Globally coordinated fight against microbe resistance

Initiated in 2012, the EU-funded JPIAMR (Coordination Action for the early implementation of the Joint Programming Initiative on antimicrobial resistance) project coordinated research efforts to bring about long-term reduction of AMR in Europe.

The JPIAMR governance structure was established along with a common strategic research agenda and an implementation plan. With representatives from 19 member countries, JPIAMR worked to align national, European and international policies and programmes with AMR research.

An impressive achievement, JPIAMR secured funding for four joint transnational calls from 2014-2016 that amounted to EUR 43 million. This is in addition to the monies received from national funding organisations.

The project developed a website featuring a professional platform for information sharing, stakeholder recruitment, a document library and public consulting input. JPIAMR also hosted 3 international conferences, 10 strategic workshops, several high-level events with related initiatives and a variety of workshops.

In 2015, JPIAMR completed a self-evaluation. They also mapped antibacterial resistance research and associated investment in 19 participating countries for the period 2007-2013. These results are in the research funding database on the JPIAMR website.

The findings were published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. The mapping information is continuously updated and provides joint knowledge of gaps and under-funded areas.

JPIAMR anticipates that AMR research projects will shed novel insight into bacterial resistance and its spread among humans, animals and the environment. A better understanding of the bacterial resistance mechanisms should also aid in developing effective preventative measures or interventions.

After the end of the project, JPIAMR activities are supported by each participating country on a voluntary basis. JPIAMR expects that its activities will lead to guidelines and policies that support a smarter global use of antibiotics in veterinary and clinical settings.

Furthermore, with JPIAMR support, many European and non-European countries like Argentina and Japan will continue to combine resources, infrastructures and research strengths to overcome AMR and combat infection. This should ensure sustainability of health economics and a significantly lowered risk of further antibiotic resistance emergence.