National and European research funding in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is unbalanced and underfunded, according to new research by the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. The study, which is the first of its kind, highlights the need for increased and new investment across all Member States. The work was led by the UK's Medical Research Council (MRC).
The study mapped out antimicrobial resistance research undertaken across 19 countries from 2007-13, identifying 1,243 projects with a total public investment of €1.3 billion. The study compared individual national research investments with EU levels, including the European Commission's public investment in the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and found that funding varies considerably across the different research areas. The 19 countries covered by the study are Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.
Antibiotic resistance has been hailed as one of the main future threats to human health worldwide. In 2007 alone, 25,000 patients died in Europe from infections caused by bacteria that were resistant to more than one antibiotic - and current trends predict this to grow to 390,000 deaths a year by 2050.
In order to address antimicrobial resistance, research across a wide range of areas in humans, animals, and the environment is critical. There is a need to develop new and preserve existing antibiotics and alternatives to antibiotics (therapeutics), improve diagnosis to reduce unnecessary and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, implement surveillance systems to monitor resistance and antibiotic use, understand the development and transmission of resistance, and improve infection prevention and control strategies. The Lancet study is the first systematic study to look at national and European Union funding in antimicrobial resistance across a range of research areas in order to identify gaps and opportunities to be exploited.
The JPI mapping study has shown that across 19 countries from 2007-2013, 66% of funding was awarded to projects in the field of therapeutics. This is a stark contrast to the other fields such as transmission, which received 9% of the funding, 14% of funding went to diagnostics, 5% to interventions and only 2% awarded to projects on antimicrobial resistance in the environment and 4% in surveillance.
"This was the first study to take human, veterinary, and environmental research into account, and included projects across all areas identified in the JPIAMR's Strategic Research Agenda, including: therapeutics, diagnostics, surveillance, transmission, environment, and interventions. The study has shown us that although considerable funds have been invested, moving forward, participating countries need to close the gap between the health research needs and the actual research funded, but also to make strategic and coordinated investments with current and new funds," said Mats Ulfendahl, Chair of JPIAMR's Management Board.
91% (1,129/1,243) of projects identified in this study were funded at national level. However, they only accounted for 49% of total investment, suggesting that these are relatively small awards and highly focussed projects.
"National research investment is too low compared to that committed at European Union level. To achieve greater impact, nations need to come together and pool available resources. This entails working together in a more efficient way to increase the impact of research through strengthening national and international coordination and collaborations as well as harmonising research activities and national strategies. The results demonstrate the need for a Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance, said Herman Goossens, Chair of JPIAMR's Science Advisor Board.