Researchers, physicians, regulators, government officials, and industry representatives came together at a joint workshop last month to discuss the science around antibacterial resistance and new drug and related diagnostics development.

Co-sponsored by IDSA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the two-day, public workshop included keynote presentations by NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, MD, FIDSA, and FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, MD.  

The workshop, held July 26-27 in Silver Spring, Md., was well attended, and 160 users viewed a live webcast available through IDSA’s website. Videos of presentations and accompanying slides are available for free on IDSA’s website.

A follow-up report from IDSA will summarize highlights and make recommendations for additional research. The workshop featured presentations and question-and-answer sessions focused on four key areas:

• scale of the current antibacterial resistance problem
• science and mechanisms of bacterial resistance
• science of development of rapid diagnostics
• science of antibacterial drug development

IDSA called on Congress in April to substantially increase NIAID’s funding for antibacterial resistance and drug discovery and development research, and also asked lawmakers to significantly increase FDA’s budget for antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic drug review programs (see IDSA’s congressional testimony).

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