Malta Joins Europe’s United Front Against Antimicrobial Resistance
Xjenza Malta has been instrumental in enabling Maltese participation in international research collaborations tackling global challenges. One such challenge is surely antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the ability of microbes to withstand antimicrobial treatments – a growing threat that risks undermining decades of progress in medicine and public health. A 2023 OECD analysis estimates over 79,000 deaths per year across 34 OECD and EU/EEA countries are attributable to AMR, more than twice the combined toll of tuberculosis, influenza, and HIV/AIDS in 2020.
Xjenza Malta is proud to be a partner in the newly launched European Partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance (EUP OHAMR), a major EU-supported initiative that brings together 53 organisations across 30 countries to address the global health threat posed by AMR. Through this partnership, Xjenza Malta will fund Maltese researchers and innovators to participate in transnational research projects aimed at developing new and effective strategies to combat AMR, reinforcing the country’s commitment to advancing public health through science-driven policy and collaboration.
This aligns directly with the core objective of the EUP OHAMR Partnership, to coordinate and strengthen European and global research efforts under the One Health framework, integrating human, animal, agrifood and environmental health for sustainable, evidence-based solutions.
Researchers in Malta will be able to submit proposals requesting up to € 500,000 in funding from Xjenza Malta to join international, cross-sectoral research consortia. The first Joint Transnational Call, launching in mid-November, will focus on “Treatments and adherence to treatment protocols”. Projects may develop new combination treatments to extend antimicrobial efficacy, develop innovative tools to improve adherence to treatment protocols, or assess how veterinary and agricultural antimicrobial use contributes to resistance.
To mark this important milestone, Xjenza Malta is organising a national launch event on 27 November at 16:30 at the Esplora Planetarium Hall in Kalkara. The event will bring together researchers, innovators, policymakers, and key stakeholders active in the One Health AMR field to learn more about the EUP OHAMR initiative, explore the opportunities it offers, and exchange insights on national and international efforts to tackle AMR.
All stakeholders are invited to register for the event by 20 November 2025. Further information is available on the Xjenza Malta website or by contacting the Internationalisation Unit at [email protected].
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