Seminar: Using genomics to tackle AMR in low-resource settings

Join us for a joint seminar of the Department of Global and Public Health and the Antimicrobial Resistance Center. Dr. Saha will deliver a talk titled "Using genomics to tackle AMR in low-resource settings: One step at a time"

Abstract: 

In our efforts to combat the high burden of pediatric infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income countries, we have focused on integrating multisite disease surveillance with advanced clinical laboratory research, particularly in genomics. Starting in the 1990s, we initiated a hospital surveillance system in Bangladesh, linking clinical data with laboratory findings on pathogens and their AMR patterns. The integration of PCR technology in the 2000s further enhanced our system, contributing to the introduction of vital vaccines in 2009 and 2015. In 2018, we established an in-house genomics facility, marking a significant step in our ability to study the molecular mechanisms behind drug resistance, such as in Salmonella Typhi. Our recent developments include a novel genotyping scheme, Paratype, for tracking Salmonella Paratyphi A and its AMR patterns, and we are currently engaged in extensive research on Klebsiella pneumoniae. This gradual progression in a resource-limited setting exemplifies a step-by-step approach in building local capacity for genomics research. Our success in linking laboratory findings to clinical outcomes highlights the potential of strategic genomic research in the global fight against AMR, even in low-resource environments.