Drug-resistant infections are a major threat to global health requiring new sustainable solutions. Resistance has evolved against all classes of antimicrobial.
Our goal is to harness improved understanding of the evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to design better treatment strategies that reduce the local, national, and global burden of drug-resistant infections.
The Antimicrobial Resistance Network is a community of more than 100 clinical and academic researchers who work across The University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and are focused on combating antimicrobial resistance.
The network brings together diverse expertise and technologies from across The University of Manchester with industrial partners and NHS clinicians to address this critical global challenge.
Our research will lead to:
- development of more sustainable ways to use new and existing antimicrobials;
- discovery of new antimicrobial targets in drug resistant pathogens;
- development of new antimicrobials, anti-infectives, and vaccines;
- development of new diagnostic tests for drug resistant infections.
Keep up-to-date with research, news and information on our blog.
Research challenges
The AMR Network seeks to improve the understanding of AMR evolution to develop and translate novel evolution-informed solutions that reduce the impact of drug-resistant infections on human health and wellbeing.
We have defined three interlinked research challenges that we need to tackle to achieve our aims.
Understanding the problem
We study the mutations, genes, and mobile genetic elements (like plasmids) that cause AMR, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms and selective forces that drive variation in AMR evolution in natural and clinical environments.
We want to answer questions such as:
- Why does AMR evolve?
- What are the molecular causes of AMR?
- How do prescribing practices and policies impact on AMR evolution?
Lead: Professor Michael Brockhurst
Key researchers:
- Dr Mike Bottery (starting June 2021)
- Professor Paul Bowyer
- Dr Danna Gifford
- Dr Chris Knight
- Dr Rok Krasovec
- Dr Mato Lagator
Finding solutions
We are utilising our understanding of the evolution of AMR to:
- devise better strategies for using existing drugs;
- develop new diagnostic tests and sensors;
- discover new antimicrobial agents and targets.
Lead: Dr Michael Bromley
Key researchers:
- Dr Jorge Amich
- Dr Sam Butterworth
- Professor Jeremy Derrick
- Professor Jason Micklefield
- Professor Lydia Tabernero
- Professor Eriko Takano
Translating solutions
We work with the NHS to bring new solutions into the clinic to help better diagnose and treat patients.
We also work to:
- improve prescribing and stewardship of antimicrobials;
- develop antimicrobial drugs and vaccines, with industrial partners
- improve access to new technologies, with global partners.
Lead: Dr Tim Felton
Key researchers:
The AMR Network is part of a wider group of infection and immunity researchers at Manchester.
We work closely with groups and organisations such as:
- NIHR Centre for Precision Approaches to Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group
- Microbial Evolution Research Manchester
We also work collaboratively with research groups and companies around the world.
Our industrial partners include:
- Pfizer
- Roche Diagnostics
- APIS
- Du Pont
- Blueberry Therapeutics
- Evotec
- F2G
- Genon Laboratories
- Syngenta
- Pharmacelsus
- PiQ Laboratories
- Gilead
- Synlab
- Syngenics
For more information about partnerships and collaborating with us, please contact Professor Mike Bromley.
It is important for us to inspire, promote and support the next generation of researchers in antimicrobial resistance and infection biology.
We are committed to this at all levels of study, and our PIs, staff and postdoctoral researchers teach on numerous courses.
The Infection Academy
Our courses are delivered through our Infection Academy, which has access to over 100 world-leading experts in virology, bacteriology and mycology.
They have active research programmes covering evolutionary microbiology, immunology, microbiomes, drug and vaccine discovery, epidemiology, development of diagnostics, and antimicrobial stewardship.
This enables our courses to cover clinical and research programmes that explore a very broad range of themes with a high level of specialist support and supervision.
Related postgraduate taught courses
We provide training and support for MSc, MRes and MSci students from various master’s courses doing research projects. These include:
- Infection Biology (MSc)
- Medical Microbiology (MSc)
- Microbiology (MSc)
- Medical and Molecular Virology (MSc)
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (MSc)
- Biomedical Sciences (MSc)
- Clinical Bioinformatics (PGCert)
- Clinical Immunology (MSc)
- Genomic Medicine (MSc)
- Molecular Pathology (MSc)
Doctoral training and postgraduate research
Our clinicians and academics are, at any one time, supporting over 150 PhD students from all over the globe in projects focused on antimicrobial resistance and microbial pathogenicity research.
Our integrated community of PhD students are supported from a variety of sources. These include MRC and BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships, charities, industry and international government schemes. We also offer a wide range of opportunities for self-funded studentships.
Learn more about our funded PhD programmes.
Explore opportunities for self-funded projects with our PhD project search.
Postdoctoral research and independent fellowships
We have a large and active community of postdoctoral researchers and independent research fellows working on a range of AMR research projects.
We are keen to hear from prospective independent research fellows who wish to join us at The University of Manchester by applying for fellowship funding from organisations such as:
- Medical Research Council
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Wellcome Trust.
For more information, please get in touch with the relevant research lead academic:
- Understanding the problem – Professor Michael Brockhurst
- Finding solutions – Professor Michael Bromley
- Translating solutions – Dr Tim Felton
Email: antimicrobialstrategy@manchester.ac.uk
Find out about additional support offered by our Fellowship Academy.
We are passionate about engaging with the public and patients to improve understanding of the AMR crisis and how we can solve it together.
Recent projects include:
- And The Microbes – A series of comic books about the exciting adventures of Luna and Simon in the microbial world.
- LIFE: Leading International Fungal Education – Providing educational resources worldwide to improve diagnosis of fungal infections.
- GAFFI: The Global Action Fund for Fungal Infection – Raising international awareness of fungal infections.
- The Aspergillus Website – An encyclopaedia of Aspergillus for doctors, scientists, patients and their relatives.
Join our network to receive updates including information on seminars and network activities.
By signing up, you agree to be contacted so we can acquire professional profile information to be published on this website.
- Email us: antimicrobialstrategy@manchester.ac.uk
- Join the Listserv: AMR-Network@listserv.manchester.ac.uk
Get in touch for more information about the Antimicrobial Resistance Network.
Professor Michael Brockhurst and Professor Michael Bromley (Academic Leads)
Dr Tim Felton (Clinical Lead)
Dr Bruce Humphrey (Research Development Manager)
Email: antimicrobialstrategy@manchester.ac.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @AMS_UoM
Contact Us
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
