TRAINAU · Training Risk Assessment in Non-human Antimicrobial Usage

Final Activity Report Summary - TRAINAU (Training Risk Assessment in Non-human Antimicrobial Usage)

The aim of the TRAINAU project was to develop an Early-stage research training (EST) site on the identification, characterisation and assessment of public health risks associated with non-human antimicrobial usage, i.e. antimicrobial usage in animals as well as environmental contamination with antimicrobials due to aquaculture or disposal of animal manure or other organic waste containing antimicrobial residues or resistant bacteria. In order to obtain this purpose, a group of early stage researchers with different backgrounds was enrolled and provided with the scientific and technological competences needed to perform high level research and obtain substantial progress in the field. The interrelated groups forming the TRAINAU host consortium provided the necessary training experience, scientific expertise, training infrastructures and mentoring and tutoring capacities for the project realisation. The training objectives of the project could be summarised as follows: 1. development of a multidisciplinary training programme in this field; 2. development of analytical models for risk assessment of public health consequences of antimicrobial resistance in relation to non-human antimicrobial usage; 3. training of young scientists to develop, analyse and interpret such analytical models; 4. contribution to coordination in this area; 5. dissemination of state of the art methods for surveillance of antimicrobial usage and antimicrobial resistance; 6. reinforcing the capacity of emerging groups through enhancing the scientific capacities of the visiting EST fellows; 7. creation of a network between the TRAINAU host institutions and the research groups represented by the EST fellows for long-term collaborations. A total of seven long term fellows and two short term fellows were enrolled in the programme. The selection of the applicants was based on a wide geographical distribution, and more than 50 % of the accepted applicants were female. The long term fellows were enrolled in the university PhD programmes. During the project, six of the long term fellows completed their PhD studies and successfully defended their thesis. The seventh fellow was delayed due to long term sick leave, but was finishing the thesis by the time of the project completion and was soon expected to defend her PhD. The scientific results that were obtained in the programme were remarkable and their dissemination led to no less than 29 publications in peer reviewed journals with the fellow as main author and 49 publications in total. The group had several joint publications and, overall, had great professional as well as personal benefits from each other. The fellows established large international networks which were also beneficial for the future collaborations of the TRAINAU host institution. All qualitative indicators of progress and success were fulfilled by the project and future collaboration among the fellows and the host institutions was already realised by the time of the project completion. Furthermore, it could be mentioned that out of the six long term fellows who had already defended their PhD, five had already been employed in their research field.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union