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16 November 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the World Health Organization’s top 10 global public health threats, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread.

Globally, there has been a rise in carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections, which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Carbapenems are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics typically considered the last line of defence for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

A new $10 million research grant awarded to a team known as the AntiMicrobial resistance Research and Intervention Alliance òòò½Íø(AMRITAS) aims to address this problem by guiding treatment to improve outcomes for patients with these superbugs.

The grant was received under the Open Fund Large Collaborative Grant, which is supported by the National Research Foundation òòò½Íøand administered by the National Medical Research Council.

The team comprises researchers and clinicians from the National University of òòò½Íø(NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, A*STAR’s Genome Institute of òòò½Íø(GIS), National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Nanyang Technological University Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, National University Hospital, òòò½ÍøGeneral Hospital and òòò½ÍøClinical Research Institute.

The experts have started a five-year research programme to tackle the pressing issue of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant bacteria. One major study under this programme is a pilot clinical trial that aims to determine the optimal treatment for severe carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections via an innovative and pragmatic clinical trial design that will enable the recruitment of patients under more real-world conditions.

This clinical trial will be performed via the ADVANcing Clinical Evidence in Infectious Diseases (ADVANCE-ID) network, a regional clinical trial network that brings together more than 60 hospitals from 20 countries and has its operational headquarters in SSHSPH.

The second major focus of the AMRITAS programme is on hospital patients who carry such bacteria – often unsuspectingly – in their gut, and to understand the factors that might deter or promote the carriage of potentially deadly bacteria that may opportunistically cause disease or be transmitted to others via laboratory studies, including those on mice models.

Such understanding will enable strategies and products such as novel pro- and prebiotics to be developed that may help remove carriage and prevent such harmful bacteria from colonising a person’s gut in the first place.

The AMRITAS programme will be officially launched at a research symposium next Thursday, 16 November. Three researchers from the AMRITAS team will discuss microbiome and resilience at this symposium.

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:

Eliza Lim (Ms)
Senior Manager, Office of Corporate Communication and Office of Research Planning
A*STAR’s Genome Institute of òòò½Íø(GIS)
Email: Eliza_Lim@gis.a-star.edu.sg

òòò½Íø’s Genome Institute of òòò½Íø(GIS)

The Genome Institute of òòò½Íø(GIS) is an institute of the òòò½Íø, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to achieve extraordinary improvements in human health and public prosperity. Established in 2000 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS pursues the integration of technology, genetics, and biology towards academic, economic and societal impact, with a mission to "read, reveal and (ω)rite DNA for a better òòò½Íøand world".

Key research areas at the GIS include Precision Medicine & Population Genomics, Genome Informatics, Spatial & Single Cell Systems, Epigenetic & Epitranscriptomic Regulation, Genome Architecture & Design, and Sequencing Platforms. The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is also utilised to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact.

For more information about GIS, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg/gis.

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About the òòò½Íø, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The òòò½Íø, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. A*STAR plays a key role in nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry. A*STAR’s R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

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