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Project to strengthen coordination of Scotland’s antimicrobial resistance research

A chemist working with a petri dish in the lab

A register which captures the country’s contribution to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research has received a major update.

AMR is a growing global health threat, projected to cause 1.91 million deaths annually worldwide by 2050. Addressing it requires coordinated action across human, animal, plant, and environmental sectors – an approach known as One Health. Scotland’s One Health AMR Register (SOHAR) supports this by making research more visible and accessible, enabling joined-up efforts to tackle this complex challenge.

Cross-disciplinary

Led by the University of Strathclyde, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University, SRUC, the University of the West of Scotland, and the James Hutton Institute, the SOHAR update project brings together cross-disciplinary research and lays the foundations for the register’s future development and long-term sustainability.

Published in 2021 by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), the first version of the publicly available resource collates peer-reviewed studies and projects on AMR involving researchers and organisations across Scotland. The register organises research into key thematic areas, providing a clearer view of Scotland’s research activity and areas of focus.

SOHAR’s thematic organisation connects research to the commitments set out in the UK’s AMR National Action Plan (2024–2029), helping to monitor progress and spotlight areas where further research is needed. This alignment strengthens Scotland’s role in a coordinated UK-wide response to AMR and demonstrates its contribution to shared research goals.

Professor Fiona Henriquez-Mui, Head of Strathclyde’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and project lead, said:

By identifying research strengths, gaps, and opportunities, SOHAR provides practical value to a wide range of users – from policymakers and funders to researchers, practitioners, and industry. It highlights where AMR expertise lies, where work is ongoing, how funding is distributed, and key areas of research focus.

“These insights can foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors, guide investment decisions, and help align future research activities with national priorities. It also offers a transparent view of Scotland’s AMR research contributions and progress against national commitments.”

The updated register features new searchable functions to support easier access.

A policy brief and project summary have also been produced, outlining key findings and recommendations from the analysis of Scotland’s AMR research landscape, which highlight areas of strength and innovation, as well as gaps.