Funding for transdisciplinary projects that will bring new perspectives crossing research council remits to understand and provide solutions to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Resistance by all microbes is within the scope of this funding opportunity, including:
- bacteria
- viruses
- fungi and oomycetes
- protozoa and helminth
Resistance within and between all reservoirs of AMR are within the scope of this funding opportunity, including:
- humans
- animals (includes aquaculture, companion, farmed and wild)
- plants (including trees)
- natural environments including, for example, soil, water, waterways
- human-made environments, such as health and care facilities, veterinary facilities, farm buildings, abattoirs, glasshouses and vertical farms, sewage systems and waste streams
- the food chain
Applications that are not pathogen, disease, or host specific (for example, developing new modelling approaches, pathway design, analytics and data requirements) are also in scope.
Applicants are encouraged to consider aligning their projects to the following potential areas of thematic interest, although these do not represent an exhaustive list:
- research beyond bacteria, tackling the increasing challenges of anti-fungal, antiviral and antiparasitic resistance
- development and evaluation of alternative cost-effective countermeasures for infection and residue control, beyond standard antimicrobials, for example spanning: behavioural interventions within and beyond, for example, health care and veterinary settings, wastewater treatment, novel materials science, phages, immunomodulators, crop protection strategies
- understand the impacts of climate change on AMR and its transmission
- understanding different pathways of AMR transmission and developing and evaluating methods of disruption to these pathways to reduce reliance on antimicrobials, particularly air-borne transmission and circulation (both urban and indoor) and trade (for example, transportation of livestock and food products)
- understanding how cultural, social, historical and economical determinants interact with biological factors to produce both drivers and potential solutions of AMR
- developing innovative new tools, technologies and methods for rapid and large scale diagnostics for detection and surveillance of AMR. New technologies could include the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML). Applications utilising AI or ML must demonstrate novelty in the creation or developments of the tool itself
- AMR as it relates to poverty, health equity and access
- adopting a One Health and Planetary Health approaches
ELIGIBILITY
Standard UKRI eligibility criteria apply.
Work undertaken both within and beyond the UK is permitted and international partners are encouraged.
In terms of the transdisciplinary nature of the funding opportunity:
- the project lead should be the individual who will act as our main contact and coordinator of the transdisciplinary research project. The project lead’s research organisation will be responsible for all administration relating to the award
- the project lead can be from any discipline
- the project lead must have a record of delivering research
- the intellectual leadership of the project team can be shared with project co-leads
- only project co-leads who are providing a substantial commitment to the project should be included on the application
- a project manager, project management arrangements or both should be included in the project
- the research proposed, and therefore team expertise, must cross the disciplinary remits of at least three UKRI research councils
VALUE AND DURATION
Projects can be up to £3 million FEC and can last up to five years.
KEY DATES
Notification of intent deadline: 18 June 2025*
Full application deadline: 23 September 2025
Webinar: TBC
*If a full application is submitted without a prior notification of intent by the stated deadline, it will be rejected.
Full details can be found in the below guidance document and on the opportunity webpage.