Switzerland

National AMR research program
National action plans
MB representatives

Switzerland is represented in JPIAMR by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

The Swiss National Science Foundation was commissioned by the Federal Council on 24 June 2015 to carry out the National Research Programme “Antimicrobial Resistance” (NRP 72). The overall funding is CHF 20 million.

After NRP 49 “Antibiotic Resistance” in 2001-2006, 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. 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.

NRP 72 considers three main aspects:

  • Increasing knowledge about resistance development and transmission mechanisms in order to interrupt these processes;
  • Development of rapid diagnostic techniques and discovery of novel antimicrobial molecules to improve the treatment of humans and animals;
  • Proposal of recommendations and intervention measures for human and veterinary medical practitioners and farmers for a more targeted use of antibiotics.The projects will be conducted at universities and higher education institutions throughout Switzerland and will be completed by the end of 2021.

With the Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Strategy (StAR) adopted by the Federal Council on 18 November 2015 as part of its health policy priorities set out in “Health 2020”, Switzerland is also taking a cross-sector approach to tackling the problem of antibiotic resistance. All affected stakeholders were consulted in developing and implementing the strategy: the responsible federal offices, the cantons, and partners in the areas of human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment. StAR defines overarching objectives for human medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture and the environment, and outlines measures in eight strategic fields of activity: monitoring, prevention, appropriate use of antibiotics, resistance control, research and development, cooperation, information and education, and general conditions. The strategy’s implementation began in early 2016. Due to the great number of measures, their implementation is now being approached on an incremental basis. The responsibility for detailed planning lies with the federal offices hitherto involved and the directly affected stakeholders.

National AMR research program and activities

AMR Research program

National AMR research calls

  • NRP 72 ”Antimicrobial Resistance” Call for proposals 2015
  • JPIAMR Transnational Call 2016 – “Transmission Dynamics”
  • NRP 72 ”Antimicrobial Resistance” 2nd Call for proposals 2017
  • JPIAMR Transnational Call 2017 – “Prevention and Intervention Strategies to control AMR infections”
  • JPIAMR Transnational Call 2018 – “Innovations against antibiotic-resistant bacteria: New targets, compounds and tools”
  • JPIAMR Transnational Call 2022 – “Disrupting drug resistance using innovative design”
  • JPIAMR Transnational Call 2023 – “AMR Diagnostic and Surveillance”

National Centre of Competence

Conferences/Workshops/Activities on AMR actions at national level

  • Closing event of NRP 72 in Bern on 18 November 2022. NRP 72 researchers will present important results and recommendations of the programme and discuss them with national and international decision-makers from politics and practice.

National action plans

Management Board representative

  • Clémence Le Cornec, Swiss National Science Foundation