Tackling drug resistance
Global leaders in the fight against antibiotic resistance gathered in Brisbane recently for the Solutions for Drug-Resistant Infections (SDRI) conference, which was hosted by Australia’s University of Queensland (UQ) and involved more than 250 health and medical research, policy and industry experts discussing solutions and an integrated ‘one health’ approach to the challenge of drug-resistant infections.
According to the University, prior to the conference, UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience Centre for Superbug Solutions researcher Dr Mark Blaskovich said that integrating global research efforts and expertise is critical for saving lives.
“Drug-resistant infections are one of the greatest challenges facing global human health,” he said. “The conference will bring together multidisciplinary and expert teams driven to solve this challenge through research, innovation and collaboration. Co-ordination and collaboration can help ensure that new approaches to track, treat and prevent drug-resistant infections can be developed and applied to save lives here and abroad.”
UQ also reported that the University’s vice-chancellor and president Professor Peter Høj said – prior to the conference – that the event would build on UQ’s research excellence and experience in the fight against drug-resistant infections. “The Medical Research Future Fund has listed antimicrobial resistance as a priority issue for Australia,” he said. “Scientists across UQ are working to translate their discoveries into new drugs and diagnostics for an innovative and rapid response to this global challenge. This conference and the solutions, connections and conversations that flow from it will help create positive change in our fight against superbugs in Australia and beyond."