The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) are excited to announce they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for collaborating on education, policy and advocacy activities. The MOU provides a launchpad for the parties to further their activities to address antibiotic resistance and collaborate on training, high-level events, policy and public outreach campaigns.
GARDP is a not-for-profit research and development organization that addresses global public health needs by developing treatments for drug-resistant infections. GARDP also has an External Scientific Affairs programme, including REVIVE, which connects the antimicrobial research and development community and facilitates learning and knowledge sharing.
BSAC is a professional society and global educator, connecting scientific researchers, medical communities and the wider public to stop the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.
GARDP and BSAC have previously collaborated on the successful 2019 Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Conference – and are currently working together on the free, open-access 2021 conference due to take place virtually on 2-3 February. This new agreement will increase the collaboration beyond this conference by leveraging the organizations’ different areas of expertise.
“This partnership will allow GARDP and BSAC to maximize their complementary activities and impact, with the added value greater than either organisation acting alone,” said Laura Piddock, GARDP Scientific Director. “The collaboration will benefit the wider scientific and medical communities tackling the global challenge of drug-resistant infections and open up opportunities to engage with new audiences and stakeholders.”
“As one of the world’s leading infectious disease societies, we are delighted to collaborate with GARDP, an innovative, partnership-based not-for-profit research and development organization,” said Tracey Guise BSAC Chief Executive Officer. “This MOU signals the enhancement of a partnership that will allow us develop and implement an exciting programme of work that will seek to put forward innovative solutions to the challenge of antibiotic resistance.”
About GARDP
The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) is a Swiss not-for-profit organization developing new treatments for drug-resistant infections that pose the greatest threat to health. GARDP was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in 2016 to ensure that everyone who needs antibiotics receives effective and affordable treatment, no matter where they live. GARDP aims to develop five new treatments by 2025 to fight drug-resistant infections, focusing on sexually transmitted infections, sepsis in newborns and infections in hospitalized adults and children. GARDP is funded by the governments of Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, as well as Médecins Sans Frontières and private foundations. GARDP is registered under the legal name GARDP Foundation. www.gardp.org
About BSAC
The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) is an inter-professional organisation and global educator, with members in 135 countries around the world. Founded in 1971, the Society has half a century of experience and achievement in antibiotic education, research, and leadership. Dedicated to saving lives through the appropriate development and use of antibiotics, it supports a large global network via events, online education, professional guidelines and its own international journals, the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (JAC) and its sister publication, JAC-AMR. www.bsac.org.uk