World AMR Awareness Week 2025: Higlighting some of the work and activities across the network that are addressing antimicrobial resistance. Yak in Khumjung village. Photo credit: Neil Mabbott Understanding antimicrobial resistance in Yak milk microbiomes A team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh travelled to Nepal in June 2025 to join colleagues from Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology (RIBB) on an extensive data collection trek through the Himalayas, as part of a project aiming to understand antimicrobial resistance in Yak milk.Although the project is still in the data gathering stage, there are a number of projected impacts of the project. By analysing samples collected from Yaks living at different altitudes in the mountains, researchers will get a unique insight into the effect of altitude on the composition of the bacterial microbiomes in the milk of bovine species. In addition, they will be able to provide preliminary iinderstanding into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes present in the milk of Nepal’s high altitude bovine species. Finally, researchers aim to provide a list of recommendations to stakeholders to help reduce the potential spread of AMR genes to and within Nepal’s high altitude Yaks. The qualitative data collection during this project revealed so much about the Yak’s cultural significant in this area. Although not the focus of our project we now recognise there are many challenges associated with the management of pure Yak and better understand the reasons for decreasing Yak herds and population sizes in general. This will help us refine our future study plans to ensure we are addressing issues of major concern to this community as well as wider research interests. Dr Jess Mitchell Principal Investigator, Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems Find out more Global Agriculture and Food SystemsThe Roslin InstituteFull article detailing the project IMPACT AMR Network Recently, the network has been hosting a number of seminars, inviting two to three keynote speakers for each event to present their work and to engage with participants to discuss findings, approaches and ways forward. Professor Dominic Moran - Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Edinburgh - is co-director of the IMPACT AMR Network. The IMPACT AMR Network aims to improve the use of evidence to inform prioritisation decisions on the allocation of limited resources to interventions intending to reduce the AMR burden.Recently, the Network have been active in developing the program of the UKRI Impact AMR network. Specifically consulting stakeholder and project partners on the nature of prioritisation approaches to interventions to disrupt AMR. They have also been hosting a series of seminars on the topic with international speakers Find out more IMPACT AMRDominic MoranUKRI overviewLinkedin NextGenAMR NextGenAMR is a student-led network, co-founded by the PhD students Ava Drake (University of Stirling) and Larissa Chicoski (Scotland's Rural College). This network brings together students and early career researchers who are working on or just want to learn more about, antimicrobial resistance. Their aim is to create a space where students can drive conversations, connect across disciplines and institutions, and get involved in public awareness. What NextGenAMR have been doing The network began in August with their first meeting.In September, they ran a webinar titled "Shaping the Future of AMR Together," which gathered their network, members of the public, and panelists from various UK universities. They introduced NextGenAMR at the BBSRC EastBio PhD student cohort induction.In October, they participated in the Stirling Science Festival, offering interactive activities for children and families centered on "From Farm to Pharmacy: Superbugs, Health and You." Currently, the team are working on a short AMR awareness video to be released during World AMR Awareness Week. Find out more NextGenAMR websiteLinkedinFacebookInstagram Publication date 11 Nov, 2025
