowledge on Clinical Epidemiology, AMR policy, Therapeutics and Diagnostics to combat AMR in Asia. This workshop will bring together experts and researchers from Asia to provide insights on Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia. The workshop will be held at Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea, December 4-5, 2019.

The workshop is organised by Korea and supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and by JPIAMR.

Read more and register.

Results of the JPIAMR Call on Diagnostics & Surveillance 2019

Anna SundinNews and press

Twelve projects involving 55 partners from 25 different countries have been awarded funding within the JPIAMR 9th transnational call: “Call on Diagnostics and Surveillance 2019”. The total funding amount is 12,1 M€.

For a list and description of all awarded projects, please visit the following page: Projects awarded funding within the 9th JPIAMR Joint Call

Today and during the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (18 – 24 November 2019) JPIAMR will publish videos where some of the awarded projects are presented by the project coordinators. Please visit the JPIAMR YouTube channelfor updates.

The call was launched in December 2018 and supported by 20 research-funding organisations from JPIAMR member countries. The primary aim of the call was to support innovative research projects on new or improved diagnostic and surveillance strategies, tools, technologies and methods. The call also aimed to support research projects that have the potential for impact in areas where the risk and burden of AMR is greatest, such as in LMIC settings in Asia and Africa.

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.