Prof. Shivoga, Prof. Orata and Dr. Sifuna who are members of the project research teamResearchers from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and their international collaborators have secured a £2,831,047.93 grant to support a pioneering research initiative focused on combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across East and Southern Africa. The award was made under the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Groups Call 5, recognising the strategic importance of addressing AMR as a growing public health threat.
The project, Africa AMR-STOP: Strategies for Tackling, Optimizing, and Preventing Environmental Antimicrobial Resistance in East and Southern Africa, brings together a consortium of 20 researchers from academic and health institutions across the region and the United Kingdom. Lead figures include MMUST’s Professors William Shivoga, Francis Orata, and Dr. Anthony Sifuna, who co-developed the initiative with partners including Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), University of Pretoria (South Africa), Busitema University (Uganda), Makerere University (Uganda), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referral Hospital, and KIWASCO (Kenya).
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to kill them, posing a major threat to global health, food security, and development. The issue is especially acute in low- and middle-income countries, where environmental pathways, health systems gaps and limited surveillance capacity contribute to the spread of resistant organisms.
The Africa AMR-STOP project emphasises environmental drivers of antimicrobial resistance, including the role of water systems, waste streams and community health factors that facilitate the spread of resistance genes. By integrating environmental, clinical, and social science expertise, the consortium aims to generate evidence that can guide policy, surveillance and practical interventions across multiple sectors.
“We are addressing AMR as a complex, interconnected challenge that spans health, environment and policy,” said Prof. William Shivoga, Lead Co-Principal Investigator. “This funding provides a rare opportunity to build research capacity across borders and to train early-career scientists from the region in cutting-edge methodologies.”
As part of the project’s commitments, the team plans to recruit and train early-career researchers, including two postdoctoral fellows and six PhD candidates, enhancing the next generation’s ability to tackle AMR through interdisciplinary approaches that combine microbiology, ecology, data science, public health and policy analysis.
Antimicrobial resistance is recognised globally as a top health priority, with organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners calling for coordinated action that combines surveillance, stewardship and innovation. The Africa AMR-STOP project aligns with this global agenda by focusing on evidence-based strategies tailored to regional realities, such as high environmental exposure to antibiotics and gaps in waste management systems that can foster resistant strains.
The consortium’s UK-Africa partnership builds on earlier efforts by MMUST and collaborators to launch a transnational research consortium addressing AMR in the Lake Victoria Basin region, reinforcing stewardship, surveillance and community engagement as pillars of the research design.
The new funding will support field studies, laboratory analyses, and community-based surveillance designed to map resistance patterns in humans, animals and environmental samples. Findings are expected to inform national AMR action plans, enhance laboratory networks, and strengthen partnerships between public health authorities and research institutions.
“This ambitious project reflects the urgent need for locally driven research that can translate into actionable policy and practical interventions,” said one consortium member. “By strengthening scientific capacity and deepening international collaboration, we aim to make real progress against a problem that threatens lives and livelihoods across Africa.”
The Africa AMR-STOP initiative represents an important step in repositioning African research institutions as leaders in generating evidence and solutions for critical public health challenges, contributing to regional resilience against one of the 21st century’s most pressing health threats.
Photo courtesy / MMUST website
Article by Jed Mwangi
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