H3D and LifeArc collaborate to combat silent AMR pandemic
In a powerful testament to its commitment to global health innovation, the University of Cape Town (UCT), through its renowned Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, has joined forces with LifeArc, a leading medical research charity, to launch the Centre for Translational AMR Research (CTAR) Programme.
This landmark collaboration, backed by a substantial £5 million (approximately R100 million) investment from LifeArc, aims to address the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including many across Africa.
The CTAR Programme is aimed at identifying and developing first-in-class therapeutics for infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumannii. This partnership not only targets the development of new antibiotics but also focuses on strengthening local research capacity in Africa. The collaboration will enhance H3D’s research capabilities to facilitate efficient AMR drug discovery, which will be achieved through secondments of experienced scientists from LifeArc to UCT, and scientific research visits of H3D scientists to LifeArc to gain exposure to new technologies and techniques available through LifeArc.
The director of H3D, Kelly Chibale, said: “We are thrilled to partner with LifeArc in this crucial endeavour. This partnership with LifeArc underscores the importance of international collaborations in tackling pressing global health issues such as AMR, and this investment will significantly boost our efforts to develop new treatments for drug-resistant infections. Together, we are poised to make a meaningful impact on global health.”