CDT AMR Annual Conference 2026: Abstracts and Presentations

Indwelling and implanted devices are growing elements of healthcare as our populations age. The material from which implants are constructed can be used to reduce bacterial[1,2] and fungal biofilm formation[3,4] as well as to control immune system acceptance.[5]

This paucity of information on the mechanism of biomaterial interactions with cells and the body acts as a roadblock to rational design. Consequently, we have taken a high throughput screening approach across a number of cell types to discover new bio-instructive polymers from large chemical libraries of synthetic monomers presented as micro arrays.[6]

The technology that is most well developed from our team is that of Bactigon® which is a polymer coating that is now in the clinic on urinary catheters and recently returned positive bacteriuria infection rate data.[7] The need for antibiotics was cut by more than half when compared to those receiving standard care.

The talk will focus on the materials and engineering challenges of developing and producing such devices, and the mechanism of action will be briefly touched upon.[8,9]

1. Hook et al. (2012) Combinatorial discovery of polymers resistant to bacterial attachment -Nature Biotechnology 
2. Kalenderski et al. (2024) Polymer-Coated Urinary Catheter Reduces Biofilm Formation and Biomineralization: A First-in-Man, Prospective Pilot Study- JU Open Plus 
3. Vallieres et al. (2020) Discovery of (meth) acrylate polymers that resist colonization by fungi associated with pathogenesis and biodeterioration 
4. Yong et al. (2024) Fungal Attachment-Resistant Polymers for the Additive Manufacture of Medical Devices -ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 
5. Fisher et al. (2022) Immune-instructive materials as new tools for immunotherapy - Current Opinion in Biotechnology 
6. Yang et al. (2021) High-throughput methods in the discovery and study of biomaterials and materiobiology -Chemical Reviews 
7. Rochester et al. (2026) A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Study to Assess the Impact of a Novel Catheter Coating on Clinical Bacteriuria -Antibiotics 
8. Romero et al. (2025) Combinatorial discovery of microtopographical landscapes that resist biofilm formation through quorum sensing mediated autolubrication -Nature Communications 
9. Carabelli et al. Polymer-directed inhibition of reversible to irreversible attachment prevents Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation -BiorXiv

My team studies where, when, why and how bacteria share antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence genes, and we’re developing strategies to stop this from occurring. Bacterial infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. This is due to global increases in (AMR). Many of the genes responsible for AMR are carried on mobile genetic elements, termed plasmids, which can move between different types of bacteria. These plasmid-mediated AMR genes often include resistance to important drugs of last resort, such as carbapenems and extended spectrum beta-lactams. Bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli carrying these resistance genes are considered top priorities by the WHO. My team have been exploring the use of drugs, natural products, and novel compounds to prevent bacteria from sharing these resistance genes among other bacteria. In order to understand where to target such compounds, we need a clear understanding of where these transmission events are occurring. To this end, we’ve started exploring plasmid transmission in key settings, including bacterial biofilms and the microbiome. These settings are both complex communities of multiple species, and are considered “hot spots” for AMR gene transmission. We aim to understand how these specific environments impact and shape gene transmission.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health threat that limits the effectiveness of antibiotics and demands alternative approaches for prevention and treatment. Immunological strategies, including vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies, offer promising solutions, but their design must be tailored to the biology of each pathogen, the disease context, and the target population.

A general framework for tackling AMR through immune-based interventions is outlined, emphasising the need for pathogen-specific strategies. For Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major cause of community-acquired infections, there is a need for broadly protective, serotype-independent vaccines. Functional Genomic Vaccinology (FGV) enables systematic identification of conserved protein antigens to address this challenge.

In contrast, Acinetobacter baumannii, a critical priority nosocomial pathogen, requires alternative approaches such as monoclonal antibody therapies for high-risk patients. Proteome-wide antigen discovery supports the identification of conserved targets for such interventions.

These examples illustrate how tailored immunological strategies can provide scalable solutions to combat AMR.

Lower respiratory infections (LRI) such as pneumonia account for ~15% of deaths in children under 5 years, many of these deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This burden is amplified by an under-recognised pandemic of AMR infection in which the AMR-attributable deaths (~1.3 million/yr) are most commonly due to LRI in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Frequently & understandably, fear of bad outcomes leads to inappropriate antibiotic use which increases the threat of AMR. This is even when fever is caused by infections by viruses like influenza, RSV & COVID, or parasitic infections such as malaria which do not need antibiotics. Vaccines are a key but underappreciated intervention to slow the emergence and spread of AMR, both directly by preventing infection caused by AMR microbes and indirectly by reducing febrile illness and antimicrobial use (AMU).

Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease caused by a single pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Although effective treatments are available, therapy is prolonged, toxic, and can fail, particularly in the context of drug resistance, tolerant and persistent infection. My research focuses on understanding the pharmacological mechanisms that underpin antibiotic tolerance and persistence in Mtb. By integrating quantitative pharmacology with experimental and computational approaches, I seek to explain why subpopulations of bacteria survive otherwise effective treatments. This work aims to provide a mechanistic foundation for improved treatment strategies and to identify novel therapeutic targets, ultimately supporting the development of next‑generation anti‑tuberculosis regimens that are shorter, safer, and more robust to resistance.

Coming Soon

A major challenge in treating bacterial infections is ineffective delivery of antimicrobial drugs, particularly in infections involving biofilms and/or intracellular bacteria. We are developing a range of micro and nanoscale drug delivery systems to overcome these barriers and enable simultaneous targeted treatment and biofilm disruption thus limiting the risk of damage to the healthy microbiota and the development of drug resistance.

Coming soon