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

抗菌素耐药性（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参与AMR问题，让他们与主要位于生物和医学，牙科和生物医学科学（MDBS）学院的专家AMR研究人员接触，他们更熟悉AMR周围的问题。它们还可以提供临床视角。这将构成新的贝尔法斯特女王大学抗菌网络（QUBAN）的基础。该网络将重点关注研究理事会的主题：“加速治疗和诊断发展”。我们已经确定了来自昆士兰大学六个学院/中心的33名研究人员，他们将成为QUBAN的明显成员，但我们期待并将积极促进这些学院和大学更广泛的研究界的其他研究人员的进一步参与。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菌剂，从光电子到冷等离子体，开发对抗抗菌素耐药性的新方法，这是令人兴奋的可能性。同样，修改表面有助于预防感染，而传感器可用于在早期阶段检测感染。QUB在所有这些领域都有深入的优势。QUBAN旨在通过一系列活动促进跨学科工作，这些活动将贯穿整个项目为期24个月及以后的时间。其中重要的是沙坑，计划在第3和14个月。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，以开发新颖的研究思路，远离日常的干扰。为原理验证研究提供资金，使这些项目达到足够先进的水平，以便获得外部资助申请资金。这将由一个平行的资助机制补充，该机制将公开呼吁小额赠款，并将涵盖从购买实验室监督到腾出时间撰写赠款申请，再到旅行或小型设备项目。鼓励包括PDRAs和博士生在内的各级研究人员参与到QUBAN中来。计划中有一个研讨会项目，但我们也设想资助博士生对其他学院/院系实验室的短期（三个月）学科跳跃访问，以及PDRAs的“龙穴”竞赛。该计划将由两个项目总监和一个技术管理小组共同推动，技术管理小组将优先考虑资助由沙坑活动产生的原理证明提案的申请，并帮助为研讨会系列、海报会议和沙坑确定科学方向。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·麦克尔内教授担任主席，该大学的研究PVC和其他3名高级学术成员。拉斐尔·坎顿教授（西班牙拉蒙卡哈尔大学医院）是抗微生物药物耐药性的世界领先专家，邓肯·格雷厄姆教授（斯特拉斯克莱德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支持者，克里斯·哈达克教授（昆士兰大学CCE学院院长）在协调多中心研究资助方面拥有丰富的经验。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，每六个月审查进展情况，以确保成功投资和交付BTG奖。

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.