Geneva, 22 June 2023 – GARDP is pleased to welcome the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first global research agenda to address the most urgent human health priorities to counter the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).  

The newly published WHO Global Research Agenda for AMR outlines 40 priority areas that need to be addressed by 2030, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This agenda will in turn catalyse scientific innovation as well as implementation research. It will also drive financial investments to prevent infections and the emergence of resistance, and improve the cost-effectiveness of treatments, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which are disproportionately affected by AMR.   

“We are delighted to see that the WHO Global Research Agenda for AMR is aligned with GARDP’s strategic research priorities that focus on developing solutions and enabling access in a cost-effective manner for highly drug-resistant infections in regions hard-hit by AMR,” said Subasree Srinivasan, GARDP’s Medical Director. “This is a significant step forward in ensuring that scientists and funders invest in priority interventions that are urgently needed to improve outcomes and reduce the spread of drug-resistant infections.” 

There are clear synergies between the AMR research agenda and GARDP’s research and development and access activities, which focus on the WHO bacterial priority pathogens in urgent need of treatments, including those that cause sepsis in newborns (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales) and multidrug-resistant gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae).  

GARDP seeks to develop antibiotics for the most difficult-to-treat infections, and make them accessible to people everywhere, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. 

We focus on bringing better solutions in two disease areas that have been greatly impacted by antibiotic resistance: serious bacterial infections that can lead to sepsis and death, with a special focus on children and newborn babies; and sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea.