‘Anti-Microbial Resistance – working towards solutions’
The NAMRIP 'Community Building' summer conference on 4 July attracted more than sixty attendees, among them many Early Career Researchers, eager to hear about the diversity of AMR research in the NAMRIP network. Others who were able to attend included partners from industry like our colleagues from Public Health England and Pinkham Equine Veterinary Services, and one of our colleagues from BristolBridge, the AMR network at Bristol University.
NAMRIP Chair, Professor Tim Leighton kept proceedings on target, which was vital with such a lot of activity lined up for the day. There was time to network and enjoy the poster display during breaks and the audience heard presentations from 13 of the different projects which have been awarded pump priming funds as the year has progressed. In total over twenty projects have been awarded NAMRIP pump priming but some are not yet at a stage to be able to report on results. The presentations generated many questions from the floor and during the coffee breaks and over lunch in the hotel restuarant, new collaborations were eagerly discussed.
After lunch the NAMRIP Outreach team took over, facilitating a session on how to write a script for a 2 minute film to pitch your research. NAMRIP believes that public engagement activity is crucial to spread the message about AMR to everyone so that we can all become AMR citizens. The delegates were split into groups and much stimulating and energetic activity followed. The aim was that there would be several people who ended the session with a 2 minute script ready to film and the filming was offered as an option which the team could do for them in the weeks following the conference. Finished films will be added to our NAMRIP SHORTS - used by researchers as a way to engage potential collaborators also.
A brilliant keynote talk: 'Can we beat Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis? Novel strategies aimed at early detection and non-antibiotic based therapy’ was given by Professor Jane Davies (Imperial College). A lively Q&A followed and the talk inspired considerable Tweeting .
The day was notable for the sound and sight of new connections being made across disciplines and faculties and it was good to see some of our external members of NAMRIP there. It ended with a short round-up of plans for the year ahead from Professor Tim Leighton. If you were unable to be there you can still check the full programme of talks and speakers
The event was sponsored by EPSRC through its ‘Bridging the Gap’ programme.