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BIA webinar recording: UK Leadership in AMR - driving international collaboration and new economic models
Watch the recording of the BIA UK Leadership in AMR webinar focused on driving international collaboration and new economic models.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an urgent global health threat. A study published in the Lancet in January estimated that in 2019, over one million people died from drug-resistant infections directly attributable to AMR.
Over the past year, the UK has played a key role in driving forward efforts to tackle AMR, including through the launch of its pilot project for an innovative subscription-style payment model for antimicrobials. The UK has also supported international efforts to increase funding for novel antimicrobials and promote stewardship in their use.
Chaired by Deborah O’Neil, CEO of NovaBiotics and BIA Board Member, an expert panel of speakers discuss the progress that has been made and the challenges that lie ahead.
Speakers:
Deborah O'Neil
A biotechnology entrepreneur and immunologist by training, Deborah has over two decades of experience in drug discovery and development. Deborah studied at University College London and then worked in postdoctoral positions in internationally acclaimed laboratories in San Diego and Ghent before moving to Aberdeen (to the Rowett Research Institute, now part of the University of Aberdeen) where she founded NovaBiotics in 2004. NovaBiotics is now a global biotechnology business with a portfolio of first-in-class solutions for unmet health and personal care needs, all of which have been developed from proprietary technology based on how the innate immune system maintains healthy tissue. Deborah chairs the life science sector board of Opportunity North East and the BioAberdeen Ltd board. She also chairs the UK’s Medicines Discovery Catapult-Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Trust’s antimicrobial resistance syndicate. Deborah was a board member of the UK’s BioIndustry Association and continues to work with them on antimicrobial resistance. She was a member of the Scottish Life Sciences Industry Leadership Group and is a member of the Scottish Life Sciences Association advisory board. Deborah is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. She is an honorary professor of the University of Aberdeen and in 2023, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from Robert Gordon University. Named as one of the 20 women leaders in European biotech in 2019, one of the 30 top female leaders in UK Healthcare in 2018, Deborah was made OBE in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours list, for services to biotechnology, industry and charity.
Dr Nick Crabb
Nick had a 20-year career in analytical science, process technology and general management in the chemical, pharmaceutical and contract laboratory industries prior to joining NICE in 2010. His initial role was to establish and manage the Diagnostics Assessment Programme and he was later appointed Programme Director, Scientific Affairs. Nick currently oversees NICE’s Science, Evidence and Analytics Directorate. He has broad scientific and policy interests relating to the evaluation of technologies and interventions to support the development of clinical, public health and social care guidance. His experience includes consideration of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) issues arising from the availability of novel new products such as cell and gene therapies and work on methods issues relating to the evaluation of antimicrobials. Nick was the NICE lead on a collaborative pilot project with NHS England to develop and test innovative models for the evaluation and purchase of antimicrobials. Nick also has interests around the alignment of regulatory and HTA processes and collaborates closely with national and international regulators.
Phil Packer
Innovate UK have a One Health approach to AMR, funding SMEs and industry to develop new vaccines, antimicrobials and therapies for infectious disease in both man and animals. In addition, capabilities and technologies are supported in Infection, Prevention and Control to reduce further spread of antimicrobial resistance in the Human Health, Environment and Agri-sectors I joined Innovate UK in September 2017. I lead on AMR and Vaccines at Innovate UK, developing & delivering funding calls, supporting workshops and strategy. This includes overseeing extant and new projects funded through IUK funding mechanisms such as the Biomedical Catalyst, SMART and topic specific calls. In addition, I am responsible for the delivery of managed programmes relating to Pandemic preparedness, AMR and Vaccines:. These include • China-UK AMR call. Funded by DHSC (GAMRIF-ODA) • AMR in Humans. Funded by DHSC (SBRI) • Various Vaccine calls for diseases with outbreak potential: Funded by DHSC (SBRI) • Assays for SARS-CoV-2 cellular immune responses (SBRI-NCS) I am actively involved in the IUK Global programme and have led Global missions on AMR to Germany and the USA and hosted an inward mission to the UK. I work widely across government and am actively involved in initiatives such as the UK AMR Diagnostics Programme Board and AMR Funders Forum. Prior to this, I held various research and research management positions within the public sector. Most recently, I managed a research programme for Dstl that included the development of medical countermeasures against biological and chemical agents, diagnostics, trauma care, regenerative medicine and hearing loss. My first job at Dstl was the management of the UK plague vaccine programme. Previous to this I worked at CAMR where I completed a Ph.D and post-doctoral research in cancer and biofilms before moving into ECACC as Quality Manager.
Lizzy Molyneux
Lizzy is Mum to Isaac, a 17 year old living with Cystic Fibrosis. Isaac is in the unfortunate 10% of sufferers for whom the current CFTR modulator drugs will not work, and so is fully reliant on life saving antibiotics. As well as taking oral and nebulised antibiotics daily to treat his Pseudomonas infection, Isaac relies on courses of IV antibiotics numerous times a year to keep his infections at bay and give him a better quality of life
Candice King
My name is Candice King, I am a 28 year old adult with Cystic Fibrosis. I currently do take modulator therapy, however, I understand what daily reliance on antibiotics is like as I have been taking antibiotics for chronic infections for many years. I also work as the interim Involvement Manager at The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, my experiences and insights into living with CF have made me passionate about patient and public involvement, and encouraging all people with CF to contribute their lived experience and unique insights into clinical trials and research.
James Anderson
James joined the IFPMA as Executive Director of Global Health in January 2021, where he is responsible for leading the work on priorities in global health. This includes industry’s policy and advocacy on pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and global access to medicines and vaccines. In his previous role as Head of Corporate Government Affairs at GSK, James led GSK’s strategic engagement with the UK Government and was a member of the Life Science Strategy Board and Vice-Chair of Business at OECD’s Healthcare Committee. He led GSK’s work on AMR and advised on AMR policy development at the WHO, UN, EU Commission and National Governments. He was also in the Founding team of the AMR Action Fund and led the development of the Davos Declaration and UNGA Industry AMR Roadmap.