Clinical Microbiologist at Mott MacDonald

Job Profile

Drug-resistant infections pose a grave threat to health and wellbeing across the globe. Bacterial causes of infection are becoming resistant to an increasing number of antibiotics, with consequent reductions in the effectiveness of treatment. Estimates indicate that up to 10 million people could die each year from illnesses that are resistant to antimicrobials by 2050. The UK Government is playing a leading global role in addressing this problem and has launched the Fleming Fund as a major component of the UK’s response.

The aim of the Fleming Fund is to address critical gaps in surveillance of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries in these areas are set to bear the highest burden of antibiotic resistant infections. Led by the UK, political action against the problem has resulted in a roadmap for global response – the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This is the blueprint for a multi-stakeholder global response to averting the burden of AMR.

The Fleming Fund Grants Programme is designed to align with the objectives of the Global Action Plan and to support the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS). The objectives of the Fleming Fund Grants Programme are:

• Laboratory infrastructure enhancement
• Human resource strengthening and work force reforms
• Surveillance systems strengthening
• Greater alignment between human and animal surveillance systems
• Building foundations for AMR surveillance data use
• Promoting rational use of antimicrobial medicines in humans, animals and crops
• To provide value for money in grant funding

The Fleming Fund Grants Programme will assist LMICs by providing the technical support, grant funding and other support necessary to improve surveillance and use of data on antibiotic resistance. A number of funding streams will be delivered in selected countries and regions in Africa and Asia. The majority of funds will be invested to support the implementation of individual countries’ National Action Plans for antimicrobial resistance to ensure country ownership, alignment of approach with stakeholders, and sustainability. The Fleming Fund will use a One Health approach by promoting cross-sectoral approaches to surveillance of resistant organisms and the drivers of resistance development (e.g. use of antibiotics in agriculture, animal health, and in human medicine). Additional funding will be available for the Fleming Fellowship Scheme to provide professional development and improved awareness and advocacy. This will be complemented by funding streams to provide Regional Grants to improve surveillance and the use of data, operational research, online learning, and for strategic investments in collaboration with other donors.