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The University of Southampton
Global Network for Anti-Microbial Resistance and Infection Prevention

NAMRIP members chosen to participate in China-UK AMR Initiative workshop

Published: 29 November 2017
china

The China-UK Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Initiative Workshop took place 20-24 November, in Shanghai.

NAMRIP members, Dr. Marcela Hernandez and Dr Merlin Willcox were among the 29 UK scientists selected to participate in the workshop.

The Research Councils UK (RCUK), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) will launch the call for the the UK-China AMR Centre Partnerships Initiative, under the umbrella of the Newton Fund, in January 2018.

During the workshop, the UK scientists worked with about 30 Chinese counterparts to shape this call. The initiative will provide funding for Collaborative Centre Partnerships with the aim of:

  • Supporting large-scale, interdisciplinary collaborative research in AMR and specifically antibacterial resistance
  • Supporting the mobility and exchange of UK and Chinese researchers to enhance links between researchers in both countries
  • Enhancing existing partnerships and developing new partnerships between the UK and China in the area of AMR
  • Strengthening the strategic relationship between the UK and China.

 

merlin
Dr Merlin Willcox in Shanghai

Delegates worked in groups to identify synergies and work out the areas of AMR research where China and the UK are particularly strong. There were 5 such breakout sessions and each time the scientists joined different groups. Through these intense discussions the scientists identified the challenges and gaps in AMR research between China and UK, as well as synergies and were able to develop ideas about how to work together to greater advantage. Finally scientists joined groups according to their disciplines in order to design possible structures to reflect what a Centre Partnership might look like. 

 

In total, RCUK will make up to £8m available to support the UK nodes of 3-5 Centre Partnerships over a three-year period. The UK contribution will be matched by NSFC who will support the Chinese component of the Centre Partnerships.

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