FUTURES AMR NETWORK (FAN)

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop resistance to drugs, rendering treatment ineffective1,2. This prevents effective management of infections and increases the risks of disease spread, severe illness, disability, death, and economic loss2. Predictions indicate that AMR bacteria could cause 10 million deaths annually by 20503, surpassing the 7million/3.5years COVID-19 death toll4.

AMR affects all areas of life including the environment, plants, animals, and humans, and is therefore a 'One Health' problem. The World Health Organisation warns that uncontrolled AMR could dramatically increase health expenditures, damage food systems and livelihoods, and escalate poverty and inequality2. The interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and their shared environment necessitates a holistic approach to address AMR. Solutions therefore should involve transdisciplinary expertise, cross-sector collaboration, and diverse lived experiences.

Addressing the complexities of AMR requires a network that offers both short and long-term resource expertise and dynamic solutions through ongoing dialogue with tomorrow's leaders, early career researchers (ECRs). Futures AMR Network (FAN) has been established to connect and develop talented individuals from various sectors in the early stages of their careers. Supported by experienced mentors, FAN aims to empower collaboration among ECRs to make a meaningful impact in the AMR battle.

FAN is a community of scholars spanning disciplines- behavioural economists, social and life scientists, chemists, engineers, and artists. Collaborating closely with stakeholders and the public, FAN seeks to comprehend and address the complexities of AMR. Led by outstanding UK ECRs and supported by world-leading AMR experts, FAN's vision is to harness young talent for innovation in tackling the AMR challenge. Membership is open to all, fostering an interdisciplinary community representative of the entire UK society. FAN currently has 170 members from 12 countries, with 60% identifying as ECRs and 40% as renowned AMR experts, committed to mentoring and developing ECRs into future leaders. FAN also collaborates with government stakeholders and industry leaders, including the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Northern Ireland.

These ECR-led programmes will tackle AMR in three key areas: Agri-Food Health, Environment and Medicine using four (ABCD) approaches- Arts and Artificial intelligence, Behavioural economics, Clinical instrumentation/engineering and Discovery: especially phage and other novel therapies. Leveraging its rich expertise, FAN is uniquely positioned to offer a continuous stream of insightful and pioneering thought leadership in AMR research, setting the pace for ongoing exploration and innovation in the field.