Rome to host conference on research into combating antibiotic resistance

Brussels, 16 May 2003

A European conference on the role of research in combating antibiotic resistance will take place during the Italian presidency of the European Union, from 28 to 30 November in Rome, Italy.

The conference will focus on the problem of anti-bacterial resistance and human health, addressing both basic and clinical research. Participants will be asked to discuss a number of related issues. They include:

- identifying areas which are most suitable for research in Europe, at EU level as well as at national level, and are most likely to have an impact on the problem of resistance in human bacterial pathogens;
-ways of overcoming bottlenecks in European research, such as those due to decreasing industrial incentives for research and development (R&D) on new antibiotics, IPR issues, implementation of research results in clinical practice;
-methods for increasing visibility of antibiotic research among scientists, clinicians, politicians and the general public;
-ways of stimulating partnership-building across the public, private and state sectors for future research initiatives;
-actions needed to educate researchers and public health officers in the specific field of antimicrobial resistance.

Representatives from the European Commission will also be present to give an overview of projects recently funded under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

The findings of the conference are expected to contribute to the establishment of a European Research Area (ERA) in this field.

The conference is being organised by the European Commission and the European society of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases (ESCMID), under the auspices of the superior institute for health and the Italian ministries for research and health.

For further information, please contact:

Marika Konings
Conference secretariat
Tel +32-2/761.66.59
Fax: +32-2/777.05.04
E-mail: MK@interel.be

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