Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable Partnerships

Antimicrobial Resistance is recognized as a major threat to global health security. The WHO Southeast Asia region is dubbed a “global hub for AMR emergence”, as it runs the highest risk for AMR emergence among all WHO regions in Asia. Hence, there is a need for Asia-centric, collaborative AMR resear...

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Main Authors: Pami Shrestha, Shiying He, Helena Legido-Quigley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Antibiotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/6/755
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author Pami Shrestha
Shiying He
Helena Legido-Quigley
author_facet Pami Shrestha
Shiying He
Helena Legido-Quigley
author_sort Pami Shrestha
collection DOAJ
description Antimicrobial Resistance is recognized as a major threat to global health security. The WHO Southeast Asia region is dubbed a “global hub for AMR emergence”, as it runs the highest risk for AMR emergence among all WHO regions in Asia. Hence, there is a need for Asia-centric, collaborative AMR research aligned with the true needs and priorities of the region. This study aimed to identify and understand the challenges and opportunities for such collaborative endeavors to enhance equitable partnerships. This qualitative study adopted an interpretative approach involving a thematic analysis of 15 semi-structured interviews with AMR experts conducting research in the region. The study identified several factors influencing research collaborations, such as the multi-dimensional nature of AMR, limited or lack of funds, different AMR research priorities in Asian countries, absence of Asia-centric AMR leadership, lack of trust and, unequal power relationships between researchers, and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in research collaborations. It also identified some opportunities, such as the willingness of researchers to collaborate, the formation of a few networks, and the prioritization by many academics of the One Health paradigm for framing AMR research. Participants reported that the initiation of stronger cross-discipline and cross-country networks, the development of Asia-centric AMR leadership, flexible research agendas with shared priorities, transparent and transferable funds, and support to enhance research capacity in LMICs could assist in developing more equitable collaborative research in Asia.
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spelling doaj.art-faf1dde1de4e41a1af06cb113d2ab7212023-11-23T15:16:43ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822022-06-0111675510.3390/antibiotics11060755Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable PartnershipsPami Shrestha0Shiying He1Helena Legido-Quigley2Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, SingaporeSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, SingaporeSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, SingaporeAntimicrobial Resistance is recognized as a major threat to global health security. The WHO Southeast Asia region is dubbed a “global hub for AMR emergence”, as it runs the highest risk for AMR emergence among all WHO regions in Asia. Hence, there is a need for Asia-centric, collaborative AMR research aligned with the true needs and priorities of the region. This study aimed to identify and understand the challenges and opportunities for such collaborative endeavors to enhance equitable partnerships. This qualitative study adopted an interpretative approach involving a thematic analysis of 15 semi-structured interviews with AMR experts conducting research in the region. The study identified several factors influencing research collaborations, such as the multi-dimensional nature of AMR, limited or lack of funds, different AMR research priorities in Asian countries, absence of Asia-centric AMR leadership, lack of trust and, unequal power relationships between researchers, and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in research collaborations. It also identified some opportunities, such as the willingness of researchers to collaborate, the formation of a few networks, and the prioritization by many academics of the One Health paradigm for framing AMR research. Participants reported that the initiation of stronger cross-discipline and cross-country networks, the development of Asia-centric AMR leadership, flexible research agendas with shared priorities, transparent and transferable funds, and support to enhance research capacity in LMICs could assist in developing more equitable collaborative research in Asia.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/6/755antimicrobial resistanceAMR researchcollaborative researchequal partnershipspower relationsAsia
spellingShingle Pami Shrestha
Shiying He
Helena Legido-Quigley
Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable Partnerships
Antibiotics
antimicrobial resistance
AMR research
collaborative research
equal partnerships
power relations
Asia
title Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable Partnerships
title_full Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable Partnerships
title_fullStr Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable Partnerships
title_full_unstemmed Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable Partnerships
title_short Antimicrobial Resistance Research Collaborations in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities to Equitable Partnerships
title_sort antimicrobial resistance research collaborations in asia challenges and opportunities to equitable partnerships
topic antimicrobial resistance
AMR research
collaborative research
equal partnerships
power relations
Asia
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/6/755
work_keys_str_mv AT pamishrestha antimicrobialresistanceresearchcollaborationsinasiachallengesandopportunitiestoequitablepartnerships
AT shiyinghe antimicrobialresistanceresearchcollaborationsinasiachallengesandopportunitiestoequitablepartnerships
AT helenalegidoquigley antimicrobialresistanceresearchcollaborationsinasiachallengesandopportunitiestoequitablepartnerships