Jonathan Pearce, CEO
On Thursday, 21 March 2024, Antibiotic Research UK spearheaded a groundbreaking conference titled “Living with Chronic and Complex UTIs” at London’s Wellcome Collection. The event addressed the intricate realities and challenges of living with urinary tract infections (UTIs), featuring insights from leading speakers in both research and clinical practice, alongside powerful personal testimonies from individuals suffering with chronic and complex UTIs. It was more than just a platform for discussion; it fostered shared experiences, mutual learning, and a compelling call to action against UTIs and antimicrobial resistance.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in making this conference a resounding success. The impact exceeded our expectations, a testament to the dedication and passion of our team and supporters. We delivered an impactful and influential conference that resonated deeply with attendees, and set out a clear direction for the research, diagnostic, treatment and care pathway issues that need urgent attention from the research, clinician.
With over 200 bookings, both in-person and online, the event attracted a diverse audience, including patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry representatives. Attendees praised the quality of the presentations and found the patient testimonies particularly poignant, underscoring the urgent need for diagnostic, treatment, and care solutions in this often-overlooked area of health.
The outpouring of support for our cause and charity was palpable throughout the conference, resulting in the forging of significant relationships that will undoubtedly propel our work forward. As we reflect on the success of this event, we are committed to furthering our impact, nurturing ideas, and leveraging connections for the betterment of those affected by UTIs and antimicrobial resistance.
Simon Dukes, Chair of Trustees, remarked, “The conference was a triumph, a testament to the dedication of all involved. I had the privilege of speaking with delegates from various sectors, all of whom praised the event’s quality. The patient representatives, in particular, shared their stories with profound passion and dignity. I eagerly anticipate discussions on how we can build upon this success.”
We are also thrilled to announce the launch of the AMR Patient Community Advisory Board, and the UTI research priority-setting partnership (in collaboration with the James Lind Alliance/NIHR), both initiatives recognising the invaluable role of patient insight in guiding research and development efforts. This initiative will bridge the gap between patients and stakeholders, ensuring that our endeavors align with genuine patient needs and improve outcomes.
The conference served as a platform to educate and support individuals affected by UTIs while galvanising efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. By uniting experts and amplifying patient voices, we aim to tackle the complex challenges posed by chronic and complex UTIs on both national and international levels.
Highlights from the conference:
- Launch of AMR Patient Community Advisory Board (CAB): This initiative recognises the vital role of patient insight in shaping research and development efforts, by inviting expert patients to join the Board and provide an expert resource that will be available to researchers in academia and industry developing new diagnostics and treatments.
- Launch of the UTI research priority-setting partnership (in collaboration with the James Lind Alliance/National Institute of Health Research): bringing together networks of patients, clinicians and researchers to work together, systematically, to identify and prioritise evidence uncertainties in the field of UTIs that can be answered by future research.
- Expert Talks: Renowned speakers such as Dr Catriona Anderson, Professor Gail Hayward, Dr Melissa Haines, and Professor Jennifer Rohn provided invaluable insights into new approaches to testing and treatment for UTIs.
- Interactive Sessions: Discussions covered a range of topics, including point-of-care diagnostics and phage therapy for antibiotic-resistant UTIs.
- Jonathan Pearce, CEO of Antibiotic Research UK, emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between research and patient needs. By uniting experts and amplifying patient voices, the conference aimed to address the complex challenges posed by UTIs and antimicrobial resistance.
- Media coverage in the inews ‘My life was over’: Chronic UTI patients demand non-antibiotic treatments (inews.co.uk)
Watch Again:
A recording of the conference is available on the Youtube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@AntibioticResearchUK.
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For further information about Antibiotic Research UK and its initiatives, please email info@antibioticresearch.org.uk To discuss the Advisory Board or the James Lind Alliance work please email: ceo@antibioticresearch.org.uk
The full conference line-up is available here:
Sponsors:
We express our gratitude to our sponsors, Pfizer Ltd, A. Menarini Farmaceutica Internazionale SRL, and Aspire Pharma, whose support made this event possible. This support allowed us to greatly subsidise cost tickets for patients and students to just £10, offer free places to patient ambassadors and charity supporters, while running a professional hybrid event that allows patients/carers who are unable to travel to participate online, including virtual networking.
Principal Supporters
Supporters
Organisations have no control over content. All editorial control has been retained by Antibiotic Research UK. NP-AI-UK-0142 prepared February 2024