About the Fleming Fund

The Fleming Fund was named after Sir Alexander Fleming, with the aim of supporting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for a healthier world.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global crisis. The AMR Review by Lord Jim O'Neill in 2015, estimated that by 2050 10 million deaths per year would be caused by resistance to antimicrobials. Of these deaths, over 90% will occur in Africa and Asia. Expensive treatments, poor hygiene and sanitation systems in LMICs contribute to the spread of disease. However, despite the threat AMR poses to global health, we do not know much about its geographic distribution.

The programmes supported by the Fleming Fund aim to improve AMR surveillance, raise public awareness and promote responsible use of antibiotics. The goal is to get AMR-relevant data into the hands of decision makers to inform policies and practises that optimise antimicrobial drug use.

Phase 1 of the Fleming Fund ran from 2018 until 2022, and Phase 2 activities were inititated in 2023. Activities were focused in four global regions - Southern and Eastern Africa, West Africa, South East Asia and South Asia.

A key aspect of all the programmes was the "One Health" approach taken to combat antimicrobial resistance. This approach leads to development of shared visions and goals for people, terrestrial and aquatic animals, plants and crops, and the environment.

Fleming Fund Grants and Funding

Country Grants

Country Grants were awarded for a period of 12-24 months and varied from country to country based on the identified priorities and needs of each country.

Grantees worked with national governments to improve AMR surveillance and One Health laboratory capacity.

Regional Grants

Regional Grants were awarded for a period of 18-24 months. Grantees identified and analysed historical AMR data to help establish baselines and provide evidence for policy decisions and increase the impact of the Country and Fellowship Grants through regional initiatives.

Fellowships

The Fleming Fund provided funding to support short-term fellowships for researchers and technical policy makers. Six countries from each of the four global regions participated in this programme.

Over the two phases of the Fleming Fund, up to 20 fellows were selected in each country work with mentors at an academic host institution to complete a 12-24 month fellowship. The programme galvanised cohorts of fellows who now form a global network of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) experts and advocates for action in their own countries.

Fellowships in Phase 1

Professional Cohort 1: These fellowships focus on using AMR/AMU and AMC data to improve data analysis and interpretation and strengthen One Health collaboration through mentoring, technical training and participation in collaborative projects.

Professional Cohort 2: Fellowships support learning in aquaculture, bioinformatics, clinical practise, health informatics, medical technology, and AMR/AMU and AMC surveillance.

Policy Fellows: Policy Fellowships are designed to strengthen national leadership in evidence-based policy development, advocacy and One Health collaboration.

University of Edinburgh fellowships

Phase 1 of the Fleming Fund 2019-2023

In Phase 1 of the Fleming Fund, the University of Edinburgh was selected as Host Institution for Fleming Fund Fellows of Professional Cohorts 1 and 2 in Uganda, Professional Cohort 1 in Malawi, and Policy Fellows in Malawi and Kenya. In total we supported 19 fellows between 2019 and 2023.

The work at the University of Edinburgh was led by Prof Ross Fitzgerald (Director of Edinburgh Infectious Diseases at the Roslin Institute), with Dr Adrian Muwonge (Chancellors Fellow at Roslin Institute) as Co-Director. The programme brought together colleagues from across the University (including the School of Social and Political Science, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the Centre for Cardiovascular Science, the Usher Institute, and the Global Health Academy) to mentor the fellows.

The fellows worked with their academic mentors to build in-country capacity for collection and analysis of high quality AMU and AMR surveillance data, to inform evidence-based policy making that supports AMR National Action Plans.

Their work has been used to convince key decision makers of the need to take action against AMR, optimise the use of antimicrobial drugs, promote sustainable investment at national and global levels and contribute to a strong and resilient health system.can be used to guide policy development and implementation.

Phase 2 of the Fleming Fund 2023-2025

Phase 2 of the Fleming Fund got underway in 2023, under the co-direction of Prof Till Bachmann (AMR Strategy Lead for Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, and Director of the Edinburgh AMR Forum) and Dr Adrian Muwonge (Roslin Institute), supported by Dr Stella Mazeri (Roslin Institute) as deputy director.

The University of Edinburgh programmes ran in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi and Zambia from May 2024.