Press release
Minister Heydon announces €750,000 funding for Antimicrobial Resistance Research
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon T.D, today announced awards of €750,000 for research in the area of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Minister Heydon also launched the opening of a new European research call in the areas of animal health and welfare. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committing €1 million to enable Irish researcher involvement in this initiative.
AMR Research Awards
Following a call for proposals under the European Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR), three projects involving Irish scientists from Teagasc, Maynooth University and University College Dublin, collaborating with multiple European Research Performing Organisations, will receive funding of €750,000. They will investigate the development of innovative strategies, tools, technologies, and methods for diagnostics and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance of the most critical pathogens affecting plants and animals.
Announcing the awards, Minister Heydon said:
“The funding I am announcing today for these three projects will support Irish researchers to work with other scientists across Europe to develop solutions that will help us in combating the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance.”
Animal Health and Welfare Call Opening
Separately, the Minister announced the opening of the first research call under the European Research Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare. Minister Heydon said:
“The European Partnership for Animal Health & Welfare is the second of the new European research partnerships being rolled out under Horizon Europe following the launch of the Agroecology Partnership last month. My Department will commit €1 million to enable Irish researchers to collaborate with European counterparts in proposals to the first Call under this Partnership. This is important for us as it will allow research in areas such as technologies for prevention, detection, assessment, and management of animal health and welfare”.
ENDS
Notes for Editor
1. AMR Research Awards
Irish financial support for the JPIAMR Research is provided through the DAFM Research Programme . Total Department funding for the Irish participants across the five projects under both Calls is €749,025.
The Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) aims to fund research projects aimed at developing novel, or improving existing, strategies, tools, technologies and methods for diagnosis and/or One Health AMR surveillance.
Three projects with Irish participation were selected for funding:
• AEROBIOMICS-AMR: Aerobiome based genomic surveillance of fungicide resistance to track the development and spread of AMR in plant pathogens and the wider environment. Dr Steven Kildea, Teagasc. €249,396
• MEGAISurv: MEtaGenome-informed Antimicrobial resistance Surveillance: Harnessing long-read sequencing for an analytical, indicator and risk assessment framework. Prof Seamus Fanning, University College Dublin. €249,867
• NewResGenes: Informing genomic surveillance by uncovering, phenotyping and prioritising resistance genes to new antibiotics. Prof Fiona Walsh, National University of Ireland Maynooth. €249,762
2. Animal Health and Welfare Call Opening
Background – Partnerships
European Partnerships bring the European Commission and private and/or public partners together to address some of Europe’s most pressing challenges through concerted research and innovation initiatives. They are a key implementation tool of Horizon Europe. They enable greater cooperation to address national and European priorities through the pooling of expertise and resources, as well as harnessing additional private and public research investments.
The 1st Co-funded Call for Transnational Collaborative Research Projects: “Supporting the Future of Animal Health and Welfare”
Call Topics
This call is open to proposals addressing the research topics described below, focusing on terrestrial and aquatic animals, bee health, or wildlife where relevant (transmission of diseases of consequence to livestock or zoonotic diseases).
Topic 1: Novel Technologies for Prevention, Detection, Assessment, and Management of Animal Health and Welfare.
This topic includes research projects that concentrate on creating and advancing innovative technologies to enhance Animal Health &Welfare.
Topic 2: Fundamental Research for Animal Health and Welfare.
This topic involves research to advance scientific knowledge and understanding of the biological, immunological, and physiological mechanisms influencing terrestrial and aquatic Animal Health &Welfare.
Topic 3: Animal Health and Welfare and Society.
This topic covers social, economic, or ethical studies that examine how pathogens or novel technologies or improved animal welfare might impact farmers, fishers, aquaculture producers, consumers, or the production chain.
Financial Support
Irish financial support is being provided through the DAFM Research Programme and the Teagasc Walsh Scholarships Programme. Total combined DAFM/Teagasc funding for the Call is €1,248,000. The Department/Teagasc will provide funding for successful Irish applicants that apply under the three themes of the Call.
Further information can be found on: