Tag: JPIAMR

EAAD 2017 – News, Facts and Tweets in Focus

Anders BjersNews and press

As always, the European Antibiotics Awareness day is a big day for us and many many other projects and organisations who work tirelessly to find solutions and make improvements in order to harness Antibiotic resistance. On November 15th, many gathered in Brussels , to make announcements  marking the 10th European Antibiotic Awareness Day at an EU-level event entitled ‘Keeping antibiotics working’.  Speakers from the European Commission and WHO Regional Office for Europe, amongst others, presented new data on antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance, and reviewed the current situation and future steps at the European level.

During the session in the morning JPIAMRs Laura Marin had a few moments in the auditorium to share the two Calls that is going to be launched in 2018. First, the 6th Call on “New Targets, New Compounds and Tools”, in January 2018 and later that year the “Surveillance Network Call”.

Social media was key during this day and at the EAAD event too. The twitter flow was steady on the huge screen who tracked the hashtags #EAAD2017 and #KeepAntibioticsWorking. And JPIAMR published several news releases and tailored templates with key messages in social media.

All in all a successful day and we are looking forward to next years EAAD.

You can always find JPIAMR tweets here and keep following us for more news and announcements.

The Virtual Research Institute Workshop in Berlin – Outcomes and Actions

Anders BjersNews and press

One of the most interesting developments of the JPIAMR right now is the JPIAMR-VRI; the Virtual Research Institute on AMR. The JPIAMR-VRI is a key to unlock new potentials of AMR research and to be even more inclusive by increasing the diversity of researchers working together on AMR across disciplines, embracing the One Health approach.

From nearly all the continents of the world, with only South-America missing, a diverse crowd representing organisations in Japan, Egypt, South Africa, South Korea, USA, Canada and many European Countries met for two days in Berlin. During this two-day meeting we shared the room with representatives from research organisations, WHO, Wellcome Trust, Pew Charitable Trusts, GardP, IMI, Tatfar, the European Commission, The Global AMR R&D Hub, and CARB-X. The objective of the workshop was clear: To develop the scope, aims and model a JPIAMR Virtual Research Institute – a dynamic network for AMR research. Invited speakers shared examples of research networks that are successful and up and running today. Among them were Wim van der Poel from the Collaborating Veterinary Laboratories (Covetlab), Robert Hancock from the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network (CBDN) and Martin Krönke who shared insights from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).

The outcomes from the workshop can be summarised in two sentences: “Let’s get going” and “to be all inclusive and truly global”. As the focus and model for the VRI became clearer, participants asked for the VRI to have an element of disruption, because AMR research now needs to be addressed in new ways.

The JPIAMR-VRI is a virtual platform to connect research networks and research performing institutes/centres to implement Antimicrobial Resistance One Health collaborative research on the JPIAMR Strategic Research Agenda priority topics by increasing knowledge, diversity, collaborations and capability.

An important aim of the JPIAMR-VRI is to create long-term sustainability of networks; connect existing networks across borders and across disciplines, increase research outcomes; improve capabilities and training; and attract new/young scientists to the AMR field.

Some of the capabilities the VRI will provide and enable are:

  • Connecting AMR researchers under the JPIAMR priority topics in a One Health approach
  • Building capacity and strengthening capability
  • Facilitating access to scientific information and infrastructures
  • Global reach: Bridging geographic borders in the research community
  • Breaking practical barriers between fields of research
  • Increasing the visibility for the AMR issue
  • Driving the uptake of research into policy

Some of the potential outcomes of the JPIAMR-VRI are:

  • Integrating activities among networks: Joint research programmes/work plans across research centres or research networks
  • Develop knowledge gaps and gap analysis based upon and enhancing further the JPIAMR mapping/database of AMR research projects and research centres increasing visibility of the research performed
  • Data sharing
  • Sharing of negative results
  • Scientific evidence for policy and guidelines
  • Exchange programmes between researchers (e.g. fellowship schemes, travel grants etc)
  • Networking activities
  • Educational and training programmes

So, how is all this to be manifested? The JPIAMR member nations will take clear actions to build the foundation for the JPIAMR-VRI. We will implement the actual digital platform and the AMR context in 2018 via workshops, a JPIAMR Network/Working Group call and a variety of other activities.

Please continue to follow us via social media, subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us to follow and engage in the process and progress of manifesting the JPIAMR-VRI.

Report: JPIAMR Workshop on Environmental Dimensions of AMR

Anders BjersNews and press

The workshop, initiated by JPIAMR and the Swedish Research Council, was led by Professor Joakim Larsson at the University of Gothenburg. Over 20 scientists with core expertise on the Environmental Dimensions of Antibiotic Resistance, met in Gothenburg, Sweden, to discuss the steps needed to create a JPIAMR roadmap for research on AMR within the environment. The steps discussed may contribute to the initiated update of the Environment section of the JPIAMR Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and a potential upcoming research calls with a focus on the environmental dimensions of AMR.

There is an article about the workshop here, we have also included interviews with a few participants.

For the full report please use link, below.

Download here: JPIAMR workshop on Environmental dimensions of AMR Gothenburg Sweden 2017

Pre-announcement of 6th Call – New Targets, Compounds and Tools

Anders BjersNews and press

We are pleased to pre-announce the 6th Joint Call for transnational research projects “New Targets, Compounds and Tools”. To date fifteen countries are participating with a total budget of approximately 13 million Euros. The launch of the 6th Call will be in January, 2018.

This year the WHO published the Global priority pathogen list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to guide research, discovery, and development of new antibiotics (PPL). The 6th joint call for proposals addresses this list, with the aim to discover new targets, compounds, or new tools with the potential to help controlling infections by drug-resistant bacteria identified by the WHO as priority pathogens (including multi- and extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Projects considered for funding will involve fundamental and/or translational One Health research, with the exception of clinical trials.

Participating countries and eligibility

Consortia of eligible scientists from Belgium (FWO), Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Spain (MINECO/ ISCIII), Sweden and Switzerland may apply for funding in this call.* Consortia must include a minimum of three eligible partners from at least three different countries participating in the call, and a maximum of 6 project partners (or 7 if a partner from Czech Republic, Latvia or Poland is included).

* List is provisional – additional countries may join. Final eligibility conditions will be published when call opens.

Read more about the 6th Call on the page about the call.

Download: PRESS RELEASE JPIAMR 6th Joint Call

Contacts

For inquiries about the pre-announcement of the 6th Joint Call, please contact:

Martine Batoux, ANR.

E-mail: Martine.BATOUX@agencerecherche.fr

www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr

For general media inquiries, please contact:

Anders Bjers, Communications Officer JPIAMR.

Telephone: +46 8 546 44 068

E-mail: anders.bjers@vr.se 

Press release: The fifth JPIAMR Joint Call Results

Anders BjersNews and press

We are pleased to announce the results of the JPIAMR 2017 call for transnational research projects “Comparison of prevention, control and intervention strategies for AMR infections through multidisciplinary studies, including One Health approaches”. Within this funding opportunity over EUR 11.5 million have been awarded to 10 projects. Consortia include 47 funded research groups from 11 countries (Canada, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland), and an additional 6 international partners (Czech Republic, Israel, Romania and the USA).

Projects funded in this call have covered topics including One Health interventions for infection control in humans and livestock, transmission to the food chain, and antimicrobial stewardship.

The call was launched in January 2017 by 16 research funding organisations from 15 countries, and attracted 51 consortia applying for nearly EUR 57 million in total, resulting in a success rate of 19.6%.

The final funding decision will depend on national regulations and inspection of the formal proposals by the national funding organisations. Each national funding agency will take a formal decision on the projects to be supported.

Please, download files to view each project awarded with funding.

Download: Results of 5th Call – Table Funded Projects FINAL

Download: Project Summaries for 5th JPIAMR Call

Download:PRESS RELEASE JPIAMR 5th Joint Call FINAL

Contacts

For inquiries regarding the 5th Joint Call, please contact:

Malwina Gębalska

JPIAMR 2017 Call Secretariat

National Science Centre

malwina.gebalska@ncn.gov.pl

Telephone: +48 519 404 997

Jerzy Frączek

JPIAMR 2017 Call Secretariat

National Science Centre

jerzy.fraczek@ncn.gov.pl

Telephone: +48 12 341 9165

For general media inquiries, please contact:

Anders Bjers, Communications Officer JPIAMR.

Telephone: +46 8 546 44 068

E-mail: anders.bjers@vr.se

Network Call Pre-announcement – AMR Surveillance Network

Anders BjersNews and press

JPIAMR Working Groups are motivated groups of leading experts funded in order to enhance resource alignment and pushing forward the new ideas of value to the wider research community. Working groups are coordinated by scientists from participating countries but open to international experts.

Preliminary scope of the call: Improvement, integration, standardisation and impact of surveillance. Methods, integration and impact.

Participating countries, to date: Argentina, France ,Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, UK. 

Budget: Approx. 50 000 €/network, up to a year.

Publication of call in 2018

Sign up for JPIAMR Newsletter to receive information about the Call.

AMR in focus at G 7 Health Ministers meeting in Milan

Anders BjersNews and press

On November 5 and 6, the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Health took place in Milan, Italy. On the agenda for the second day was antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The discussions focused on crucial topics of global health. The aim of the meeting was among else to coordinate global and concrete actions. In that context, participating Health Ministers expressed that they welcome the establishment of the Global AMR R&D Hub and call to ensure it becomes an effective platform to align and increase global investment in much needed R&D based on WHO recommendations, e.g. the Priority Pathogen List (PPL).  They expressed support for the collaboration of the Global AMR R&D Hub with existing international networks and initiatives like the Interagency Coordination Group on AMR, the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), CARB-X and the Joint Programming Initiative on AMR (JPIAMR). G7 Health Ministers expressed support for the development of evidence-based strategies, tools and interventions to fight AMR, and sustain research related to the Strategic Objectives of the WHO Global Action Plan. As well as to promote R&D for new antimicrobials, alternative therapies, vaccines and rapid-point-of care diagnostics, in particular for WHO-defined priority pathogens and tuberculosis.

JPIAMR welcomes the G7 Health Ministers focus on global coordination, supported R&D areas and the many dimensions of Antibiotic Resistance, the impacts are real now. The actions of JPIAMRs 26 member nations concerted efforts to meet human needs- and scientific results are tangible today. JPIAMR has merged the shared Strategic Research Agenda with a One Health approach. A crucial component and strategy since antimicrobial resistance do not adhere to any boundaries. In 2018 JPIAMR launches it´s 6th call: Innovation against antibiotic resistant bacteria – New targets, compounds and tools. This as a direct response to the WHO Priority Pathogens List (PPL). Coordinating participating nations resources for funding research that targets the 12 groups of bacteria and drug-resistant tuberculosis listed by WHO.

JPIAMR also welcome the initiative of the Global AMR R&D Hub, working side by side to ensure that innovation is in focus and not duplication. Seeing that a diverse range of research and resources can match and harness AMR as the multidimensional global threat it is.

Working together makes the difference we need – to harness AMR in time.

October 2017: Management Board meeting in Stockholm

Anders BjersNews and press

We gathered members of JPIAMR for Management Board meeting in Stockholm on October 10-11. Two dynamic days with member nations represented. Sharing AMR insights and updates on the actions of JPIAMR. Coordination, collaboration, calls and developments in focus.

Many items and areas covered, including welcoming new member South Africa who was represented by Dr. Richard Gordon. The mapping project is underway, continued expansion of JPIAMR, updates from EC and the development of JPIAMR Virtual Research Institute.

Thank you all for making it to Stockholm.

Workshop: Environmental Dimensions of AMR

Anders BjersNews and press

Full focus on the impact of environment on AMR when a global group of scientist collaborated during two intense days. Themes discussed: Evolution, Transmission and Interventions. The purpose of the workshop was to explore and identify critical research needs that relate to the environmental dimensions of AMR, both in the longer term for providing input to an updated JPIAMR Strategic Research Agenda, but also in the shorter term to provide guidance for specific calls. Creating more insights on  what role environment plays for antibiotic resistance. We can not exclude the importance of environmental dimensions from the complex context of AMR.

Please, find an article about the report of the outcomes from the workshop.

The workshop in Gothenburg was hosted together with CARe – Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research at University of Gothenburg.

We made a few interviews during the workshop, please view the videos below.

We say thank you to all of you who participated!

New WHO Report: Current Clinical Pipeline Insufficient

Anna SundinNews and press

The WHO review shows that the current clinical pipeline is still insufficient to mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

JPIAMR contributes to finding solutions to the challenges presented by WHO. JPIAMR is processing current and future calls that funds research on the very challenges highlighted in the report. Among with several ground breaking activities.

WHO points out:

  • More investments needed in basic science, drug discovery and clinical development.
  • Most of the agents in the pipeline are modifications of existing antibiotic classes. They are only short term solutions as they usually cannot overcome multiple existing resistance mechanisms and do not control the growing number of pan-resistant pathogens.
  • More innovative products are required against pathogens with no cross- or co-resistance to existing classes.
  • Although oral formulations for community diseases associated with high morbidity are essential globally, few oral antibiotics for infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens are in the pipeline.

As of May 2017, a total of 51 antibiotics (including combinations) and 11 biologicals were in the clinical pipeline with 42 new therapeutic entities (33 antibiotics and nine biologicals) that target priority pathogens, seven products for tuberculosis (TB) and nine for C.difficile infections (seven antibiotics and two biologicals) . The qualitative analysis shows a lack of potential treatment options for priority resistant bacteria, especially for multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.

The full report is now available,  please click here to view it.