The event aimed to bring together AMR Centre members to network and support opportunities for new collaborative, interdisciplinary research on AMR at LSHTM.

During the event, the Centre Co-Directors launched their first Collaborative Pilot Grant to support students, early career researchers, and professors across the LSHTM on AMR-related research. The funding announced will be available for around £20,000, and teams can apply for up to £10,000 each.

The Centre Organising Committee and Management Team shared their insights from the event: 

Kat Holt, Co-Director of the AMR Centre, said: “I was struck by the enthusiasm expressed for more interdisciplinary working. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have prompted a retreat into the familiar territory of single-discipline siloes. This was only natural, a way to keep research programs ticking along through very tough times during which it was hard to find opportunities to make new connections and work collaboratively (or find the energy to think creatively!). It seems many of us are emerging from that time with fresh ideas and new desires to make connections, with enthusiasm to tackle big challenges. 

Now we as a Centre need to turn that momentum into action – the pilot grants offer one opportunity for this. We will also follow up on the idea of more regular events organised around specific themes, to give AMR Centre members a chance to engage in deeper discussion, sharing current research and workshopping new collaborative ideas.” 

Gwen Knight, Co-Director of the AMR Centre, said: “It was great to see people and catch up after so much remote working. As a first big retreat in a while I think we achieved a lot of network building. I was excited to see the enthusiasm and call for modelling – we need to think how we can support capacity building within the AMR Centre in this area.”

Jacqueline Knee, Head of Humanities and Environmental Sciences at the AMR Centre, said: “Learning about the range of interest and expertise in AMR across the School through the ‘AMR Connect’ event was the highlight of the retreat for me. I hope the new connections formed during the retreat will facilitate future collaborations – particularly for the AMR Centre small grants scheme!”

Sherif Abouelhadid, Head of Biological and Pharmacological Sciences at the AMR Centre, said: “It is truly inspiring to see a pervasive enthusiasm shared by scientists and students across multiple disciplines addressing a global health burden, antimicrobial resistance, from different points of view. This uplifting gathering ensures that significant advancements are going to happen that will improve health worldwide.”

Charlene Rodrigues, Head of Clinical and Veterinary Sciences at the AMR Centre, said: “I very much enjoyed the retreat discussions on how we need to use diagnostics and therapeutics (old and new ones) to better be able to use the limited antibiotics we currently have. Though there are many limitations at present, many beyond the control of clinicians to be able to optimise stewardship practices.”

Meenakshi Gautham, Head of Economic, Social and Political Sciences at the AMR Centre, said: “I was truly impressed by the phenomenal diversity of expertise and talent in AMR research across LSHTM, ranging from molecular and computational sciences to health policy, health systems and social sciences. By setting up smart inter-disciplinary collaborations we can find answers and solutions to some of the most pressing problems in tackling the burden of AMR in LMICs. I was also delighted to meet researchers in MRC Gambia.”

Saffiatou Darboe, PhD Student Representative for the AMR Centre, said: “The AMRC retreat brought together experts from various backgrounds committed to curbing antimicrobial resistance. Research to inform and prioritise alternative interventions using vaccines, phage therapy, monoclonal antibody were my highlights. It was also a privilege to meet and network with Management Committee and Centre Members.”

Centre Coordinator, Dana Itani, said: “The AMR Centre Retreat was a great opportunity to network with AMR scientists from diverse backgrounds. It highlighted the importance of having a collaborative approach and bridging epidemiologists, modellers, laboratories, and bioinformaticians to tackle antimicrobial resistance.”

Amanda Wanyana, Student Liaison Officer for the Centre, said: “I especially liked a phrase that was shared by one of the professors with experience in vaccine research. “AMR is not about to go. It is here to stay! We only need to always be a step ahead of it.” I thought this was an apt view of this complex global problem.”

We look forward to seeing the new collaborative research partnerships that emerge from this event.