Research into anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in humans, animals and the environment should focus on finding solutions for the future treatment of AMR superbugs such as the development of new therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics, a Maynooth University-led report recommends.
The report, which was launched by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Noel Grealish TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, identifies gaps in AMR research and will inform a national action plan. It found that most research in Ireland focuses on detection, infection control and surveillance.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease, severe illness and death. Rising levels of AMR mean that most conventional antibiotics may no longer be effective by 2050.
“With the information in this document, policy makers, funders of research and researchers can see what we have done well in terms of researching AMR in Ireland, and importantly, what innovations are needed to protect people, agriculture and our environment from AMR in the future.”
The report calls for research in priority areas including the environmental sector, which it says lacks extensive data even on surveillance: “There is a need for further research on how to prevent transmission of AMR to and from the environment and the ecology and evolution of resistances within the environment,” it notes.
It recommends that research focuses on other key areas such as:
- Development of new therapeutics and alternatives to antimicrobials
- Identification of novel preventative vaccines
- Development of diagnostics
- Development of new economic models and incentives
- Introduction of research linking the impact of climate change on AMR
- Development of behavioural analysis research
The report was written for the AMR One Health Thematic Network, which was established under Strategic Objective 5 of Ireland’s National Action Plan (iNAP) on AMR. The network focuses on facilitating, supporting and promoting co-ordination, synergies and liaison between relevant funding organisations and researchers across the One Health sectors to reduce fragmentation or possible duplication within or across sectors.
The report will inform future research calls and priority areas for research funding in Ireland in the areas of One Health and antimicrobial resistance.
Millions of people die annually as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and research is critical to find fresh approaches to tackle a problem that kills more people globally every year than HIV/AIDS or malaria.
Launching the report, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development, Noel Grealish said: “This report serves to highlight priority areas for future research funding in AMR across the One Health spectrum in order to progressively address the deficits in our knowledge and will continue to highlight our collective One Health efforts to tackle this major societal challenge in Ireland.”
Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, added: “This report identifies areas of focus for AMR research across the One Health sectors. AMR is a challenge not just for human health but for animal health and the environmental sector also. This research is an important piece of work under our current national action plan on AMR, iNAP2, and the findings will guide our approach as we work to develop our next action plan.”
Along with Prof Walsh, the research team included Prof James P O’Gara of the Department of Microbiology and Prof Dearbháile Morris of the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Galway, Prof Finola Leonard of the School of Veterinary Medicine in University College Dublin as well as MU researchers Yukta Mahashabde and Amy O’Hanlon of the Department of Biology.
You can read the full report HERE.