Where science meets defence: confronting antimicrobial resistance at Porton Down

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down in Salisbury to see first-hand how the UK’s defence and scientific communities are working together to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Alongside All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on AMR Secretary Dr Danny Chambers MP and Treasurer Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, I welcomed the chance to better understand how defence science can strengthen the UK’s resilience to resistant infections, particularly those emerging from conflict-related wounds and environments.

Our visit was on the invitation of Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, following engagement I had with him on the links between AMR and global security. The APPG on AMR has been examining how AMR is developing in conflict zones and how this creates risks that extend far beyond the battlefield. At Porton Down we saw how science and defence are coming together to improve surveillance, understand emerging threats and develop practical responses.

As fellow AMR APPG Officer, Dr Danny Chambers MP, outlined in his recent Nature article, conflict creates the perfect conditions for resistant infections to emerge and spread. Heavily contaminated wounds, delayed treatment and overstretched health systems mean bacteria have greater opportunity to develop resistance. In Ukraine, for example, more than 80% of patients in some hospitals have been infected with resistant microbes. These infections do not remain contained within borders. Medical evacuation, repatriation and population displacement all create pathways for resistant organisms to travel beyond borders and reach other healthcare systems, including in the UK.

Since the APPG published its report on AMR and conflict, the global situation has shifted again. Increasing geopolitical instability, including the recent outbreak of conflict involving Iran, underlines how quickly the security landscape can change. As the UK continues to review its national security priorities and defence readiness, it is clear that AMR must be recognised not only as a public health challenge but also as a strategic security issue.

Encouragingly, we are beginning to see progress. The Government’s announcement earlier this year of up to £1.5 million to support innovation in conflict wound care is a positive step, and we understand this call has generated unprecedented interest from researchers and innovators. That level of demand shows the UK has the expertise and ideas needed to lead globally on this issue. The challenge now is to build on this momentum and ensure AMR is firmly embedded in national security planning, while continuing to invest in the science and partnerships needed to tackle this growing threat.

Dr Beccy Cooper MP

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Antimicrobial Resistance and MP for Worthing West. You can find her website here.