By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : November 21, 2025 9:54 am
These initiatives will harness top scientific talent and advanced AI technologies to develop new ways to slow the rise of drug-resistant infections
Global pharma powerhouse GSK and the Fleming Initiative have unveiled six groundbreaking research programmes aimed at tackling the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Branded as the “Grand Challenges,” these initiatives will harness top scientific talent and advanced AI technologies to develop new ways to slow the rise of drug-resistant infections.
The move comes as the World Health Organization’s latest GLASS report paints a stark picture: one in six bacterial infections are now resistant to antibiotics, and AMR-related deaths are projected to soar from 4.71 million in 2021 to 8.22 million by 2050.
All six programmes, launching by early 2026 and fully funded for three years, will target critical areas such as bext-generation antibiotics for hard-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae; New antifungal drugs, beginning with Aspergillus, to address high mortality rates and rising resistance; and immune response modelling, starting with Staphylococcus aureus, to guide vaccine development.
A key focus is overcoming Gram-negative bacteria’s natural defenses. Imperial College London’s Drug Discovery Hub, in collaboration with GSK and Agilent Technologies, will combine AI, automation, and diverse molecular datasets to speed the creation of effective antibiotics, sharing findings globally to spur wider drug development.
Professor Ara Darzi, head of the Fleming Initiative, said: “Eighty years after penicillin’s discovery, these Grand Challenges demonstrate the urgent need for collaborative, world-class research to confront AMR.”
Tony Wood, GSK Chief Scientific Officer, added: “By merging our antimicrobial expertise with Imperial College’s cutting-edge research and AI-driven models, we aim to stay ahead of resistance and transform infection treatment.”
The Fleming Initiative, a partnership between Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, combines researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and industry partners to deliver equitable, global solutions to AMR. About 50 multi-disciplinary roles will be created, bolstering a field facing declining workforce numbers.
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, summed it up: “No single lab can solve AMR. This is convergence science in action—combining expertise across sectors to protect future generations.”