Facilitators: Dr Kerry Hamilton, Dr Eddie Cytryn, Ms Kseniia Erokhina, Dr Hunter Quon, Dr Nicholas Ashbolt, Dr Amy Pruden, Dr Anne Roiko, Dr Susan Petterson

Aims:

Gain a better One Health understanding of the complexities related to the evolution of AMR and the challenges they present to QMRA
Consider the significance of difference lines of evidence about AMR to QMRA
Explore how new variables and sources of uncertainty can be integrated into each step of QMRA
Identify research priorities and opportunities for ongoing collaboration around improving QMRA guidance and training

Background: Environmental AMR research has advanced with high-throughput and omics tools for measurement and identification of resistance genes (RGs), transfer of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) of pathogenic bacteria, and complexity of resistance reservoirs. However, risk assessment frameworks such as QMRA largely rely on culture-based indicators and enteric pathogens, overlooking environmental dynamics and potential vectors of AMR persistence. Additionally, applications to water safety planning have been limited. This workshop will bridge these high-throughput and methodological insights with expert input and One Health-based quantitative microbial risk frameworks to better identify, quantify, and translate environmental resistance data and better inform fit-for-purpose water reuse schemes and recreational water safety.

Workshop Participants and Activity: Broad backgrounds in microbial ecology, environmental engineering, risk assessment, modelling, and data science. Sectors of all types including policy and regulation, academic and clinical research, and environmental protection.

Participants will:

Create a roadmap for omics and other novel method integration into microbial risk assessments for the water
Identify priority areas for harmonizing methods and data integration, and strengthen cross-sectoral networks

Workshop Overview