22 September 2026 | Antimicrobial Resistance | 3 minute read time
The Science-Policy Forum (SPF) is now a well-established collaboration between ESCMID, the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat – comprising WHO, WOAH, FAO and UNEP – focused on translating the science of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) into policy action at national and global levels.
The SPF has been structured to align with the work of the future Independent Panel for Evidence for Action against AMR (IPEA), which is planned to launch at the 5th Ministerial Conference on AMR in Abuja, Nigeria, from 06–08 December 2026. The SPF aims to strengthen dialogue between the wide range of scientists working to address AMR and policymakers, with a particular focus on enhancing the policy relevance of scientific outputs from ESCMID members.
In 2026, the SPF with additional partners CARB-X, LifeArc, Novo Nordic Foundation and Gates Foundation continued to develop its role as a forum for discussing key questions and challenges in policy design and implementation by hosting workshops ahead of the main plenary session. These workshops explore the public health challenges associated with potential policy interventions and identify practical ways to improve policy-relevant outcomes.
Over time, the SPF plans to examine a range of interventions across the One Health spectrum, where relevant to human health. These will include diagnostics, vaccines, infection prevention and control (IPC), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), antimicrobial policy and stewardship, surveillance, and education.
Two workshops were held in 2026, both of which were very well attended and generated high levels of engagement. The AMR Action Subcommittee has written up reports based on the key takeaways from these workshops presented here.
The “Diagnostics and innovation” workshop discussed the need for innovation in clinical trial design, including the capture of both individual- and population-level effects mediated through clinician behaviour. Social science and health systems research can help to inform the broader utility and future deployment of diagnostics.
Participants explored the potential value of an AMR Diagnostics Clinical Utility Platform that could provide a standardised model for evidence generation across multiple stakeholders. Such a platform could help build partnerships and support efforts to demonstrate the value of diagnostic tools. Greater harmonisation of the pre-market clinical utility studies required would also be beneficial to industry, laboratory and clinical groups.
The “Modelling and economics” workshop considered the potential work plan of the Independent Panel and reviewed key scientific questions and uncertainties within the current framework.
Participants examined the main drivers of AMR across One Health, reviewing available models and transmission mechanisms. This included discussion of the critical evidence gap concerning the direction and significance of cross-sectoral transmission in different settings.
The workshop also considered the limitations of current cost-effectiveness analyses, recognising the centrality and complexity of AMR health economics in supporting policy adoption. Participants further explored prioritisation methods based on economic evidence, as well as the challenges of comparing multiple interventions using a standardised approach that takes societal impacts and health inequalities into account.
Planning is already well underway for the next edition which will take place on the afternoon of Friday 09 April 2027 during ESCMID Global 2027.
We look forward to seeing you there.
