A new film by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions called “Race Against Resistance: The Life and Death Struggle to Save Antibiotics” features ARLG Innovations Working Group member Tori Kinamon.  The film, which explores the global health threat of antibacterial resistance (AR) and the ongoing research to combat it, is presented by the AMR Action Fund with funding support from Shionogi, Pfizer, and MSD. 

The film shares personal stories from people who battled AR and includes Tori Kinamon’s remarkable journey from collegiate athlete, to MRSA survivor, to MD candidate and infectious diseases researcher. Kinamon, who is currently an MD Candidate at the Duke University School of Medicine, discusses how her firsthand experience fueled her determination to pursue a career in AMR research.  

“Race Against Resistance” captures the urgency surrounding the issue of AR, providing sobering insight into the imminent crisis, as well as showcasing the unwavering dedication of the healthcare professionals, scientists, and experts tirelessly working to protect the health and well-being of future generations. The documentary also highlights the potential role of phages for the treatment of infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria, an area of research that aligns with ARLG’s interests. For more information on phage research conducted by ARLG, see ARLG Studies in Progress. 

You can watch “Race Against Resistance” on the BBC StoryWork’s website. 

As part of our mission to support research and combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance, ARLG provides resources that may help researchers improve their data, access specific bacterial strains, or secure funding for innovative study ideas. Learn more about each type of resource and how to request it below.

Concept Proposal

ARLG accepts proposals for novel clinical studies that require funding or other resource support. Investigators who have some external funding available may submit requests for partial funding.

Proposed studies must prioritize gram-negative infections, gram-positive infections, and/or diagnostics. Ideal candidates for concept proposals:

• Have the potential to transform medical practice by improving use of antibiotics and/or impacting antibacterial resistance
• Would be unlikely to occur without ARLG support.

ARLG scientific committees review concept proposal requests for merit, feasibility, and novelty. They also evaluate whether the proposed research meets ARLG’s mission “To PRIORITIZE, DESIGN, and EXECUTE clinical research that will impact the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”

Proposal requests must include the research question, rationale, primary hypothesis, planned endpoints, study population, and sample size. If the scientific committees accept a concept proposal, they will ask the principal investigator to submit to a more detailed proposal, which will go to the ARLG Executive Committee for further consideration or approval.

Go to ARLG.org/protocol-concept/  for more guidance.
Select the Submit your Proposal button to apply.

ARLG Study Data Request

ARLG advances clinical research and scientific knowledge by sharing final data generated from NIH-supported studies with researchers to help further their study initiatives. The data can include information from single or combined studies.

 ARLG’s Data Sharing Committee Chair and other experts review study data applications to determine if the information requested will meet the objectives of the analysis. If the study results are pending primary publication to a peer review journal, the committee chair will hold the data until submission.

The data request must include the research description, objectives, rationale, as well as an explanation of how the data will meet the study objectives, and an analysis plan that includes power calculations and statistics. The requestor must also be able to demonstrate that they have the expertise to perform the analysis, including whether statistical assistance is available.

Go to ARLG.org/request-data/ to learn more.
Click the Request Data button to submit an application.

Data Analysis Request

Researchers with a novel research idea can request to have the Statistical Data Management Center (SDMC) perform an analysis on data from an ARLG study or studies.

The SDMC reviews data analysis requests for feasibility and merit. The ARLG Publications Chair, an ARLG Review Panel, and the ARLG Executive Committee may also review requests to determine viability.

The analysis request must include the research description, objectives, and rationale along with an explanation of how the data will meet the study objectives.

Go to ARLG.org/statistical_and_data_management_center/ to learn more about the SDMC.
Go to ARLG.org/request-data/ and use the Request Data button to create a data analysis request.

Bacterial Strain Request

ARLG’s Laboratory Center manages a biorepository of clinical study isolates and well-characterized gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial isolates from published manuscripts. Researchers can request bacterial isolate strains to develop diagnostic tests and novel antimicrobial compounds or to conduct studies evaluating mechanisms of resistance.

Researchers can review available isolate strains by using ARLG’s online Biorepository Strain Catalogue and request up to 80 strains per year for each laboratory or company. ARLG’s Laboratory Center director will review requests for larger numbers of isolates or those not yet published by ARLG.

You may review available strains by visiting the Biorepository Strain Catalogue.
To request isolates (strains), please apply using the ARLG Interest Survey.

ARLG investigator, Executive Committee Member, and Innovations Working Group Chair, Helen Boucher, MD, FACP, FIDSA, will present this year’s Maxwell Finland Lecture during IDWeek 2022 in Washington, D.C. Her presentation, “Running to Stand Still: Progress and Perils with AMR”, will highlight the key drivers of antimicrobial resistance and the potential incentives of drug and diagnostic development to treat and detect antimicrobial-resistant infections.

Dr. Boucher is the director of the Tufts Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance and the director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Boucher has held several other leadership positions in the field of infectious diseases and has authored or co-authored numerous publications. Her research focuses on

The Maxwell Finland Lecture is awarded annually to experts who have contributed to the areas of bacterial pathogenesis, antimicrobial agents, emerging infections, and hospital-acquired infections. It is named in honor of IDSA’s first president, Maxwell Finland, MD, DSci, who was internationally recognized for his work on the incidence and character of infectious diseases and their treatments.

Dr. Boucher will deliver her lecture on Thursday, October 20 at 9:15 a.m. It will be available after the event on-demand through March 2023.

Read more

See the full list of IDWeek 2022 ARLG presenters

Duke University School of Medicine awarded Vance Fowler, MD, MHS, the Florence McAlister Distinguished Professor of Medicine in 2020.

Distinguished professorships recognize both exceptional achievement and the potential for future achievement.They are awarded to the most distinguished faculty who have demonstrated extraordinary scholarship in advancing science and improving human health.