Fleming Fund - Contribution to the International Reference Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance

The Fleming Fund contribution to a UK draw-down service for technical assistance, training and quality assurance for low and middle income countries to support antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system building across all one-health sectors. The objectives of the reference centre are to: 1. Develop capacity of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) through residential AMR training workshops, country visits to partners to offer training, provision of proficiency testing schemes; 2. Strengthen governance related to AMU and AMR by providing expert advice on new or emerging resistances that present a threat to animal or public health, providing expert advice on how to bench-mark capability and the authorisation of antibiotics and providing verification testing at our UK laboratories; 3. Promote good agricultural practices and prudent use of antimicrobials by providing advice and support for the adaptation and implementation of alternatives to antibiotics; and 4. Raise awareness of AMR by publishing and contributing to expert reports and peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts. Projects funded through the Fleming Fund will benefit people in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of drug resistant infection is greater