(June 6, 2019) – About 30 stakeholders and organizational leaders representing universities, associations and institutes involved with the antimicrobial resistance issue (AMR) attended a major developmental meeting for the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE) in Ames, Iowa from May 14-16. The goal of the meeting was to build understanding and consensus for NIAMRRE’s mission, vision, strategy, goals, organizational structure, and membership. The group discussed a variety of structural and operational issues, including the need to position the organization as an active change agent focusing the power of science and education to protect people and animals from the ominous threat posed by antimicrobial resistance. Other topics discussed during the meeting included:

• Formation of diverse, cross-disciplinary research teams to conduct necessary research on the basis of need and funding opportunities.
• Better describe the educational component of their mission to clarify messaging and identify and prioritize audiences.
• Construct avenues and opportunities for collaboration between scientists working on the human and animal side of the problem.
• Developing advocacy programs to build support and identify funding to support the institute’s important work.

The group also discussed the need to shape the organizational structure in a way that maximizes efficiency, accountability and success; the need to better articulate the nature, role and responsibilities of membership in the institute; and the importance of building a broad base of awareness and support for the institute’s activities. NIAMRRE was established at Iowa State University as the result of a joint Task Force on Antibiotic Resistance in Production Agriculture that AAVMC and APLU created in 2014. The group released a report the following year that offered an array of research and education recommendations designed to address the problem.The institute is led by Executive Director Dr. Paul Plummer. Over 100 research faculty with expertise in a variety of scientific disciplines from multiple academic institutions are allied with the effort.

Iowa State is partnering with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the University of Iowa, and the Mayo Medical Clinic. The institute is also partnering with two major USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facilities, as well as a collection of agricultural stakeholders representing over one-fourth of the U.S. swine and beef industry.

Article reposted from AAVMC