Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and NTD drug development


Effective drugs for infectious diseases are core to successful treatment as well as control of pathogen spread on the way to elimination. Almost all pathogens, from bacteria to parasitic helminths, have evolved mechanisms to evade the effects of such drugs, causing drug resistance and treatment failure. Thus, there is a pressing need in the development of new drugs with novel targets. Because the drivers of drug resistance of bacteria as well as of that of many NTDs are manifold, tackling this problem requires an interdisciplinary One Health approach, to include not only human health, but also veterinary and environmental health.

Key questions

Current projects in AMR and NTD drug development

  • Investigating the effect of heavy metals on carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii
  • Tackling antimicrobial resistance among refugees and internally displaced communities by improving access to quality antibiotics
  • Characterization of host-derived schistosomicidal molecules for novel drug development