NAMRIP's Summer Sandpit with BRC, NBIC & CIC
A hot sunny day was appropriate weather for NAMRIP’s sandpit event! Together with representatives from the research councils, over 45 NAMRIP members attended the event at Chilworth Manor Hotel. It was an opportunity for members to make new collaborations, understand the expertise within AMR research that exists within the network and discuss ideas for future projects.
Professor Tim Leighton welcomed everyone, updating attendees on NAMRIP’s activities and achievements over the past year.
World Cup Fever was high and teamwork a common theme in the presentations by the heads of National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Concept in Confidence (CIC), all linking together with NAMRIP to tackle AMR.
We were delighted to be joined by Dr Jessica Boname (MRC), Dr Stephen Webb (BBSRC) and Dr Gordon Ford (Innovate UK) at the event. In preparation for starting the process of building research proposals, each gave a talk highlighting current funding calls relating to AMR and the challenges they see within this research area.
Lively discussion ensued during the speed networking session with many new connections made.
Following an introduction to the sandpit part of the day by Dr Clint Styles, members divided into 4 groups working on a different AMR theme. Each group discussed the challenges that exist and research areas to explore before coming up with proposal ideas and agreeing which projects to take forward. The extensive list of projects generated will continue to be developed into grant proposals following the meeting, incorporating the invaluable feedback received when the ideas were presented to the attendees.
Thanks to our facilitators Clint Styles, Brigitte Lavoie, Jo Slater-Jefferies, Michelle Mitchell and Mark Richardson for their invaluable assistance, our excellent speakers Jeremy Webb, Rob Read, Salim Khakoo, Jessica Boname, Stephen Webb and Gordon Ford and NAMRIP members for their energy and enthusiasm.