Fostering new connections to tackle antimicrobial resistance: GW4 hosts networking and bid development workshop

Last week marked World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week and, on Thursday 20 November, we hosted our third GW4 AMR Alliance Networking and Bid Development Workshop.  

Over 70 researchers, including final year doctoral students, from across the GW4 Alliance universities—University of Bath, University of Bristol,  Cardiff University, and University of Exeter—alongside colleagues from the NHS —came together to identify new collaborators, share expertise, and develop ideas for future AMR research 

AMR occurs when bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. The incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is rising in the UK (a 9% increase in our South West region for the year 2024-25) and globally too, requiring focused, cross-disciplinary action to address this urgent public health problem.  

To support this, the workshop brought together clinicians, life scientists, social scientists, mathematical modellers, engineers, data scientists, physicists, imaging experts and more. The energy in the room demonstrated the power of collaboration across disciplines and institutions. 

GW4 Director Melanie Knetsch opened the event, followed by a morning of rapid lightning talks – everything from wastewater-based epidemiology for One Health to mapping the economic landscape of AMR.  

The participants also identified six pressing cross-disciplinary AMR challenges, and breakout discussion sessions explored potential collaborative approaches to tackling each with an opportunity to apply for the 2026 GW4 Generator Fund, launched on 18 November 2025, to help fund and progress plans.   

There was a palpable buzz during the afternoon session. One investigator said: “I think this is the network I’ve been looking for”. The challenge discussion session concluded with an expert from each group sharing the outcome of their discussions and future plans via a short presentation   

A further highlight was a presentation by Dr Helen Brown (Cardiff) who provided an overview, update, and mid-point evaluation of the AMR Alliance's cross-institutional mentorship scheme  demonstrating the clear success, value, and impact of the programme so far. 

Prof Brad Spiller (Cardiff), Chair of the AMR Alliance Steering Group, closed the workshop by reflecting on the importance of building collaborative cross-disciplinary AMR communities and the strong appetite for joint research activities across the region. 

Dr Gözde Burger, GW4 AMR Alliance Co-ordinator, said: “We were delighted to organise and host such a vibrant and well-attended GW4 AMR Alliance Networking & Bid Development Workshop and to welcome so many disciplines and new AMR investigators who have taken up academic posts at our four institutions recently. We look forward to seeing new cross-institutional AMR research communities consolidating and developing their plans”.