About

Almost a hundred years ago in 1938 it was at the University of Oxford that work to isolate and purify penicillin began – the game changing antibiotic that has gone on to save countless lives around the world. 

Since then, the increasing use of antibiotics in human medicine and animal farming has led to the rise of antibiotic resistance, because of which antibiotics are becoming ineffective in treating common infections.  

The University of Oxford is once again at the forefront of the finding solutions to tackle this public health crises.  

There are over 200 researchers across the University of Oxford working to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Their expertise includes drug discovery for new antibiotics, health economics to analyse the costs and benefits of AMR prevention and treatment, and diagnostic tests to ensure appropriate antibiotic use. 

Oxford’s world-leading researchers are undertaking surveillance studies to study the evolution and impact of drug-resistant across the globe and making evidence-backed policy recommendations to prevent the rise of AMR.  

The Oxford AMR Network harnesses the University of Oxford’s expertise in life sciences, medical sciences, social sciences and humanities to tackle this global development challenge through multiple angles. 

The Oxford AMR Network is led by a panel drawn from across the University, including representation from medical science, maths, physical and life sciences, humanities and the social sciences. 

Overall leadership is be provided by Professor Craig MacLean. Prof MacLean is an internationally recognised leader in the evolutionary biology of antibiotic resistance, and he holds a Senior Fellowship at All Souls College. 

Working group members:

• Prof Craig MacLean, Professor of Evolution and Microbiology
• Dr Nicole Stoesser, Consultant in Infection and Associate Professor in Infectious Diseases
• Dr Tess Johnson, Postdoctoral Researcher in Bioethics
• Dr Harrison Steel, Associate Professor of Engineering Science
• Dr Jo Miller, Global Health Facilitator
• Dr Andrew Farlow, Research Fellow in Economics
• Prof Sam Sheppard, Professor of Microbial Genomics and Evolution
• Avni Gupta, IOI Head of Communications and Events
• Amy Buck, AMR Network Manager

Before the discovery of antibiotics, a small cut or ear infection could lead to death. Antibiotics have made many modern medical procedures possible, including cancer treatment, organ transplants and open-heart surgery. 

In addition to their use in human medicine, antibiotics are widely used to grow livestock for food consumption and prevent diseases amongst animals.  

As the use of antimicrobials keeps increasing around the world, microbes’ such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop the ability to resist the action of medicines designed to kill them.

Bacteria can resist drugs in several ways. Some bacteria have evolved to prevent antibiotics from entering the bacteria cell. Bacteria can also secrete enzymes or proteins that destroy antibiotics once they enter the bacteria cell. Some bacteria can change their outer structure so that antibiotics cannot attach to the bacteria and kill them. 

AMR is directly related to 16 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with severe negative implications for poverty, gender inequality, animal welfare, the environment, as well as food security.