Chris Dowson, Professor of Microbiology in the School of Life Sciences, was one of a panel of experts who gave extensive input and advice during the preparation of a Government review on antimicrobial resistance.
The review was commissioned by the Prime Minister to address the growing global problem of drug-resistant infections and was Chaired by Jim O’Neill and supported by the Wellcome Trust and the UK Government.

It is estimated that antimicrobial resistance will cost the world an additional 10 million lives a year by 2050, more than the number of people currently dying from cancer annually. The paper identifies several key areas where immediate action should be taken, including an increase in funding for early-stage research into antimicrobials and greater investment in skilled people who can help to solve the problem.

This paper is the second in a series that works towards global and sustainable solutions; a final package of actions will be recommended to the UK Prime Minister and Governments across the world by the summer of 2016.