Southampton hosts first meeting of UK AMR 'Bridging the Gap' Networks

Of the 10 other networks funded from EPSRC (EP/M027260/1), eight sent senior representatives, in many cases the Principal Investigator, as shown in the list of attendees below.

After an opening address by Tim Leighton, which outlined the aims of the day and issues in developing such networks, each network gave a presentation of its design and plans, and what measures they found to be effective. Best practice was shared and plans for joint activities were drawn up, including exchanges, shared facilities and joint meetings. The day's presentations laid particular emphasis on producing impact from interdisciplinary research that makes a difference to combatting AMR in healthcare, the food industry and the wider world. There is need for a critical mass of resources to make sure that innovations do not remain in the lab or clinical trial, but instead have sufficient backing to be rolled out to benefit thousands of people. This is particularly challenging for the groundbreaking research needed to produce step changes in performance, as opposed to incremental changes, which are more usually associated with incremental research. Note was also taken of the need for researchers to ensure that their language is suitable for the typical audience of potential collaborators, who may be erudite but not versed in the jargon the presenter is tempted to use.

After the meeting, the delegates went to the nearby remains of Netley Military Hospital, which was built to cope with the wounded from the Crimean war. It was, for a time, the largest hospital in the world. Its design was in some ways a battle between established architects and the realizations of the need for change, to combat infection; led by Florence Nightingale. Dinner was held in the Chapel downstairs where discussions continued - primarily on future activities for the new consortium.

Attendees

Roberto La Ragione and Richard Curry, University of Surrey

Steven Bell, Queen’s University Belfast

John King, University of Nottingham

Adrian Mulholland and Claire Spreadbury, University of Bristol

Jamie Hobbs, University of Sheffield

Danish Malik, University of Loughborough

Maggie Smith, University of York

Pantelis Georgiou, Imperial College

Southampton delegates

Tim Leighton (Chair), Engineering

Syma Khalid, Chemistry

Frances Clarke, RIS

Bill Keevil, Biological Sciences

Rob Eason, Optoelectronics

John Holloway, Medicine

David Voegeli, Health Science

Colin Sones, Optoelectronics

Apologies: Chris Dowson (University of Warwick), Andrew Pitt, Aston University