A US national prize competition calling for innovative ideas for diagnostic tests to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has launched today. The prize is specifically looking for rapid, point-of-care laboratory diagnostic tests to combat the development and spread of drug resistant bacteria, a rising public health threat.
The Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostic Challenge will award $20 million in prizes over all phases of the competition for new, innovative and novel laboratory diagnostic tests. The diagnostic tests being sought are those that identify and characterize antibiotic resistant bacteria and those that distinguish between viral and bacterial infections to reduce unnecessary uses of antibiotics, which is a major cause of drug resistance. The prize is sponsored by two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services components, the National Institutes of Health and the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in support of the US National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.
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