Antimicrobial resistance is a global public-health threat, but Cambridge is also one of the places where research, diagnostics and hospital stewardship meet in practical ways.
Resistance develops when microbes evolve in ways that make treatments less effective. In bacteria, antibiotic exposure can create selective pressure that allows resistant strains to survive and spread. The problem is therefore not simply about developing new drugs; it also involves surveillance, diagnostics, infection control and careful use of the treatments already available.
Cambridge research spans several disciplines
The University of Cambridge’s antimicrobial resistance network brings together researchers from biology, medicine, veterinary science, engineering and other fields. Current work includes genomics, pathogen evolution, drug discovery and strategies to reduce the emergence and spread of resistance.
In January 2026, Cambridge researchers joined an international antibiotic-discovery consortium backed by $60 million in funding from the Gates Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation and Wellcome. The programme focuses on new approaches to difficult Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Diagnostics and stewardship at Addenbrooke’s
At Cambridge University Hospitals, the Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory performs antimicrobial susceptibility testing as well as molecular diagnostics. Clinical microbiology teams work with infection-control staff and specialist antimicrobial pharmacists on treatment guidance and stewardship.
Antimicrobial stewardship means using antibiotics appropriately: choosing treatment based on the likely or confirmed infection, reviewing therapy as more information becomes available and avoiding unnecessary use. It does not mean withholding antibiotics when they are clinically needed.
Why surveillance matters
Resistance patterns change over time and vary by organism, treatment and setting. That makes laboratory surveillance essential. Genomic methods can also help researchers track how resistant strains and resistance genes move through populations.
Cambridge researchers have highlighted the importance of genomic surveillance in identifying emerging threats before they become harder to control. This is especially relevant for infections where resistance can spread both through the movement of resistant bacteria and through genetic material moving between bacteria.
No single solution
New antibiotics remain important, but the problem cannot be solved by drug discovery alone. Infection prevention, vaccination where applicable, rapid diagnostics, responsible prescribing and research into how resistance develops all contribute to preserving effective treatment.
For Cambridge, the significance lies in the concentration of university research, hospital microbiology and biomedical infrastructure within the same local ecosystem. The challenge is global, but the work to understand and manage it is also happening in laboratories and clinical services across the city.