The role of genomics in delivering the United Kingdom’s national action plan for confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029
Johnson T., Mason L., Wilson HJ., Price JR., Hopkins KL., Chattaway MA., Leanord A., Mayele-Tamina R., Johnson S., Flowers P., van Schaik W., Baker KS.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to human and animal health, and environmental resilience. Countries’ National Action Plans (NAPs) set the agenda on national action against AMR, with the UK’s latest NAP released in late 2024. Advances in genomics have strengthened our ability to work toward NAP priorities, but no mapping of the role genomics plays in contributing to specific goals within the NAP has been undertaken to date. The UKRI-funded Transdisciplinary Antimicrobial Resistance Genomics Network brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss the role of genomics for action on AMR and to deliver policy priority-led research, as outlined in the UK NAP 2025 - 2029. We report our discussions in this Health Policy paper, with key roles for genomics including informing targeted stewardship in healthcare settings, supporting AMR literacy, and supporting effective antimicrobial innovation. However, changes in infrastructure, communication, and cross-sector co-ordination are needed to support implementation.