IMPACT AMR: a Transdisciplinary Network
Lead Research Organisation:
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Department Name: Public Health and Policy
Abstract
IMPACT AMR is a transdisciplinary network of national and international researchers and stakeholders seeking to address key policy questions around antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mitigation investment priorities through the development of an evaluation framework to compare the impact and attributes of mitigation interventions. There is rising attention to the problem of AMR and political impetus to mitigate it, however currently there is little to guide decision-makers about which of the many interventions to address AMR, across multiple sectors and domains, will be best to invest in to reduce the AMR burden most effectively, feasibly, acceptably and economically.
We address the need to establish consensus on key AMR impact metrics as a basis for developing intervention priorities across all One Health (i.e. human, animal, and environmental) settings. In methodological terms we draw on experience and learning in other complex policy spheres, and climate change mitigation in particular. The network will work with the AMR community and wider stakeholders to collate evidence to evaluate the technical, economic, behavioural, social and policy effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of existing AMR interventions. A systematic approach to evaluate interventions with these criteria would not normally be possible, and requires the opportunity for transdisciplinary working, which extends beyond the boundaries of academia to bring science into conversation with policy, publics, civil society, industry, farmers, food manufacturers, water industry and health practitioners. The evaluations put forward by the multi-stakeholder groups and desk reviews will be set in an evolving appraisal framework that will cumulate data across different domains, including (a) optimising antimicrobial use, (b) managing infection without antimicrobial use, (c) preventing infection and (d) minimizing antimicrobial pollution. The network activities will take place across four workstreams which will serve as a basis for identifying impacts of AMR interventions, prioritising interventions, identifying data gaps and directing onward research in intervention development. The two tasks of defining impact and identifying priority AMR interventions form the central ambition of the IMPACT AMR network and will be tackled as Workstreams (WS) 1 and WS2, involving a range of consultative, review, mapping and framework development activities. WS3 will work across four domains of AMR intervention, each involving human, animal and environmental health, to map existing intervention evidence, evaluate impact, and to stimulate the development of new research to apply the IMPACT AMR framework and address emergent gaps. WS4 will provide a coordination and communication function within the network and with external stakeholders.
This network presents a unique opportunity to drive forward answers to this critical challenge, filling a conspicuous gap in the AMR policy landscape and providing a framework to link in data and parameters from other networks, initiatives and organisations with a focus on reducing the AMR burden. The IMPACT AMR network presents value-for-money in both its approach to galvanising wide-ranging stakeholders around a tangible goal as well as for those tasked with making AMR expenditure decisions. Initially UK focused, the network is poised to support global efforts for AMR prioritisation in a second phase of funding.
We address the need to establish consensus on key AMR impact metrics as a basis for developing intervention priorities across all One Health (i.e. human, animal, and environmental) settings. In methodological terms we draw on experience and learning in other complex policy spheres, and climate change mitigation in particular. The network will work with the AMR community and wider stakeholders to collate evidence to evaluate the technical, economic, behavioural, social and policy effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of existing AMR interventions. A systematic approach to evaluate interventions with these criteria would not normally be possible, and requires the opportunity for transdisciplinary working, which extends beyond the boundaries of academia to bring science into conversation with policy, publics, civil society, industry, farmers, food manufacturers, water industry and health practitioners. The evaluations put forward by the multi-stakeholder groups and desk reviews will be set in an evolving appraisal framework that will cumulate data across different domains, including (a) optimising antimicrobial use, (b) managing infection without antimicrobial use, (c) preventing infection and (d) minimizing antimicrobial pollution. The network activities will take place across four workstreams which will serve as a basis for identifying impacts of AMR interventions, prioritising interventions, identifying data gaps and directing onward research in intervention development. The two tasks of defining impact and identifying priority AMR interventions form the central ambition of the IMPACT AMR network and will be tackled as Workstreams (WS) 1 and WS2, involving a range of consultative, review, mapping and framework development activities. WS3 will work across four domains of AMR intervention, each involving human, animal and environmental health, to map existing intervention evidence, evaluate impact, and to stimulate the development of new research to apply the IMPACT AMR framework and address emergent gaps. WS4 will provide a coordination and communication function within the network and with external stakeholders.
This network presents a unique opportunity to drive forward answers to this critical challenge, filling a conspicuous gap in the AMR policy landscape and providing a framework to link in data and parameters from other networks, initiatives and organisations with a focus on reducing the AMR burden. The IMPACT AMR network presents value-for-money in both its approach to galvanising wide-ranging stakeholders around a tangible goal as well as for those tasked with making AMR expenditure decisions. Initially UK focused, the network is poised to support global efforts for AMR prioritisation in a second phase of funding.
