Forum – Getting antimicrobial therapy back on track
16:00-16:10 BrIAS Welcome
16:10-16:30 Dr. Maggie De Block, former Minister of Health, initiator of the national action plan on AMR
The political process underlying decision making in Antimicrobial Resistance
16:30-16:50 Prof. Olivier Vandenberg, Université libre de Bruxelles, specialist infectious diseases, AMR, and diagnostics
The future of antimicrobial treatments, steered by better diagnostics
16:50-17:10 Prof. Boudewijn Catry, Sciensano, AMR surveillance
The future of surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and consumption
17h:10-18:00 Panel Discussion
With Marc Heyndrickx, Flanders Research Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food (ILVO)
18:00-19:00 Reception
Being often referred to as the ‘silent pandemic’, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes 1.3 million deaths and contributes to 5 million deaths every year. The drivers of AMR are multifaceted. New and affordable diagnostic testing, disease-prediction tools, vaccines, and non-antimicrobial alternatives struggle to reach the market. Research will be needed to help identify the best possible interventions, solutions, and approaches in a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral manner. Financial and political commitment, as well as scientific interest, through engagement of governments, private sector, and civil society are crucial.
In this BRIAS event, we will discuss this problematic from various perspectives. Dr. Maggie De Block, former Federal Minister of Health, is now part of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance. This group is comprised of world leaders and experts from across sectors, committed to accelerating political action on AMR based on a One Health approach. Dr. Boudewijn Catry (Sciensano) is coordinating surveillances of AMR and antimicrobial use in Belgium. Prof. Olivier Vandenberg (ULB) has a medical background and strong interest in new diagnostic techniques. For the panel discussion, they will be joined by Prof. Marc Heyndrickx (ILVO) for the One Health perspective.
During this forum, you can engage with policy makers and scientists on key AMR issues and may forge partnerships between policy and science.