DRAIGON is at the forefront of developing creative solutions to fight AMR

With the threat of multi-drug-resistant pathogens on the rise, DRAIGON is at the forefront of developing creative solutions to this pressing issue, making its contributions more important than ever. The DRAIGON project is a key initiative in the global battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

November 2024

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) commemorated every year from 18 to 24th November, serves as a reminder that the fight against AMR is far from over. AMR poses one of the most urgent public health threats today as microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are evolving resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Common infections become more challenging to treat as a result of this resistance, which raises hospital stays, medical expenses, and fatality rates.

The theme for World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.” This year’s theme aims to encourage the global community to educate stakeholders about AMR, push for bold commitments, and implement tangible measures to combat it. The 2024 UNGA High-level Meeting on AMR and the fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, for instance, provide a critical window of opportunity for political and financial commitments as well as increased accountability in response to AMR. We urgently need stronger political leadership, advocacy and accountability are needed at all levels and the time to act is now.

As part of the DRAIGON project’s communication efforts, we are focusing on advocacy, education, and awareness campaigns related to AMR. These initiatives are closely aligned with the objectives of WAAW, which highlights the urgent need to address this growing global health threat.

The DRAIGON project aims to create an innovative in vitro diagnostic device (IVD) by combining artificial intelligence (AI) and genomic sequencing. This diagnostic tool will be designed to predict antimicrobial resistance in real-time, enabling healthcare providers to select the most effective treatments for patients infected with resistant pathogens. The ability to quickly and accurately diagnose resistance pathogens is crucial in improving patient outcomes and slowing the spread of AMR.

The DRAIGON initiative is not only ground-breaking but also essential in the current AMR-raising environment. The project addresses the urgent need for faster, more precise diagnostics in the fight against AMR. Traditional methods of detecting resistance can be slow, time-consuming, and sometimes ineffective, resulting in inappropriate antibiotic use and exacerbating resistance. DRAIGON’s AI-driven approach offers a solution that not only enhances diagnostic speed but also accuracy, ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right time.

A global consortium of leading research institutions that include European Vaccine Initiative (EVI), the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), CAMTECH, Ortopadisches Spital Speising Gmbh (OSS), Health-Ecore, Isala, The Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Sandoz, and Spitali Universitar Shefqet Ndroqi (UHSN), DRAIGON is set to make a significant impact.

Through the DRAIGON project, the Consortium is committed to raising awareness and pushing for strong, effective action to tackle this growing crisis. The time to act is now.

For more information visit our project page: https://www.draigon.eu/

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PROJECT COORDINATOR

European Vaccine Initiative (EVI)                   

CONTACT

Adriana Vives

European Vaccine Initiative (EVI) - Project Manager

Email: adriana.vives@euvaccine.eu

PROJECT COORDINATOR

The European Vaccine Initiative (EVI) (Germany)