Nebraska, Iowa universities helm national institute addressing antimicrobial resistance

While the inherent danger of antimicrobial resistance is growing, increasing the threat of a global public health crisis, a new national institute to address the threat has been created through a partnership between universities in Nebraska and Iowa.

The new Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education involves cooperation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Iowa State University, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the University of Iowa, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. Funding is being provided from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State, respectively. Together, they will gather veterinary and medical experts to address a problem that leads to at least 2 million people sickened annually — and 23,000 dead of infection.

“This new institute will accelerate discoveries and engage producers in new and impactful ways that will enhance the stewardship and prolong the shelf life of these disease prevention tools,” Mike Boehm, vice president of the University of Nebraska, said. “The establishment of this institute is a big deal, and we are excited about this next chapter of our partnership with our colleagues from Iowa, the industry, and beyond.”

These universities have previously worked together in one of the institute’s forebears — the Antimicrobial Resistance Consortium, a research initiative focused on similar ends. Now, the institute will help coordinate and implement recommendations for universities and veterinary medical colleges throughout the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimate that $20 billion in direct health care costs and $35 billion in lost productivity can be attributed annually to drug-resistant superbugs.