Last week, ICARS’ Executive Director, Dr Sujith J Chandy, and Director of Science, Dr. Kristina Osbjer, attended the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF) Summit in Malaysia. The event gathered over 130 participants from diverse GAMRIF-funded projects worldwide and other stakeholders. The summit featured panel discussions and breakout groups, providing a platform for in-depth exchanges on addressing critical AMR challenges through an innovation lens.
Assessing the global AMR innovation landscape
The summit’s first day began with an opening ceremony, featuring a keynote address by Malaysia’s Health Minister, H.E. Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad. This was followed by a high-level session on commitments to combating AMR and the role of the research community and the broader ecosystem in supporting these efforts. Later, a fishbowl session on “Developing Innovations Across One Health” brought together experts, including Dr. Chandy and Dr. Osbjer, who engaged in discussions on what it means to drive innovation across the One Health spectrum. They explored successful examples, current challenges, and future opportunities for advancing innovations in LMICs across One Health.
Looking ahead: Reducing AMR transmission and deaths through innovation
The second day opened with a keynote address providing a ground-level perspective on the urgent need for innovation in addressing AMR. This was followed by a session dedicated to the challenges faced by LMICs. During the panel on the next generation of AMR innovation, Dr. Chandy underscored the critical role of collaboration and breaking down silos to drive progress, particularly for LMICs. He also highlighted ICARS’ contributions to the global AMR research and development agenda and stressed the importance of innovative strategies that are needs-based, context-specific, and affordable, especially for LMICs.
Another key session of the day, “Pushing the Boundaries and Challenging the Status Quo,” featured a panel showcasing multiple case studies of innovative projects from the GAMRIF portfolio. During this session, Dr. Osbjer delivered a talk on “The Interlinked Global Threat of Climate Change and AMR,” emphasizing how environmental factors influence resistance trends. She underscored the need for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches that address AMR by bridging the environment and health sectors.
From ideas to action: Mobilizing and implementing research
The third day opened with a keynote talk on applying insights from other therapeutic areas to AMR R&D. This was followed by a session showcasing advancements in AMR innovation, featuring case studies from the GAMRIF portfolio. A key focus of the day was sustainable innovation for LMICs, a core priority for ICARS.
Dr. Chandy set the stage for this discussion with an opening presentation on the essential components needed to ensure that AMR solutions are not only innovative but also scalable, financially sustainable, and accessible. He emphasized the importance of expanding the scope of AMR innovation beyond traditional R&D, advocating for solutions that address AMR’s complexity across all sectors, including governance.
Dr. Chandy then joined a panel discussion exploring how international collaboration, regulatory frameworks, capacity-strengthening, and implementation efforts can support the long-term sustainability of AMR interventions.
ICARS extends its gratitude to GAMRIF for providing a valuable platform to engage with global partners. By prioritizing practical, locally relevant solutions, ICARS remains committed to fostering sustainable and impactful AMR interventions worldwide.