ANTIMICROBIAL RESEARCH CENTRE

Bench to bedside research on antimicrobial agents

Design, synthesis and testing of new antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic agents Identification of novel drug targets by functional genomics Structure-based drug design Clinical and pre-clinical evaluation of drugs in development Fundamental and contract research for both small and multinational corporate clients Escherichia coli undergoing lysis following exposure to a beta-lactam antibiotic

In the so-called "golden age" of antibiotic discovery, between the 1940's and 1960's, many important antibiotics were identified. The subsequent development and clinical use of these antibiotics has produced impressive reductions in the morbidity and mortality associated with bacterial infection. Indeed, the dramatic discoveries in the "golden age" led to the commonly expressed view that antibiotic-based chemotherapy heralded the complete conquest of infectious diseases. Reflecting this optimistic mood, the US Surgeon General, testifying to Congress in 1969, made the following historic statement:

"The time has come to close the book on infectious disease."

Unfortunately, this mood of optimism has not prevailed and the widespread emergence of acquired resistance to antibiotics in bacteria over the last 25 years now constitutes a serious threat to global public health.

The Antimicrobial Research Centre was founded in 1996 in response to the growing problems of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and further unmet medical needs in the therapy of viral, fungal and parasitic infections. Membership of the Centre includes staff from the Faculty of Biological Sciences, and the Schools of Medicine and Chemistry. It is engaged in both fundamental and applied research into all aspects of antimicrobial agents ranging from the design and synthesis of new antimicrobial inhibitors using molecular structure-based approaches to the microbiological evaluation of established antimicrobial agents that are already in clinical use. Work on the molecular basis of bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics is also under way since this may provide rational opportunities to circumvent resistance at the molecular level. The multi-disciplinary activities of the Centre are supported by research grants from a wide variety of sources including the Research Councils, Wellcome Trust and Industry. Through the activity of its members the Antimicrobial Research Centre also supports the training of graduate students in the area of antimicrobial research.

The Antimicrobial Research Centre holds annual research days for its members and the activities of the Centre are guided by a small management team currently comprising:

• Professor Ian Chopra (Director)
• Dr Glen McConkey (Deputy Director)
• Dr Andrew-Taylor Robinson (Deputy Director)
• Professor Simon Baumberg
• Professor Peter Hawkey
• Professor Peter Henderson
• Dr Deirdre Devine

All enquiries regarding the Antimicrobial Research Centre should in the first instance be directed to Professor Ian Chopra.

content updated 29/4/01 by webmaster@bmb.leeds.ac.uk