Pathogen biology, antimicrobial resistance and diagnostics
We are committed to understanding pathogenesis and combating the threat of microbes and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
This research theme focuses on four specific areas.
Understanding pathogen biology and the impact of resistance
Microbial life, death and drug resistance are intimately linked, complex and fundamental biological processes.
Our researchers will integrate microbial physiology, genetics and world-leading imaging capabilities with clinical perspectives to gain a transformative understanding of how important pathogens grow, divide and develop AMR.
This will generate the comprehensive understandings needed for developing new control regimes.
Monitoring AMR emergence
Combining the Institute's expertise in a broad range of pathogenic organisms with our strengths in basic biology research, we will work to understand the evolutionary forces at play as AMR develops and spreads.
This research will use the latest imaging and cell labelling technologies, leading to fundamental discoveries on how AMR emerges in clinical populations on a molecular level, with a focus on pragmatic, translational solutions.
Developing new strategies to combat AMR
Much of our research impact will be in the use of pragmatic and novel approaches to develop new therapeutics.
This will include fundamental investigations of alternative therapeutics and novel antimicrobials, such as combining current antibiotics with resensitising agents and the development of phage therapy.
Pathogen and AMR detection
We will work to develop new diagnostics, such as
- Better laboratory systems/tools for detecting pathogens and drug resistance
- Translation of low-cost diagnostic devices in low-resource settings
- Modelling and AI for predicting or modelling impact of drug resistance within hosts or systems.
Improved diagnostics will be integrated into evaluating enhanced strategies for infection prevention and control in healthcare settings.
We will engage with industry collaborators to accelerate the development of diagnostic tools that have the best chance of impacting patient care. To facilitate the translation of these efforts, we will partner with our Institute’s NHS and public health researchers.
The development of novel, sequence-based diagnostics suitable for use in NHS laboratories is a key deliverable within the Sheffield NIHR Biomedical Research Centre’s infection and immunity research theme, led by several members of the Florey Institute.