Project goals
The primary goal of OH-AMR-Diag is to develop a proof of concept decision-making diagnostic system for rapid, accurate, sensitive, and on-site (< 1 hour for a rapid response and <5 hours for a detailed analysis) detection of bacterial infection, pathogen ID, characterization of its resistance profile and prediction of antibiotic susceptibility from a One-Health perspective.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): A Global Health Problem
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical issue worldwide, threatening human and animal health. Incorrect use of antibiotics causes 1.3 - 5 million deaths annually worldwide and leads to more resistance to antibiotics. If uncontrolled, AMR is projected to cause 10 million deaths and increase annual healthcare costs by more than $1 trillion by 2050.
Today, it takes several days to grow a bacterial culture to diagnose the infection, which is necessary to prescribe the correct antibiotic. If a patient is seriously ill, there is no time to wait, and treatment must be started immediately, often with an incorrect antibiotic. AMR is still a limited problem in Norway. However, vigilance and increased awareness are needed to avoid the deterioration of this relatively favorable situation to ensure that antibiotics remain effective for treating life-threatening infections.
Project Outcomes and Impact
OH-AMR-Diag aims to reduce the time of detection of bacterial infection and AMR from 2 - 4 days to 1 - 5 hours. This is a giant leap to handle and prevent the development of AMR, which can potentially save millions of human and animal lives in the long run.
The OH-AMR-Diag project will develop knowledge about measures that will contribute to understanding, managing, and preventing the development of AMR across public health, animal health, and the environment. Specifically, this project will develop rapid diagnostics for use in humans and animals, contributing to the reduced and precise use of antibiotics.
Photo: Illustration: Rafi Ahmad
OH-AMR-Diag achievements will target several UN sustainable development goals:
- Goal 2 – Zero hunger
- Goal 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
- Goal 4 - Quality Education
- Goal 9 - Industry Innovation & Infrastructure
- Goal 12 - Responsible Consumption & Production
- Goal 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
The OH-AMR-Diag project will address current societal and industry-related challenges through collaboration with businesses, research institutions, hospitals, citizen groups, and not-for-profit organizations in Norway, and internationally, promoting global public health.
Project News
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Good workshop in Tromsø Dec. 12, 2024 2:53 PM
The third workshop for our HKFIR-funded project, AMR-Educate, took place in the picturesque city of Tromsø, hosted by The Arctic University of Norway (UiT).
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Kick-off meeting June 23, 2024 11:19 AM
On June 7th, the OH-AMR Diag project, led by Prof. Rafi Ahmad at Inland Norway University, had a kick-off meeting.
Project calendar
- Kick-off Meeting: 7th June 2024, Hamar
- Project Workshop: 20 August 2025, Hamar
Contact persons
- rafi.ahmad@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 51 78 45
- bjornronny.vien@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 43 05 03
