Wellcome Trust Infectious Disease priority area (Antimicrobial Resistance) is sponsored by Wellcome Trust. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

## What is antimicrobial resistance – and why is it a problem? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, fungi or viruses change in a way that makes the drugs used to treat them ineffective. These drug-resistant infections are much harder – if not impossible – to treat and cure.

They cause over a million deaths every year02724-0/fulltext), and projections suggest this will increase significantly over the next few decades. By 2030, the health impacts of AMR could lead to a [US $3. 4 trillion annual shortfall in global GDP [PDF 3.

8MB]](https://documents1. worldbank. org/curated/en/323311493396993758/pdf/final-report.

pdf). However, the effects are not experienced equally. Low- and middle-income countries have the highest burden of drug-resistant infections.

For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 1 in 1,000 deaths are already associated with bacterial antimicrobial resistance02724-0/fulltext), compared to half as many in high-income countries. ## Accelerating action on antimicrobial resistance While there has been some progress in tackling AMR in recent years, it isn’t enough. The global response remains too weak and fragmented to manage the growing burden of disease.

At the 79th UN General Assembly, world leaders committed to a clear set of global targets and the creation of an independent evidence panel. Now, we need to see these commitments translated into action. A more ambitious and globally coherent approach will be critical to tackle the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance.

> “What gets measured gets managed – this is what we have been lacking so far for AMR. With appropriate mechanisms in place, the world can more effectively tackle the AMR crisis and protect those most vulnerable. ” Head of Policy, Infectious Disease ## Read our policy briefs on driving action on AMR * Driving action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in 2024 PDF 886.

2 KB * Bridging the gap: New conversations and practical solutions for advancing equitable antibiotic access PDF 555. 4 KB * Establishing an effective and sustainable evidence panel on AMR PDF 127. 3 KB * From Evidence to Progress: Renewed Global Governance on AMR PDF 335.

3 KB ## Our work on antimicrobial resistance We support science to tackle the biggest barriers to controlling infectious disease in the most affected communities. This includes research to better understand the global burden of AMR and accelerate the development of new interventions.

* We’re funding evidence generation – from our analysis of the antimicrobial resistance landscape to the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance project, which provides the first comprehensive estimate of AMR burden in 204 countries and territories.

* We’re supporting projects all over the world that improve how countries track, share and analyse information about the spread of drug-resistant infections –from the Surveillance and Epidemiology of Drug-resistant Infections Consortium (SEDRIC) to A Clinically Oriented Antimicrobial Resistance Network (ACORN).

* Since 2016, we have supported CARB-X, a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early-stage antibiotics, diagnostics and vaccines research and development to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.

* We're also working with the communities most affected by AMR, with projects like ABACUS, which explored the case for a standardised physical appearance of antibiotics to improve the confusion between medicine suppliers and community members. * In collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Gates Foundation, we launched a new initiative to drive innovation in early drug discovery for Gram-negative pathogens.

### From evidence to progress: renewed global governance on AMR This report outlines the governance model that is required to support sustainable and impactful action on AMR at national, regional and global levels. Podcast When Science Finds a Way Podcast When Science Finds a Way ### What can we do to stop suberbugs? 27 June 2023 38-minute listen Hear from Dr. Anand Anandkumar, co-founder of Bugworks.

The team at Bugworks (an organisation part funded by Wellcome) are one of a handful of groups worldwide working on next-generation broad-spectrum antibiotics. ### The global response to AMR: momentum, success, and critical gaps This report gives an update on the status quo, recent developments and remaining critical gaps in the AMR response globally.

Head of Policy, Infectious Disease Director of Infectious Disease For information, contact Jeremy Knox, Head of Policy, Infectious Disease at Wellcome. Stay up to date with some of the biggest stories in global health, and how we're advocating to improve health for everyone. Interested in more updates?