Launch of UCL Antimicrobial Resistance Network

The network has been organised by Dr Lena Ciric, Lecturer in UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, and colleagues from across UCL faculties. The network aims to bring together researchers from various disciplines to work on ways to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Over 40 academic staff from more than 20 UCL departments attended the event to hear talks from  Professor Nigel Titchener-Hooker, Dean of the UCL Faculty of Engineering, Ruth Kelly from the Medical Research Council, Tris Dyson  and Nina Cromeyer Dieke from the Longitude Prize, and the Vice-Provost (Health) Professor David Lomas. The attendees also participated in a networking activity to meet researchers from other departments

Dr Ciric said: 

"I was surprised by the success of the event. It was wonderful to see surgeons talking to chemists and evolutionary geneticists. We rarely get the chance to interact in this way."

Professor Lomas said: 

"An impactful response from UCL to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance will be characterised by partnership and engagement across the Schools and Faculties. By linking life sciences with engineering, chemistry and other disciplines, UCL is well placed to translate discovery research into new therapeutics, diagnostics, engineering solutions and behavioural interventions. I was very pleased to see the launch of the UCL AMR Network, a grass-roots initiative that will help identify areas of strength and combined approaches that can be applied to the AMR challenge. It was exciting to see the enthusiasm of the participants and I look forward to the productive collaborations that arise from the discussions."

Feedback from the event will be used to organise more focused workshops throughout 2016 and beyond. If you are interested in becoming part of the UCL AMR network, please contact Dr Lena Ciric