Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered a global threat with significant implications for human health, livestock and the environment.
The Government of Canada has taken steps to map out a coordinated, collaborative federal approach to responding to the threat of AMR (federal framework) and has developed an action plan that focuses federal efforts on three pillars: surveillance, stewardship and innovation. The design and development of diagnostic tools and preventative measures have been identified as important activities in the action plan along with increased laboratory capacity, strengthened surveillance and development of new treatments with a focus on monitoring, detecting and screening for antimicrobial resistance in humans, livestock and food in Canada.
Due to the critical role of genomics in these areas, Genome Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Genome Alberta and Genome BC, organized a Forum on Genomics and AMR that was held in Ottawa in February 2016. The Forum focused on a One Health approach to tackling AMR across all sectors (agriculture, human health and environment).
The two-day event brought together over sixty leading experts from academic, government, industry and commodities groups to address the challenge of AMR and discuss a path forward.
Specific Forum objectives were to:
- Determine the current level of genomics based activities as they relate to AMR in the private and academic space;
- Identify priority genomics-related research topics other than activities contributing to the development of AMR critical exposure pathways (such as GRDI funded research projects); and,
- Identify opportunities to collaborate in the development of genomics tools for antimicrobial stewardship, diagnostics, monitoring and surveillance tools in human and animal health, and drug discovery.
Genome Canada is pleased to share the Forum Workshop Report here.
