Microbes, collectively, include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. For the past 70 years, antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, have been successfully used to treat patients with bacterial and infectious diseases.
Why Is the Study of Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance a Priority for NIAID?
Over time, many infectious organisms have adapted to the drugs designed to kill them, making the products less effective. Because most bacteria, viruses, and other microbes multiply rapidly, they can quickly evolve and develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Overusing or misusing antimicrobial drugs can make resistance develop even faster.
How Is NIAID Addressing This Critical Topic?
To address this growing problem, NIAID is funding and conducting research on many aspects of antimicrobial (drug) resistance, including basic research on how microbes develop resistance, new and faster diagnostics, and clinical trials designed to find new vaccines and treatments effective against drug-resistant microbes.
NIAID Role in Antimicrobial Resistance Research
NIAID conducts and supports research on antimicrobial resistance. Because most bacteria, viruses, and other microbes multiply rapidly, they can quickly evolve and develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Overusing or misusing antimicrobial drugs can make resistance develop even faster. Read more about NIAID research on antimicrobial resistance.
Examples of Antimicrobial Resistance
NIAID is sponsoring and conducting research on several diseases that have developed resistance to antimicrobial drug treatment. See a list of antimicrobial drug resistant diseases NIAID is researching.
Research Goals
NIAID manages a research portfolio of grants specifically aimed at the problem of antimicrobial resistance and hospital-acquired infections. Read more about NIAID plans, priorities, and goals.
Antibacterial Research Program
Research on antimicrobial resistance, including antibacterial resistance, is a priority area for NIAID. In 2014, the Institute issued its report "NIAID’s Antibacterial Research Program: Current Status and Future Directions" to describe the Institute’s research portfolio and outline a combination of innovative approaches based on the latest scientific advances to be pursued. Read more about the Antibacterial Research Program accomplishments.
Combating Drug Resistance With Basic Research
NIAID invests in basic research to understand the biology of microbes, their behavior, and how drug resistance develops. Understanding precisely how microbes cause disease (the process called pathogenesis) is also crucial for finding new ways to combat them. Read more about NIAID research efforts.
Translating Basic Knowledge
Scientific discovery begins with basic research in the laboratory at "the bench." To improve human health, however, these discoveries must be translated into practical applications that reach the patient's "bedside." NIAID-supported research in antimicrobial (drug) resistance helps facilitate this translation of basic research discoveries from "bench to bedside." Read more about NIAID efforts to improve patient experience.
NIAID Labs
NIAID laboratories are at the forefront of basic, translational, and clinical research on antimicrobial resistance. Focusing on emerging public health threats such as drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, tuberculosis, and malaria, NIAID researchers seek to understand the fundamental causes of resistance. Learn more about research and investigations currently underway.
Clinical Research
Clinical research projects related to antibacterial resistance (AR) focus on a variety of approaches, including evaluating the safety and effectiveness of new antimicrobial therapeutics, and developing novel prevention strategies. Read about clinical research activities and opportunities at NIAID
Learn about the breakthroughs and accomplishments that NIAID, and NIAID-sponsored researchers are making to advance the study of antimicrobial drug resistant diseases.
NIAID Antibacterial Research Program: Current Status and Future Directions
This report describes basic, translational, and clinical NIAID research in antibacterial resistance and outlines a combination of innovative approaches based on the latest scientific advances to be pursued.
What's New:
Latest News Releases
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NIAID-Sponsored Study to Assess Shorter-Duration Antibiotics in Children, November 28, 2016
For Researchers:
An issue as complex as antimicrobial resistance requires a comprehensive approach that draws upon not only federal agencies and academic researchers, but also industry, healthcare providers, and individual citizens to advance basic and applied research as well as to support public health efforts.
To assist with antimicrobial resistance research, NIAID established the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) to help address the most important clinical questions in antibacterial resistance.
NIAID offers resources such as technology for licensing or collaboration, computer applications, and other tools and services developed in its labs to the general scientific community for the advancement of biomedical research.
All currently open NIAID Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs) can be found on the NIAID Funding Opportunities list
Recent research initiatives focused exclusively or in part on antimicrobial resistance.