Our research
We fund research into neglected health conditions, plugging gaps in medical knowledge.
Our research
Fighting the superbugs
We're facing up to the challenge of antimicrobial resistance and ensuring that we protect modern medicine for future generations.
Across hospitals and communities, infections are becoming harder to treat. Everyday illnesses are lingering, complicating recovery, and putting lives at risk. Antibiotics are losing their effectiveness as bacteria adapt and spread.
This is antimicrobial resistance (AMR): the rise of drug-resistant superbugs. It is accelerating at a pace we can’t afford to ignore. That’s why we are investing in crucial research in this area.
Understanding antimicrobial resistance and the challenge of superbugs
What is AMR, and what are we doing about it?
Learn more about antimicrobial resistance and the challenges it poses to the research community and the wider world.
Our Science Seminar about AMR
We heard more about the challenge of AMR from Dr Wezi Sendama, who explained how his lung immunity research could reduce reliance on antibiotics.
Quiz
How much do you know about antimicrobial resistance?
Take our short AMR quiz and see whether you're a resistance warrior or a superbug spreader.
Take the quiz
The challenge of antimicrobial resistance
Most of us take antibiotics for granted and trust that they will work when we need them - that our chest infection will be treated, that routine surgery is safe and that antibiotics will do what they’ve always done since being put to use in modern medicine.
But that could be about to change.
And for some, it's already happening.
Laila's story
“My infection was resistant to treatment. Life threatening sepsis set in. My temperature soared. My blood pressure plummeted, and my heart pounded frantically in my chest as it pumped the infection through my veins. The surgeon’s face was grave."
For Laila, the awful reality of antimicrobial resistance meant an emergency operation and delays to her critical, impending cancer surgery.
Laila collaborated with Story Bug, a MRUK-funded project, to share her story and experience of antimicrobial resistance.
Gardening and antimicrobial resistance
Back in the summer, Bake Off finalist Dr Josh Smalley and our CEO Dr Angela Hind got out in the garden!
In our film, they explored the surprising connection between soil and antibiotics, and discussed why superbugs are making it increasingly challenging to treat common infections:
"I’d had multiple courses of lifesaving antibiotics over the course of my cancer treatment. But this time was different. They didn’t work."
During her three-year intensive treatment for bowel cancer, 31-year-old Laila Hudson developed an antibiotic-resistant infection. Life threatening sepsis set in. Read Laila's story as she details her terrifying experience of dealing with a superbug.
Laila's story
Antimicrobial resistance research
Without urgent action, as many as 10 million people each year could die as a result of bacteria and other microbes becoming resistant to treatments.