NEW: SNSF "Antimicrobial Resistance" Programme

The National Research Programme "Antimicrobial Resistance" - known as NRP 72 - brings together human and veterinary medical practitioners, biologists and environmental scientists to work in an interdisciplinary setting. "The One Health approach is pivotal to our research," explains Dehio. "When it comes to antibiotic resistance, the health of humans is linked very closely with the health of farm animals as well as with the environment, for instance through the transmission of resistant germs in wastewater."

The programme is divided into three modules:

• The first module will examine how particularly dangerous pathogens develop resistance and spread. An exact understanding of these processes may make it possible to interrupt them.
• The second module will tackle the problem once humans or animals have already been attacked by resistant pathogens: new active compounds aim to target such difficult-to-treat infections. Improved diagnostic methods will facilitate choice of the right antibiotic.
• The third module will aim at identifying strategies that will allow physicians, veterinary surgeons and farmers to use the currently available antibiotics in a more targeted way and with greater restraint in order to inhibit the development of resistance.

NRP 72 has a budget of 20 million Swiss francs. At the beginning of November 2016, the SNSF approved the first 21 research projects out of a total of 108 proposals received. Starting in 2017, the projects will be carried out at nine universities and higher education institutions throughout Switzerland. Initial research results will be published as of 2019. The programme synthesis is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

Finally, NRP 72 will launch another call in 2017 to fill specific research gaps that have persisted since the first call. In addition, NRP 72 will integrate and fund Swiss research projects that are also part of the European research programme "Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance" (JPIAMR).

For more information and contact details, check the news here.

Source: SNSF website