Author: Anders Bjers

Fourth JPIAMR Network Call Workshop – report and interviews

Anders BjersNews and press

In March researchers gathered in Frankfurt am Main in a final workshop, Maximising Existing and Future Research Efforts and Resource Alignment to Combat AMR, to share some of their activities and findings from research that was supported by funding within the JPIAMR call for networks. Here we present the full workshop report and filmed interviews with some of the funded networks.

The fourth JPIAMR call for networks closed on June 6, 2016. Participating countries in the network call were JPIAMR members: France, Canada, Belgium Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The coordinators from the countries participating in the call created networks of researchers from many different countries and fields of research.

Major Conclusions

  • The Network funding mechanism facilitated the formation of successful networks in all strategic JPIAMR areas.
  • JPIAMR Network funding allowed Networks to carry out a broad range of activities with different outcomes, including white papers/position papers, conferences/workshops, systematic reviews, Standard Operating Procedures, online courses, guidance documents and journal articles, amongst others.

JPIAMR has the One Health approach as an integral part of the Strategic Research Agenda. This is one of the key strengths of JPIAMR and it is reflected in the diversity of the network topics.

The full workshop report can be downloaded here.

About the participating networks

The assembled networks had emphasis on needs at a National and International level to address AMR, within these areas:

  • Guidelines on use (Human & Veterinary) – Affordable stewardship
  • Surveillance in primary care
  • New anti-infective/ New adjuvant therapies / Alternative approaches
  • Evaluation of risk for generation of resistance in human setting
  • Rapid diagnostic tests
  • Role of environmental factors
  • Infrastructures/Biobanks available relevant to infection and AMR

The networks spanned all of the JPIAMR pillars and were mostly multidisciplinary (spanning at least two pillars). A range of sizes of the networks were represented at the workshop.

Interviews with coordinators of some funded JPIAMR Networks

Research Network: Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) and the Spread of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria

Research Network: INFACT – AMR and Intensive Care Units

Research Network: Rapid Diagnostics

Research Network: AMR Stewardship in Hospitals – What Works?

Announcement 7th Call: Working to Improve Surveillance

Anders BjersNews and press

Surveillance networks are essential to monitor the threat of AMR and guide public health policy. The JPIAMR call for networks aims to create networks to enhance resource alignment and efforts in the field of AMR surveillance.

In partnership with ten member countries; Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, JPIAMR is launching the seventh joint call for transnational networks. The total budget of the call is approximately € 1.1 million.

This network call “Working to Improve Surveillance” aims to create networks to enhance resource alignment and efforts in the field of AMR surveillance. Surveillance is a prerequisite for assessing the success of AMR stewardship measures, infection prevention and control, and the effectiveness of new therapeutic and diagnostic options. The overarching goal of JPIAMR research on surveillance is to standardise, improve and extend surveillance systems on antibiotic use and on AMR in humans, animals, food, and the larger environment.

In this network call up to 21 networks will be funded with up to € 50 000 each to maximise existing and future efforts to combat AMR by pushing forward new ideas in AMR surveillance. Note that JPIAMR networks calls do not fund research projects.

Call procedure

The Network Call on Surveillance 2018 has a one-step procedure. The final funding decision will be announced in September / October 2018.

Deadline

The proposal submission deadline is June 12th, 2018, (14.00h CET).

The Network Call Secretariat and National Points of Contact

The Network Call on Surveillance is hosted by the Swedish Research Council. All questions about the call should be sent to: call7.jpiamr@vr.se

To download Surveillance Network Call folder, please click on: Folder_Working to Improve Surveillance

Download the press release in here: Working to Improve Surveillance

More detailed information about the call is here: JPIAMR 2018 Network Call on Surveillance

About: The Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance, JPIAMR, coordinates national programmes, funding and supports collaborative action for filling knowledge gaps on AMR with a one health approach. Today, 27 nations, from four continents, are members of JPIAMR. More than 300 research groups have received funding from JPIAMR. Since its launch in 2011 JPIAMR has coordinated total budget of € 65 million. The JPIAMR Secretariat is hosted by the Swedish Research Council.

South Korea New Member of JPIAMR

Anders BjersNews and press

JPIAMR Evolves as Global Collaborative Platform on Antimicrobial Resistance.

On February 26, 2018, South Korea was accepted as full member of the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR). Now, 27 countries are members of the global collaborative platform and engaged in the mission to harness antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“AMR is a serious social issue in Korea. Hospitals, farms and fisheries are all under siege. While much investment is being made domestically, our scientists and policy makers also realize the need for global cooperation in fighting AMR. We at the National Research Foundation of Korea thus regard joining JPIAMR a momentous event. We look forward to sharing knowledge and experience of all participating nations and contributing to this must-win struggle”, says Jaesang Kim, National Research Foundation of South Korea.

”Antimicrobial Resistance is a global threat today that must be acted on with a one health approach and seamless global collaboration. We are delighted to expand the platform to include South Korea as a full member of JPIAMR”, says Carlos Segovia, Chair of the JPIAMR Management Board.

Several key organisations and reports point to JPIAMR as an initiative to support. JPIAMR continues to grow with countries that choose to come together as members; sharing resources, strategic research agendas, funding and more. An increasing number of countries want to be part of transnational research calls. South Koreas membership shows that JPIAMR is a trusted platform for countries that share the mission to harness AMR on a global scale.

JPIAMR coordinates research programmes, funding and supports collaborative action for filling knowledge gaps on AMR with a one health approach. Today, more than half of G20 nations are members of JPIAMR. More than 300 research groups have received funding from JPIAMR. Since its launch in 2011, JPIAMR has coordinated an overall budget of 65 million Euros. The JPIAMR Secretariat is hosted by the Swedish Research Council.

Please download press release here: Press Release_South Korea joins JPIAMR as full member 180226_FINAL

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Anders Bjers

Communications Officer JPIAMR

E-mail: anders.bjers@vr.se

Mobile: +46-73-550 37 88

Report – Countries Should Increase Funding for AMR Research by 50%

Anders BjersNews and press

Today we are reached by the final report from DRIVE-AB with the headline: “Revitalizing the Antibiotic Pipeline“. The context is that “The current pipeline for innovative antibiotics in various stages of R&D is insufficient, potentially delivering no more than one innovative antibiotic for a “critical” World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen within the next five years.”, the report say in the beginning.  A key reason for the DRIVE-AB report is to bring recommendations and guidance in the present context, when we are facing increased antibiotic resistance on a global scale.

One of the main recommendations is that countries should increase funding for AMR.

“Countries should make long-term commitments to continue financing of antibacterial R&D and ideally increase push funding by about 50 per cent.”, states the report.

DRIVE-AB finds that: “There may be capacity within existing multinational grant funding agencies – e.g. CARB-X, GARDP, JPIAMR (Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance) – to absorb and effectively deploy more capital.”

So, we are happy to see that JPIAMR is acknowledged as a key organisation and vehicle, among others,  who are trusted with the mission to fund even more research in order to harness AMR on a global scale. Since JPIAMR is coordinating research and funding for it’s 26 member nations – it fits very well to expand the operations in this direction.

The Drive-AB report continues: “Owing to the existing pipeline, much of this immediate funding should be placed in early- and mid-stage grants until the pipeline becomes more robust. Granting agencies should have specific calls for research targeting pathogens that pose the most urgent public health threats (e.g. WHO’s priority pathogens list for the discovery phase and TPPs for the development phase).”

The ongoing JPIAMR call for “New targets, compounds and tools – innovating against antibiotic resistant bacteria“, is a perfect example how countries are pooling resources and research to collaborate. This call responds to WHOs list of priority pathogens just as the report recommends.

However, funding is linked with the ability to both reach and enable researcher to apply for funds. This is something many more entities in the AMR field could collaborate on to a greater extent. If researchers are not aware of available funds and contexts to support research, we may miss opportunities to support research that can be life changing for the many.

The 6th Transnational Call is Now Open

Anders BjersNews and press

The sixth transnational call for research projects for the JPIAMR within the ERA-NET JPI-EC-AMR

THE CALL IS OPEN

The JPIAMR, in partnership with sixteen member countries; Belgium, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, is launching a sixth joint call for transnational research projects. The total budget of the 6th Call is approx. 14.4 million Euro.

The call targets research in the following topic:

Innovations against antibiotic-resistant bacteria: new targets, compounds and tools. Fundamental, translational research, with the exception of clinical trials.

Call procedure

The 6th Call has a two-step procedure. With a first stage, a pre-proposal submission, from which selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal, the second stage. The final funding decision will be announced in October / November 2018.

Deadlines

The pre-proposal submission deadline is March 7, 2018, (17:00, CET).
The full proposal submission deadline is June 14, 2018, (17.00, CET).

Information and application

For more detailed information and links to application process, please visit the page about the 6th Call.

6th Call Secretariat and National Points of Contact

The 6th Call Secretariat is hosted by the French National Research Agency, ANR.

All questions on national rules, eligibility, etc. should be directed to the national contacts, for contact information please visit the page about the 6th Call.

Spread the News

Reach out to researchers in participating countries. Use the template below and link to the page about the 6th call.

6th Call Update – Launch Date Set and Romania Joins the Call

Anders BjersNews and press

We are pleased to share that the date for the launch of the 6th Call is set for January 11, 2018. On that day, the application process will open and the final call text will be published.

Romania has joined the Call and now sixteen nations have joined forces in the call for:  Innovation against antibiotic resistant bacteria: new targets, compounds and tools.

Also, the total budget of the Call is now approximately 14.4 Million Euro with expanded contributions included.

Please find more information about the Call, at this page.

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