Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been described as a ‘silent pandemic’, and now takes more lives than malaria and HIV globally, and in Australia, over 1,600 deaths were attributed to AMR in 2019.

CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) is a global non-profit partnership focused on supporting antibacterial research, based at Boston University. On a visit to Australia, CARB-X Chief Scientific Officer Dr Richard Alm (originally from Adelaide) joins the podcast to discuss the threat of antimicrobial resistance, the need to take a ‘village approach’ to develop new life-saving antimicrobial treatments, why it’s time for an AMR accelerator in Australia and tips for Australian start-ups & researchers on applying for future CARB-X funding rounds!

Richard also shares his journey, joining CARB-X following almost 20 years working in drug discovery in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Prior to joining industry, as a microbiologist from the University of Adelaide he undertook postdoctoral studies in the AMR area, in Australia and Canada. 

Also joining Caroline Duell on the podcast is Andrew Bowskill, MTPConnect’s Director of Stakeholder Engagement Queensland and co-chair of AAMRNet – Australia’s Antimicrobial Resistance Network, a multi-stakeholder expert group formed to address the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on human health.