Yahoo Finance University of Oxford receives £100m from Ineos for antibiotic resistance research institute
The gift from chemicals giant Ineos will be used to launch a new state-of-the-art institute to combat the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
(Getty Images)The University of Oxford has been given £100 million – one of the largest donations in its history – for a new institute that aims to combat the growing issue of resistance to antibiotics.
The gift from chemicals giant Ineos will be used to launch a new state-of-the-art institute to combat the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), produced by overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which currently causes an estimated 1.5 million excess deaths each year.
In an announcement video, Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson said: “We're absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to harness the range and depth of expertise in Oxford in this area so that we can not only do cutting edge research but as importantly, translate that research for human benefit.”
The university played a key role in the origin of antibiotics following Oxford’s discovery of penicillin in the 1940s.
It is estimated that by 2050, up to 10 million deaths each year could be caused by antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs no longer being effective at treating common diseases.
Professor Richardson said immediate action to address the issue was “imperative” as she warned it would be “cataclysmic” for surgeries if infection could not be prevented by antibiotics.
“I think that the pandemic has shown us just the extraordinary high costs if you ignore a problem that is potentially headed your way,” she said.
“We certainly knew that there was a high potential for another pandemic, we were reminded of that many times, and yet we were caught unprepared.
“We know that human antibiotics are, with every passing year, becoming fewer and fewer because of the growth of resistance so it’s absolutely imperative that we act, and the impact of being unprepared for the pandemic I think reinforces the importance of acting before it’s too late. And it may seem very costly to do all this research now but it’s nothing on the cost of failure to act.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of Ineos said he is “excited” to partner with the university to “accelerate progress in tackling this urgent global challenge.”
The institute will be based between two sites in Oxford, linking the University’s Department of Chemistry with the Department of Zoology in the new Life & Mind Building, which is currently under construction.
Researchers will seek to develop new drugs for animals and humans, as well as promote more responsible use of the antibiotics we have, following a rise in antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”.
Additional reporting by PA Media.
Read More
Vaccine ‘could threaten lockdown gains’ as cases plunge in east London
Antibiotic resistance 'could wipe out humanity before climate change'
Antibiotic levels in Thames 'are three times over the safe limit'
Antibiotic prescriptions soar in winter - can AI explain why?
