A recent webinar on “Antimicrobial resistance: A One Health Approach”
A recent webinar on “Antimicrobial resistance: A One Health Approach”
This Year the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) has co-sponsored a series of the Royal Society of Biology’s (RSB) Policy Lates series. The first of these events was held on the 21st of May and was a huge success with more than 150 people joining from across the globe to discuss the challenges and potential solutions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
In part, the success of this event stemmed from the current safety recommendations for the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant that for the very first time this Policy Lates event was hosted entirely online. The virtual setting allowed for a much larger audience capacity and worldwide participation, with attendees joining us from the UK, Brazil, Australia and the Netherlands.
Of course, the topic of antimicrobial resistance was also a drawing factor as it is of huge importance threatening our ability to treat common infectious diseases, which in turn results in prolonged illness, disability, and death. Without effective antimicrobials to prevent infections, other medical procedures also become much higher risk including surgery, chemotherapy, and diabetes management. More than just the effects to human health and wellbeing, antimicrobial resistance has an internationally negative impact on animal health and welfare, food sustainability and security, environmental wellbeing, and socio-economic development.
Chaired by RSB Council member Professor Paul Hoskisson FRSB from the University of Strathclyde, this Policy Lates Event brough together a panel of experts from across a range sectors to share collaborative approaches and solutions to the global problem of AMR. They also discussed how challenges and solutions pertaining to AMR are relevant to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The panel consisted of:
· Dr Osman Dar - Chatham House and Public Health England
· Becky Sugden - Wellcome Trust
· Professor Katharina Stärk - Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office
· Dr Sanjay Patel - University Hospital Southampton and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
If you want didn’t get the chance to join this event, you can catch up via the recording found here: Policy Lates: Antimicrobial Resistance - the "one health" approach and be sure to keep an eye on SEB news and social media for details on the next event.