Professor James Stirling is contacting alumni this spring to share the importance of supporting research at Imperial and highlight the work of ARC

“We are linking up expertise from different specialities to tackle antimicrobial resistance, an issue of utmost importance across the world.”

Professor James Stirling, Provost at the College, is contacting alumni this spring to share the importance of supporting students and research at Imperial, as well as highlight the work of the Antimicrobial Research Collaborative. 

You will know from your time at Imperial that its strength lies in its ability to develop pioneering ideas and practical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Innovation and discovery have formed the foundation of the College since its inception, and the breadth of our expertise continues to allow us to stay at the forefront of science. Right now exceptional students and academics are coming together across the College to tackle antibiotic resistance. Researchers from the faculties of Medicine, Natural Sciences, Engineering and the Business School have joined the Antimicrobial Research Collaborative (ARC). The threat of antimicrobial resistance may have crept up on us, but it is quickly becoming one of the world’s most urgent medical crises.

AMR occurs when micro-organisms are able to survive exposure to antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics that would normally kill them or stop their growth. This results in the drugs which are no longer working to treat infections. From minor cuts to routine operations, from surgery to chemotherapy, effective antibiotic treatment underpins nearly every aspect of modern medicine. Infections which were once easily treatable could become fatal.

AMR is accelerated by the inappropriate use of antimicrobial medicines, incorrect prescribing and poor infection control practices. Currently, few new antimicrobials are being developed to replace antimicrobials that become ineffective as AMR develops. According to the report commissioned by Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, a failure to tackle antimicrobial resistance will result in at least 10 million extra deaths a year globally by 2050.

The Antimicrobial Research Collaborative at Imperial
The ARC involves more than 100 academic experts working across the faculties of Medicine, Natural Sciences, Engineering and the Business School. Bringing together specialists from such diverse backgrounds is the only way to face up to the enormous multidisciplinary challenge of AMR. The ARC’s work is spread over 9 research areas, from developing novel antibiotics to replace those that are resistant, to engineering systems to prevent the spread of bacterial resistance and using data to better understand the use of antibiotics.

Imperial, of course, has a legacy of innovation in this field. Following the tradition set by the discovery of penicillin in 1928 at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School, now part of Imperial, we continue to lead the way in infection research. Professor Alison Holmes, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Imperial, says that we cannot work on problems like AMR in isolation. "Very few institutions have such excellence in science, engineering, medicine, technology and business, with the ability to collaborate on integrated research. We aim to consider every aspect of antimicrobial resistance." The number of centres within the College focused on AMR is unparalleled. The threat of antimicrobial resistance is a serious one but, with the support of the College and our alumni, our students and academics are uniquely placed to make the next great discovery. 

At Imperial, we address the great challenges of the future. We couldn’t do it without you!

Thanks to the 4,262 alumni and friends who made a gift to the College last year, we were able to support ground-breaking research like the Antimicrobial Research Collaborative and provide an inclusive and innovative environment for our community of students and academics. Whether you direct your donation to student support, outreach activities, the Central Library or a faculty directly, your gift provides the crucial infrastructure needed to promote learning and discovery.