Rapid diagnostics to revolutionise our response to respiratory infections: Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance

Ahead of the annual Antibiotics Awareness Day, VALUE-Dx^* project team and EU stakeholders, patients and health professionals will come together to address challenges and discuss prospective of battling antimicrobial resistance. Project researchers will bring the spotlight on the role of novel cost-effective diagnostics of infections, introducing innovative solutions to combat antimicrobial resistance. Improving clinical care and achieving better patient outcomes is in the core of the approach.

The event will take place online, in the form of a live webinar, hosted by the European Respiratory Society, and moderated by Rene Wyndham.

The programme will feature the following speakers:

• Patient testimony: AMR and antibiotic use in management and treatment of my chronic lung conditions – Fran Husson, Patient Advocate
• AMR and respiratory infections: VALUE-Dx – A unique European Public-Private Partnership – Herman Goossens, University of Antwerp, VALUE-Dx project consortium  
• Effect of antimicrobial stewardship on resistance rates – Evelina Tacconelli, University of Verona, VALUE-Dx project consortium 
• Impact and value of diagnostics: clinical, public health and economic perspective – Maarten Postma, University of Groningen, VALUE-Dx project consortium 
• AMR and antimicrobial consumption in the EU/EEA – Dominique L. Monnet, ECDC 
• EU initiatives to tackle AMR – John F. Ryan, DG SANTE, European Commission 

^*About the project: VALUE-Dx is the first Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project initiated by 6 in vitro diagnostic companies who joined forces with 20 non-industry partners to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and improve patient outcomes. Unique in its multidisciplinary consortium, it involves clinicians, microbiologists, health economists, social scientists, and industry, to help build the medical and economic case for rapid diagnostics as a public good in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 820755. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA and bioMérieux SA, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Accelerate Diagnostics S.L., Abbott, Bio-Rad Laboratories, BD Switzerland Sàrl, and The Wellcome Trust Limited.