Building the Queen's University of Belfast AMR Network (QUBAN)

抗生素耐药性（AMR）正在成为一个严重的健康问题，因为对现有抗生素具有耐药性的细菌数量的增长速度快于新抗生素的供应。该提案旨在鼓励昆士兰大学工程和物理科学的研究人员通过与主要位于生物学和医学，牙科和生物医学科学学院（MDBS）的专业AMR研究人员接触来参与AMR问题，并且更熟悉AMR周围的问题。它也可以提供一个临床视角。这将成为新的贝尔法斯特女王大学抗菌网络QUBAN的基础。该网络将侧重于研究理事会的主题：“加速治疗和诊断的发展”。我们已经确定了33名研究人员来自六所学校/中心的QUB谁将是明显的QUBAN的成员，但我们预计，并将积极促进，从这些学校内的其他研究人员和更广泛的研究社区在大学的进一步参与。利用我们在先进材料和加工方面的专业知识，通过使用不基于小分子药物的杀微生物剂（从光生电子到冷等离子体）开发对抗抗菌素耐药性的新方法，存在令人兴奋的可能性。同样，修改表面可以帮助预防感染，而传感器可以用于在早期阶段检测感染。QUB在所有这些领域都具有深度优势。 QUBAN旨在通过一系列活动促进跨学科工作，这些活动将在整个24个月的计划期间及以后运行。其中重要的是计划在第3个月和第14个月进行的沙坑。第3个月的活动将是第一个主要论坛，我们将汇集来自整个大学的感兴趣的各方，以开发远离日常干扰的新颖的研究思路。将为原则证明研究提供资金，以使这些项目达到足够先进的水平，以便获得外部赠款申请资金。这将由一个平行的供资机制加以补充，该机制将公开呼吁提供小额赠款，并将涵盖从购买实验室监督到腾出时间编写赠款申请到旅行或小型设备的任何内容。将鼓励包括PDRA和博士生在内的各级研究人员参与QUBAN。我们已计划举办一项研讨会，但我们亦预计会资助博士生到其他学院/学院的实验室作短期（3个月）跨学科访问，以及举办“龙穴”学术报告比赛。该计划将由两名PI沿着与一个技术管理小组一起推动，该小组将优先考虑从沙坑事件中产生的原理证明提案的资助申请，并帮助为研讨会系列，海报会议和沙坑设定科学方向。此外，我们将设立一个高级别指导委员会，帮助确定网络的战略方向。该委员会将由詹姆斯·麦克尔奈教授主持，该大学的PVC研究，并有其他3名高级学术成员。Rafael Canton教授（西班牙Ramon y Cajal大学医院）是AMR的世界领先专家，邓肯Graham教授（Strathclyde分子纳米计量学中心主任）是物理科学应用于医疗保健问题的主要倡导者，以及Chris Hardacre教授（昆士兰大学CCE学院院长）在协调多中心研究赠款方面拥有丰富经验。指导委员会将根据目标、产出/影响途径、出版物和可能出现的任何知识产权问题，每六个月审查一次进展情况，以确保成功投资和交付BTG奖项。

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a serious health issue since the number of bacteria which are resistant to existing antibiotics is rising faster than the supply of new antibiotics. This proposal aims to encourage researchers from Engineering and Physical Sciences in QUB to engage with the AMR problem by bringing them into contact with specialist AMR researchers who are primarily located in the Schools of Biology and Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science (MDBS) and are much more familiar with the issues surrounding AMR. They can also provide a clinical perspective. This will form the basis for a new Queen's University Belfast Antimicrobial Network, QUBAN. The network will focus on the Research Councils' Theme: "Accelerating Therapeutic and Diagnostics Development". We have already identified 33 researchers from across six Schools/Centres in QUB who will be obvious members of QUBAN but we anticipate, and will actively promote, further engagement from other researchers within these Schools and from the wider research community in the University. There are exciting possibilities for using our expertise in advanced materials and processing to develop novel approaches to combating AMR through use of microbicides that are not based on small molecule drugs, these range from photogenerated electrons to cold plasmas. Similarly, modifying surfaces can help in preventing infection while sensors can be used to detect infection at the early stages. There is strength-in-depth in all these areas within QUB. QUBAN is designed to promote interdisciplinary working through a series of activities that will run throughout the 24 month duration of the programme and beyond. Important among these are the Sandpits which are planned in Months 3 and 14. The Month 3 event will be the first major forum where we will bring together interested parties from across the University to develop novel research ideas away from everyday distractions. Funding for Proof-of-Principle studies to take these projects to the level where they will be sufficiently advanced for external grant application funding will be available. This will be complemented by a parallel funding mechanism which will be an open call for smaller grants and will cover anything from buying out laboratory supervision to free up time for writing grant applications through to travel or small items of equipment. Researchers at all levels, including PDRAs and PhD students will be encouraged to become involved in QUBAN. There is a planned seminar programme but we also envisage funding short (three month) discipline-hopping visits to laboratories in other Schools/Faculties by PhD students and "Dragon's Den" competitions for PDRAs. The programme will be driven forward by the two PIs along with a Technical Management Group who will prioritise applications for funding the Proof-of-Principle proposals arising from Sandpit events and also help to set the scientific direction to the Seminar series, poster sessions and Sandpits. In addition, we will have a high level Steering Committee who will help to set the strategic direction of the Network. This Committee will be Chaired by Prof James McElnay, the University's PVC for Research and have 3 other senior academic members. Prof Rafael Canton (University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Spain) a world leading expert on AMR, Prof Duncan Graham (Director of the Centre for Molecular Nanometrology, Strathclyde) a leading proponent of application of physical sciences to healthcare problems, and Prof Chris Hardacre (Head of School CCE, QUB) who has extensive experience in coordinating multicentre research grants. The Steering Committee will review progress every six months against targets, outputs/pathways to impact, publications and any IPR issues that may arise, ensuring the successful investment and delivery of the BTG award.