Resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics is becoming one of the biggest global health challenges today.

The NIHR Centre for Precision Approaches to Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance is being developed by a £4.4M awad to MFT as part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) latest commitment in the fight against antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance (AMR).

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The Centre will identify antimicrobial stewardship interventions to improve antibiotic use and tackle the threat of antimicrobial resistance allowing us to live healthier, longer lives.

The Centre will have laboratory space at MFT’s Oxford Road Campus and Wythenshawe Hospital sites (opening in early 2021) but studies will open in later 2020.

Dr Tim Felton, Consultant in Intensive Care and Respiratory Medicine at MFT, Senior Lecturer in the Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine at The University of Manchester and an NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) researcher, will lead research to test ‘individualised’ approaches to antibiotic prescribing by bringing together patient care and clinical research.

We need to use antibiotics more effectively to reduce the effect of antimicrobial resistance. Our research will ensure patients with infections are given the right antibiotic at the right dose and for the right duration. An individualised approach to both diagnosing infection and antibiotic dosing will ensure effective use of current antibiotics.

Dr Tim Felton