Draft:Global AMR Research & Development (R&D) Hub

The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Development Hub (hereafter referred to as the Hub) is an international organization initiated under the auspices of the German G20 presidency. The Hub was established to combat the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) via strengthening global coordination in AMR research and development (R&D). Launched in May 2018, the Hub operates with a Secretariat based in Berlin, supported by the German government.

It is guided by a Board of Members, comprising representatives from 17 countries, the European Commission, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, along with five Observers, including the WHO, FAO, OECD, WOAH, and Africa CDC, and a Stakeholder Group representing a broad spectrum of interests from academia, industry, funding bodies, and civil society.

Joining the Hub is possible for all nations (not just G20) and non-governmental donors. Members are encouraged to contribute further investment towards national and/or international research, although no fixed fee is be required for participation in the Hub’s activities. Currently, the 17 member states of the Hub include Australia, Canada, China, the European Commission, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The Hub was conceptualized following major international health policy advancements. These include the "Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance" adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2015, and the 2016 "Review on Antimicrobial Resistance" spearheaded by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and economist Lord O’Neill of Gatley in 2014. G20 leaders during the German G20 Presidency in 2017 called for increased coordination in AMR R&D via the establishment of a new organization which would become the genesis for the Hub.

Dedicated to enhancing R&D efforts and sustainable investments in the AMR domain, the Hub aims to streamline global initiatives, foster innovation, and maximize the impact of investments by coordinating the international community's response to AMR. The Hub is viewed as an important global agency in orchestrating and addressing the complex challenges of AMR across the One Health spectrum.

Activities
The Global AMR R&D Hub undertakes a wide array of activities focused on combating AMR. These initiatives are structured around several core objectives, which collectively aim to streamline global efforts against AMR.

Informing Decision Makers
The Hub provides data on R&D pipelines to high-level decision makers, aiding in the identification and prioritization of research gaps. This support helps refine strategic decision-making and policy development, targeting areas most in need of innovation and resources.

Resource Allocation
It plays a role in the efficient allocation of resources across the global AMR R&D landscape. By identifying gaps and preventing overlap in research efforts, the Hub ensures that investments are made in projects with significant potential to address AMR challenges.

Promoting Investment
Investments into both "push" and "pull" incentives are actively promoted by the Hub. These incentives are designed to stimulate R&D activities by reducing costs and risks ("push") and rewarding successful outcomes ("pull"), thereby enhancing the impact of research activities on a national and international scale.

Encouraging Collaboration
The Hub fosters international research collaboration among diverse partners. This collaborative approach is intended to leverage the strengths and resources of various stakeholders to expedite the development of effective solutions to AMR. Global AMR R&D Hub works closely with the G20 and has a direct voice at the G20 Health Track. Furthermore, the Global AMR R&D Hub is collaborating with WHO to integrate AMR-related data on their analysis of the antibacterial and vaccine pipelines into its Dynamic Dashboard (its online database of AMR R&D public and philanthropic funded projects and investments). It has also co-authored several reports for G7 Finance and Health Ministers detailing progress on AMR R&D with the WHO. Additionally, the Secretariat is forging strong connections with other entities, such as the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR), the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X), the Global Strategic Alliances for the Coordination of Research on the Major Infectious Diseases of Animals and Zoonoses (STAR-IDAZ), the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), the Joint Action on AMR and HAI (EU-JAMRAI), and the BEAM Alliance. These efforts aim to prevent overlap with existing projects and to offer substantial contributions by guiding decision-making processes for governments and primary funders.

Policymaker Engagement
Keeping AMR R&D on the agenda of policymakers is a key activity of the Hub. It provides up-to-date information and strategic insights to policymakers, ensuring that AMR remains a high-priority issue at the political level. Representatives of the Hub often engage with policymakers such as German Health Minister Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach ., Dr. Chris Fearne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Malta. The Hub has also been asked to assist G7 Finance and Health Ministers in preparing progress updates, in collaboration with the WHO.

Advocacy
Raising and maintaining public awareness about AMR work is another key activity of the Hub. It has frequently highlighted the issue of AMR to diverse audiences, including policymakers, government officials, and the general public in high income as well as Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), recognising the importance of the latter in being most affected by AMR