Antimicrobial resistance in the real world (AMR)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been recognised as a global public health challenge, posing one of the most serious health threats. The role of effluent from antimicrobial manufacturing is particularly pertinent in India, since it has been a major producer of antimicrobials in the global supply chain of the pharmaceutical industry, and is a scientifically appropriate place to study this global issue. This case study on ‘Antimicrobial resistance in the real world’ describes the different stages in a project funded under the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) programme on ‘India−UK tackling AMR in the environment from antimicrobial manufacturing’. The case study tracks the research process from the application for funding and formation of the project team through the first two years of funding, concluding with the lessons learnt from working across disciplines and remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was led by the University of the West of Scotland. NERC established programme coordination team composed of principal investigators (PIs) from the projects that were part of the wider programme. The coordination team was set up to ensure that funded projects complement each other by enabling a partnership-based approach to knowledge exchange and by dovetailing impact activities. The Indian partners reported on their progress to their national authorities via the Department of Biotechnology at the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology.