The University Flagship Programme ‘One Student, One Campus, One Life – Action on Antibiotic Drug Resistance’ will explore ‘Antibiotic Drug Resistance: a focus on the environment’ to mark World Antibiotics Awareness Week.
Chair Professor Kay Marshall, Head of the School of Health Sciences, will be joined by a number of guest speakers who will each provide a short talk followed by a panel discussion:
Professor Cliodna McNulty, Head of Primary Care Unit at Public Health England will discuss ‘Antibiotic use learning from and educating the public’. Professor Cliodna McNulty is a clinical microbiologist and leads the European e-Bug project that provides resources for educational and community settings covering microbes, prevention of infection and antibiotics.She has led large surveys on the public’s use of and attitudes to antibiotics and resistance. Professor McNulty has also been a member of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and English Department of Health Advisory Committees on antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associate Infections.
Dr Andrew Singer, Senior Scientist in the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Centre for Ecology & Hydrology will consider ‘Linking the Environment to the Global Crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance’. Dr Singer’s research into AMR in the environment includes: catchment scale molecular analysis and aetiology of antibiotic resistance genes; the role of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance gene dissemination from wastewater on AMR selection and maintenance in river systems. At present Dr Singer works with the Department of Health, NHS and Public Health England to model the impact of antibiotic stewardship on AMR selection in the environment. He also collaborates with the Environment Agency, Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to identify knowledge gaps in the area of ‘AMR in the Environment’. He was the only environmental scientist to serve on the UK Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee initially led by Dame Sally Davies, which came about as a result of hisy research into the environmental and human consequences of widespread antiviral use during an influenza pandemic.
Dr Gwyn Jones, Chairman at Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) will discuss ‘The role of agriculture in action on antibiotic resistance’. Dr Jones is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, main Board Member to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), an active member of FAWC (Farm Animal Welfare Committee), the BVA’s (British Veterinary Association) Welfare and Ethics Committee, Director of Task 37, and until very recently a main board director of ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion and Bio-gas Association). His influence in Europe extends to Chairman of EPRUMA (European Platform for Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals) and Vice Chairman of Copa Cogeca’s Animal Health and Welfare Working Group. Gwyn is also a member of The University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine External Liaison and Advisory Committee.
