Digital Health Hub for Antimicrobial Resistance

1 January 2025

Key Facts

Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Start date: 2024

Duration: 3 years

University Partners: Bangor University, University College London, University of Leeds, University of Oxford, University of Sheffield

CBC Researchers: Prof Fabiana Lorencatto (Co-I), Dr Massar Dabbous

The threat of antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is when microorganisms (such as bacteria) change over time and no longer respond to medicines. This makes infections harder to treat, risking disease spread, prolonged severe illness and death.  Antimicrobial resistance affects many sectors, as resistant pathogens can be transmitted between animals, humans and food. However, this interconnectedness is poorly understood and data remains in silos. 

Harnessing technologies

The hub aims to use technologies to:

• improve the surveillance of and action against antimicrobial resistance
• increase knowledge and skills sharing among groups affected by antimicrobial resistance. This includes researchers, healthcare workers, people working in animal health and environmental agencies, policymakers, charities, industry and the public.

Applying a behavioural science lens

Engagement with digital technologies is a complex form of human behaviour. Thus, the potential for digital technologies to tackle AMR can only be realised if people adopt and use these technologies, leading to changes in behaviour and practice for optimal implementation.

We will be utilising behavioural science to explore the factors influencing the use of digital, data-driven innovations to tackle AMR and identify strategies to enable their uptake in real-world practice. As part of the interdisciplinary team across the Digital Health Hub for Antimicrobial Resistance, the CBC will be contributing to a range of multidisciplinary projects, leading behavioural science studies exploring the behavioural influences and acceptability of digital technologies informing antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention control among patients, healthcare professionals and wider stakeholders in practice. Examples of these digital technologies include: rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), routine healthcare data and digital wearables for infection prevention control, clinical decision support tools to support antimicrobial prescribing and decision making. We will identify behaviour change strategies and techniques to optimise their use and implementation in practice.