Rapid Diagnostics to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
Dr. Till Bachmann, (Reader in Personalised Medicine in Infectious Diseases), Deputy Head of Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
12th March 2018, Monday 4:00 PM, Seminar Hall, Dept of Chemical Engineering
Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is set to have devastating effects on modern medicine, food security and the environment if left unchecked. AMR is recognized as a global public health issue, with substantial societal and economic impact especially in India and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. If nothing is changed, is expected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050 including over 9 million deaths in low and medium income countries. Massive technical challenges, such as short detection time, low detection limits, and constantly evolving pathogens, coupled with traditionally low margins and fragmented reimbursement landscapes, make antimicrobial resistance diagnostics less commercially attractive, even with the rise of companion diagnostics strategies for infectious diseases. Because the issue of antimicrobial resistance transcends international borders and the use of diagnostics is ultimately a public good; a global, open, and transparent approach is important. Our vision is to connect and inspire bright young scientists globally to go on a quest for diagnostics innovation.
Brief Bio:
Till Bachmann is Deputy Head of the Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Reader in Personalised Medicine in Infectious Diseases, and Programme Director of the Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases MSc at The University of Edinburgh. Till has a PhD on biosensors from research at University of Stuttgart and The University of Tokyo and a German Habilitation in Analytical Biotechnology. He is an expert in point of care detection of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, conducting research at the interface of biomarkers and novel detection modalities. Till fulfills a variety of industrial and institutional advisory roles worldwide. As such he is coordinator of the JPIAMR Transnational Working Group on Rapid Diagnostic Tests, member of the UK AMR Strategy Diagnostics Sub-Group, Panel Member for the Longitude Prize on Antibiotics, judge for the Discovery Award and EU Horizon Prize on Better Use of Antibiotics, as well as founder of AMR DxC, the Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostics Challenge competition.