Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global growing threat. Only through closer collaboration across all regions of the world can we hope to overcome it. This year’s World AMR Congress (WAMR), held on September 5th-6th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, provided an ideal platform for advancing this mission. Its timing complements other AMR conferences, typically held in the spring, enabling continuous dialogue and action throughout the year. By rotating venues and seasons, these events ensure ongoing discussions that engage a wider, more diverse global audience.

Successful panel discussion: short, concise, and interactive

I was thrilled to have  had the possibility to chair the panel discussion on funding, which proved to be both an honor and a pleasure. The panel featured a distinguished group of experts, including Clive Mason – Programme Director AMR at LifeArc and PACE; Axel Moreland – CEO of Xiretsa, an INCATE Stage II venture; Doug Witt – CEO of Unison Medicines, an INCATE Stage I venture; Mark Engel – Chairman at Precision Biotix, who recently acquired CC Bio, an INCATE Stage I venture).  Their insightful and concise responses kept the audience thoroughly engaged throughout the session.
This format was ideal, as it not only ensured clarity, but also encouraged meaningful participation. Attendees valued the chance to ask questions and contribute, while the panelists encouraged an interactive, dynamic discussion.

Networking and personal interactions

In addition to the formal sessions, the congress also provided plenty of space for personal discussions and networking. The plethora of informal interactions allowed participants to get deeper into desired topics and foster future collaborations, making the event a productive experience for everyone who attended.

Integration with the Disease Prevention and Control Summit America

An interesting aspect of this year’s WARM was its co-location with the Disease Prevention and Control Summit America. This fusion of expertise proved beneficial, sparking creative approaches to tackling infectious diseases and AMR together.

Great place to be with opportunities for improvement

Altogether, the WAMR Congress in Philadelphia was a very productive and engaging event, as it provided the perfect spot for panel discussions and networking opportunities. However, to maintain the momentum, future editions may want to invest on increasing the visibility of scientific contributions. We firmly believe that allowing an increased number of poster presentations would further enrich the scientific discourse at future conferences.
With transatlantic collaboration at its heart, the WAMR proved it continues to serve as a vital platform in the global fight against AMR.

A post by Peter Seiler from the INCATE Management Team