By Elaine Cutajar
As of the year 2018, the Medical Research Foundation (MRF) invested £4M to establish a yearly PhD training programme aiming to train early career researchers in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
In doing so, MRF aimed to foster new, robust and active networks between researchers from a variety of research backgrounds in the UK in order to collaboratively engage in research that crosses the traditional boundaries between research disciplines and sectors. The Programme funds a number of fully-funded PhD studentships as well as training and teambuilding activities for a wider cohort of over 200 PhD students studying AMR across the UK.
For the second year running, PhD students from the SHIP Research Group visited the University of Bristol to attend the Programme’s annual conference for two days of active networking and learning. Around 50 students recruited to the Programme’s core cohort gave short presentations illustrating the research they are currently conducting in the field of AMR, and over 100 posters were displayed throughout the duration of the conference. All of this research can be seen to fall under a number of categories, further illustrating the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to tackling AMR:
- AMR Discovery science and Technology
- AMR in Agriculture and the Environment
- AMR and Antimicrobial Use: One Health and Human Medicine, Interventions and Behaviours
- Biology of AMR
Seen below, Lauren, Ayodeji, Sally and Elaine presented their current research on rapid diagnostics, antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals, epidemiology and economics, and UTI management behaviours and were happy to receive substantial interest in their respective topics.
This is the only national PhD programme that exists which aims to connect researchers in the field of AMR. Being part of this experience is not only an opportunity for SHIP PhD students to expand their existing knowledge base on the various facets of AMR, but also to build new connections that might pave the way for collaborative and holistic research. Now back in Glasgow, our attendees are feeling refreshed, inspired, and motivated to continue in their PhD journeys, knowing that a solid number of like-minded individuals are out there doing the same thing.
We are all in this together!