New collaboration between PAR Foundation and the Global AMR R&D Hub

– For us at PAR Foundation, this mapping of global resource allocation is an invaluable resource. When we know what the funding landscape looks like, we can position ourselves to target the research where our contribution can make the greatest difference, says Cecilia Tilli, Secretary-General of PAR Foundation.

One of the core criteria that PAR Foundation considers for which areas should be targeted for funding is the extent to which they have been neglected so far. This means that in addition to considering the potential impact of progress in a certain area, the extent to which progress is limited by funding is also assessed. The Global AMR Hub facilitates this by providing a searchable database of past and current funding, called the Dynamic Dashboard.

– The collaboration with PAR Foundation is an excellent example for how the Dynamic Dashboard and the work of the Global AMR R&D Hub can support funders and stakeholders in the AMR R&D field more broadly, says Dr Elmar Nimmesgern, who leads the work of the Global AMR R&D Hub from their offices in Germany.

The Dynamic Dashboard was launched in March last year and the database is continually growing as funders submit information on funded projects. Currently, it covers almost 10,000 ongoing research projects in 77 countries. A first comprehensive analysis report was published in November 2020, and several more studies based on the database are about to be released.

– For the AMR community as a whole, I believe this initiative can promote a well-functioning funding landscape where different grant-makers can complement each other, and avoid the risk that all of us just scramble to fund projects on the topic that happens to be the hottest in the moment, says Cecilia Tilli, Secretary-General of PAR Foundation.

Patterns that emerge from the mapping so far show that about 30% of the AMR R&D investment goes towards basic research, and just over 40% toward product-related R&D such as therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics. Operational and implementation research, a wide category of research aiding in decision-making and management strategies attracts just over 20% – this includes for example research into improvement of stewardship programmes, optimization of infection prevention and infection control, social science research into behaviour change, economic and epidemiological research.

– Over a longer time period the slow-moving pandemic of AMR is no less dangerous than the fast moving Covid-19 pandemic is in short time span. The world needs all the efforts it can get from all corners to tackle AMR with many different approaches, says Dr Elmar Nimmesgern.