The alarming rise in the clinical cases of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotics losing efficacy poses a threat and challenge to humanity. According to World Health Organization and the UK government reports, a failure to address this problem could result in 10 million deaths by 2050, leading to a situation worse than the recent COVID-19 pandemic in which there were approximately 2 million deaths annually.
Moreover, AMR is projected to have a massive impact on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and could burden about 1.2 trillion USD additional health expenditure annually by 2050. Hence there is an urgent need to address the alarming issue of AMR with a particular focus on these “SUPERBUGS” to accelerate drug discovery and development.
In order to gain a broader insight into these diverse concepts and raise awareness in society, the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (DPST), Birla Institute of Technology, has collaborated with Prof. Sanjib Bhakta, Birkbeck, University of London, UK.
The Department has actively and efficiently engaged itself in organizing events and has chaired live sessions for students, teachers, and various members of the scientific community in the recent past to address these challenges caused by “SUPERBUGS.”
With the fortification of the Institute and the head of the department, the 1st year of AMR took place in 2019 at DPST, BIT Mesra. This session witnessed diversified lectures by Prof. Sanjib Bhakta to enhance the quality of research and possibly sensitize the community.
Incentivized by the outcomes of the 1st edition of AMR, the 2nd edition was ineluctably planned. Due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2nd edition was conducted in a virtual mode in the year 2021.
Fortunately, after an extended period, the 3rd edition of AMR was live and scheduled on 8th August 2022, at DPST, BIT Mesra. The “One-day seminar-cum-workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance, AMR-2022” involved a day summit of talks, activities, and workshops in hybrid mode (online+offline). Registrations for the event were welcomed from across the globe, and participants from various institutions have joined the event online and offline.
It is also noteworthy to mention the names of the members of the organizing committee whose efforts brought success to this event: Patron Prof. Indranil Manna Vice-Chancellor BIT Mesra, Chairperson Prof. Swastika Ganguly Head Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology BIT Mesra, convener Prof Venkatesan Jayaprakash, co-convener Dr. Animesh Ghosh, and coordinator Dr. Biswatrish Sarkar.
The Department looks forward to organizing such events in the future to benefit inquisitive minds and the scientific community as a whole.