Speakers include:
- Dr Kitty Healey (DEFRA)
- Dr Timothy Rawson (NIHR and Imperial)
- Dr Andrew Singer (Centre for Hydrology and Ecology)
The panel session will end with an open Q&A with the audience.
Networking reception follows this event until 20.00, with light refreshements.
Why are we holding this event?
Antimicrobial drugs are medicines that are typically used to prevent or treat infections caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria (antibiotics), viruses (antivirals), fungi (antifungals) and parasites (including anti-malarials). However, over the last decade, there has been an alarming increase in the number of micro-organisms that have become resistant to antimicrobial drugs. It is estimated that 700,000 people die of resistant infections every year and this could increase to 10 million deaths a year by 2050.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises when the micro-organisms which cause infection (e.g. bacteria) survive exposure to a medicine that would normally kill them or stop their growth. AMR has increasingly become a problem in recent times because overuse of antimicrobials has increased the rate at which resistance is developing and spreading. Specifically, the lack of sustainable production, innovation and development of new antibiotics; coupled with the unsustainable, unnecessary and irresponsible consumption in humans and animals is fuelling one of the biggest threats to human and environmental health.
This panel session aims to look at potential co-benefits and trade-offs within The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals. These goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The goals are interconnected – often the key to success on one will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another. Within this session, the “AMR threat” will be used as a case study to explore how multiple SDGs can be achieved. Expert panellists will present relevant research with the aim of fostering interdisciplinary awareness and action within the context of AMR and the SDGs.