Failure to address anti-microbial resistance (AMR) could result in an estimated 10 million deaths each year globally by 2050
16th January 2020 - By
That’s a shocking statistic, but it’s an important one. There has been no new antibiotic for the last 30 years and, as a result, the antibiotics we do have access to just aren’t working.
[Quick interlude for any non-clinical innovators! Antimicrobial resistance happens when microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites) change when they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics). As a result, the medicines become ineffective.]
We have partnered with NHS England and NHS Improvement to launch the AMR Open Call. We need you: the innovators, the change champions, small businesses and large organisations, clinical staff and software developers, the list goes on – we’re looking for new solutions to the key challenges that surround the wider issue of AMR.
**The deadline to apply for the antimicrobial resistance call has now passed (31st January 2020). Applications are currently being reviewed and those shortlisted will be invited to present to a panel of industry experts.**
We’ve helped to highlight 5 key areas:
Training and Education: do you have an innovative training method? Perhaps you’re developing a new app or online tool – could this be adapted to support the delivery of AMR training in health and social care settings? Or do you have an innovation to support the delivery of training or the development of learning packages?
Diagnostic tests including at point of care across the pathway that meet national and international standards: are you working on a new medical device? Does your research or development look at diagnostics in either a primary or secondary healthcare setting? You may never have worked with healthcare devices, but your organisation is developing cutting edge technology that could be applied as an AMR solution?
Encouraging responsible antibiotic prescribing: If you think that you have a solution to support GPs and other healthcare professionals prescribe more confidently and responsible, we’d love to hear from you.
Encouraging adequate hydration: By addressing the cause (Illness), rather than fighting the outcome (AMR) we know that we can make big changes to the levels of antibiotics that are required in the first instance – by addressing the need for adequate hydration, can your innovation support high-risk patient groups suffering from UTI’s etc so that the need for antibiotics can be reduced?
Surveillance programme and improved data systems: having the ability to link data can help us understand the existing challenge and pathways of AMR, including patient access points and prescribing habits to more effectively target interventions – can your software solution support this?
Other: and if you have a great idea, product or service that you think can help us fight AMR, but it doesn’t fall into one of these challenge areas, that’s fine. We want to hear about as many ideas as possible. We’re welcoming applications from innovators in all areas, whether its business, individuals, universities, NHS teams or charities – we want you to work with us to tackle the challenges posed by AMR.
You can read more about the real threat of AMR here https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/fighting-antimicrobial-resistance/
Please get in touch if you have any questions – and we really do want to hear from anyone with a solution, even if you’re just at the ideas stage!
It’s going to be a challenge; can you help us tackle it?
The deadline to apply for the antimicrobial resistance call has now passed (31st January 2020). Applications are currently being reviewed and those shortlisted will be invited to present to a panel of industry experts.