C-CAMP hosts India AMR innovation workshop to tackle antimicrobial resistance

Bengaluru: The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), under the India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH), conducted the India AMR Innovation Workshop at its Bengaluru campus, bringing together over 50 stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and public health sectors.

The workshop aimed to address the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and explore coordinated actions under the One Health approach.

According to WHO, AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.

As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.

It is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019.

The event featured innovations supported by C-CAMP and IAIH. Key technologies presented included portable PCR devices, air sterilisation systems, and paper-based lateral flow tests. Innovators engaged directly with attendees, receiving inputs and potential collaboration opportunities.

A key focus was the roadmapping session toward strengthening India’s National Action Plan 2.0 (NAP 2.0) on AMR. Stakeholders discussed actionable steps within the One Health framework, which considers the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health. The session highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors to implement effective AMR interventions.

During the workshop, the One Health AMR Challenge 2025 was launched with support from the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS).

The challenge aims to identify and support innovations addressing AMR across the One Health spectrum. Selected technologies will receive funding between Rs 40 lakhs to Rs 2 crores, along with technical and regulatory assistance.

Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO of C-CAMP, emphasised the platform’s role in bringing together national stakeholders. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, highlighted the relevance of such platforms in shaping India's AMR strategy. Ekroop Caur, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka, noted the state's inclusion of AMR in its biotech policy, saying AMR is not just a public health crisis it poses a significant threat to economic development and societal growth at large. Our recently unveiled Biotech Policy identifies AMR as a key focus area for intervention.