EDAR8 Workshop: Enhancing environmental risk assessment of antimicrobial resistance across the entire life cycle of antimicrobials
Session 2.3E | Tuesday 4th August | 2:00pm-5:30pm | Room B3
Organisers: Dr Aimee Murray, Dr Joanne Elmoznino, Dr Andreas Häner, Mr Steve Brooks
Presenters: Dr Aimee Murray, Dr Andreas Häner, Dr Joanne Elmoznino, Mr Steve Brooks, Dr Isobel Stanton
Additional Facilitators: Dr Laura Murray, Ms Cara Patel
Aims: Identify the key scientific knowledge gaps and challenges relating to environmental risk assessment across the entire life cycle of antimicrobials, culminating in a white paper/perspectives piece to inform upcoming changes in EU legislation and policy guidelines.
Background: Antimicrobials are emerging contaminants of concern, with growing evidence that selection for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can occur at sub-therapeutic concentrations. Tangible progress has been made in the last decade in implementing environmental risk assessments (ERAs) for manufacturing of antibiotics, including the AMR Industry Alliance Standard and the WHO’s guidance on wastewater and solid waste management. However, there is still significant debate over the suitability, specificity, reliability and narrow context of these guidelines. The EU General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL), currently being revised for the first time in 20 years, proposes evaluating AMR risks across the entire antimicrobial life cycle, including antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antiprotozoals. This workshop addresses the pressing need to bridge the gaps between scientific research and cross-regulatory practice by facilitating dialogue between researchers and industrial stakeholders to critically discuss current ERA frameworks and future research priorities.
Workshop Participants: All participants will need to bring a laptop or tablet to allow them to access and edit online materials. We welcome anyone with an interest in translating research into impact and environmental policy as well as experts in environmental risk assessment, regulation, policy, and legislation.
Participants will:
- In small groups, map the antibiotic life cycle and identify key knowledge gaps and challenges
- In small groups, critically evaluate research priorities through different stakeholder viewpoints (e.g., research/academia vs industry)
- Have the opportunity to ‘Ask Industry Anything’ via a panel with pharmaceutical company representatives and the AMR Industry Alliance
