The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) will strive to fund and support innovative solutions to address the challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) across the One Health domain over the next five years of India’s National Action Plan 2.0 (NAP 2.0) on AMR. The broader ambition is to jointly mobilise additional funding, in partnership with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), to identify, develop, and integrate innovative solutions impacting One Health through an AMR Challenge. These innovations will then be tested on the ground for uptake and scale-up through public sector networks.
Partnership with C-CAMP
ICARS has signed a partnership with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), under the aegis of the India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH), to address the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) across the One Health spectrum. One Health is an approach that recognises the close connection between human health, animal health, and our shared environment.
Funding Support and Technical Expertise
As part of this partnership, ICARS will provide funding support over the next five years, along with technical expertise and a network for implementation research in collaboration with C-CAMP, aligning with India’s National Action Plan on AMR (NAP 2.0). Additionally, ICARS and C-CAMP will work together to mobilise further funding to expand their efforts and create a wider impact.
Focus on Innovative Solutions
The partnership will focus on identifying, developing, and scaling innovative solutions to address AMR in India, with potential expansion to other Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The collaboration also aims to bring together a network of Indian stakeholders actively working on AMR-related challenges.
“C-CAMP is delighted to partner with ICARS towards identifying and supporting the development of innovations in Antimicrobial Resistance particularly in the complex One Health domain. In India, we are yet to recognise health, food, and environment holistically as One Health and have a go-to pipeline of proven solutions whether that be technology, implementation, or framework. With this partnership, under India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH), we are committed to changing this scenario.”
— Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, Director-CEO, C-CAMP
“As Chair of the C-CAMP anchored India AMR Innovation Hub, I’m excited to welcome our latest international partner ICARS to India’s fight against the AMR challenge. As India’s AMR NAP 2.0 comes up, such partnerships will provide crucial perspective, guidance, and significant support in navigating the formidable multi-sectoral challenge of One Health.”
— Prof Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt of India
“Drug resistance is a growing threat to global health. ICARS holds the key to raising awareness and advocacy. With the MoU between ICARS and C-CAMP, a new step has been taken in tackling AMR in India and beyond. A one health approach is crucial.”
— H.E. Freddy Svane, Ambassador at the Royal Danish Embassy in New Delhi
“We welcome the partnership with C-CAMP and anticipate a productive, collaborative relationship over the next five years. At ICARS we focus on context-specific, country-owned solutions and we look forward to working with C-CAMP and other stakeholders to identify, develop, and test AMR solutions that will deliver meaningful impact and address One Health AMR challenges in India.”
— ICARS’ Board Chair, Henrik Wegener
“ICARS is proud to partner with C-CAMP and bring together our expertise in developing tailored AMR solutions, using implementation research, and building impactful networks of committed stakeholders. As India implements its National Action Plan 2.0, our partnership will help to support the development of sustainable and innovative One Health solutions that align with national plans and can be scaled up to respond to the ever-growing threat of AMR.”
— ICARS’ Executive Director, Dr Sujith J. Chandy
The ICARS C-CAMP partnership will kick off with an AMR Challenge, designed to fund and support innovations to develop evidence-based AMR solutions. These innovations will then be tested and scaled through public sector networks.
Inaugural Stakeholders’ Deliberation
At the onset of this partnership, a stakeholders’ deliberation was held bringing together key decision-makers, policymakers, and enablers from India to set the context for AMR mitigation. This gathering attended by key dignitaries, global partners, and stakeholders including the Danish Ambassador to India is expected to be the foundation for shaping future initiatives of this partnership across the innovation spectrum addressing AMR within the One Health approach.
Objectives of the Partnership:
- To support the identification and prioritisation of India-specific One Health AMR challenges and strategies to tackle them.
- To foster innovative evidence-based solutions that address these AMR challenges by leveraging promising cutting-edge research, technology, and data-driven insights.
- To validate ready solutions in the field and generate evidence for the effect/impact of solutions.
- To enhance the integration of human, animal, and environmental health perspectives in AMR strategies.
- To build a robust network of stakeholders, including researchers, innovators, policymakers, healthcare providers, and industry leaders.
The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human medicine, agriculture, and livestock have made it essential to address AMR using a One Health approach. The World Health Organization has recently emphasised that managing AMR requires this integrated perspective. It noted that “interventions to prevent, detect, and respond to AMR must be multifaceted and involve collaboration across human, animal, and environmental health sectors to achieve sustainable and long-lasting results.”
C-CAMP currently houses the country’s largest portfolio of startups focused on various aspects of AMR, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and preventatives.
About C-CAMP
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) an initiative supported by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India is a catalyst of cutting-edge research and innovation in the life sciences since 2009. It is positioned itself as India’s premier bio innovation hub in the AMR domain.
C-CAMP has established collaborations with global AMR bodies such as Boston-based CARB-X; UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), Water, Animal, Agriculture and Health (WAAH) Accelerator for One Health with Netherlands and Switzerland; and has instituted and conceptualised the India AMR Innovation Hub IAIH, a convergent think tank on AMR interventions, policy, funding and regulatory support anchored by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India. It has a portfolio of over 50 AMR innovations that harness the most frontline science for beating superbugs.
For further details please contact:
Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, C-CAMP Director-CEO
Email: ccamp@ccamp.res.in
Phone: +91 80 67185100
About the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS)
ICARS’ mission is to partner with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in their efforts to reduce drug-resistant infections. In partnership with LMIC ministries and local research institutions, ICARS co-develops interventions, which provide evidence for context-specific and cost-effective solutions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that are fit for sustainable scale-up. Through the provision of funding and expertise, ICARS supports intervention and implementation research projects across the One Health spectrum to support countries’ AMR National Action Plans (NAP).
For further details please visit: https://icars-global.byhand.nu/
