Roundtable Discussion & Networking Event | World AMR Awareness Week 2026

Already a major medical and global health concern, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) jeopardizes the future of medicine and the sustainability of healthcare systems. By diminishing the efficacy of anti-infective drugs, particularly antibiotics, this growing challenge affects not only the treatment of infectious diseases but also many other areas of medicine, including surgery and cancer therapy, where effective antibiotics are indispensable.

New biomedical approaches and scientific breakthroughs are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are exploring promising new ways to tackle drug-resistant infections. Yet this excellent science alone is not enough to bring these innovations to patients - struggles with limited industry investment and insufficient financial incentives, severe clinical and translational challenges, still are proving difficult hurdles to overcome.

This event will highlight ongoing research and discuss how we can safeguard effective antimicrobial therapies for future generations. Experts from the University of Vienna offer insights into their current work across biomedical and social sciences and jointly reflect on the prospects and challenges involved in developing novel approaches to tackle drug-resistant infections.

What new treatment approaches are being developed to tackle antibiotic resistance? Which innovations offer the greatest promise? And what does it take to bring innovative biomedical approaches to patients?

The roundtable will be followed by an informal get-together over wine and cheese, offering a chance to further discuss AMR and connect students and researchers from different disciplines and institutions across Vienna.

Panelists:

• Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Böttcher, Faculty of Chemistry & Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems, University of Vienna
• Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lea Ann Dailey, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Vienna
• Ass.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Christian Haddad, Department of Science & Technology Studies & Department of Sociology, University of Vienna

The event is organised and supported by:

Health in Society Research Network, University of Vienna, and ERC Starting Grant ALTERBIOTIC project, University of Vienna