The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) on Wednesday identified three specific areas the the incoming Trump Administration should address to benefit public health — combatting drug-resistant infectious diseases, dedicating federal funding for rapid response to microbial outbreaks and promoting the commercial potential of the U.S. bioeconomy.
“The new administration has a great opportunity to continue to strengthen research and development efforts in order to keep our scientific leaders on the cutting edge of experimentation, exploration, and advancement,” ASM President Susan Sharp said. “This investment will have substantial benefits for the U.S. economy and the American quality of life.”
ASM’s CEO Stefano Bertuzzi said antimicrobial resistance (AMR) persists as one of the most daunting challenges in safeguarding public health. Further, he said that the new administration should fully implement and increase funding for the National Action Plan for Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (CARB) to enable a comprehensive and coordinated federal response to AMR.
In addition to CARB funding, Bertuzzi proposed the new administration establish a permanent fund dedicated to preparing for and responding to emerging infectious disease (EID) events like Zika and Ebola.
“The proposed EID fund would allow the country to mobilize rapidly with the necessary countermeasures, similar to our military readiness, without diverting emergency funding from ongoing programs,” Bertuzzi said.
The American Society for Microbiology is the largest life science society, representing more than 48,000 scientists and health professionals across the nation.