On 9 November 2017, the Round Table on Antibiotics launched an appeal to the Federal Council to establish a dialogue in Switzerland between all partners involved in antibiotic research (academic research, economics, small and medium-sized enterprises, pharmaceutical industry, etc.). This dialogue should aim at defining, developing and implementing an innovative financing model for the research, development and marketing of new antibiotics that are financially accessible to all.

The text of the call of November 9, 2017 can be seen under "Publications"

With the purpose of raising awareness of antibiotic resistance and improving the prudent use of antimicrobials, WHO (World Health Organisation) is organising a World Antibiotic Awareness Week since 2015. This year the event will be held from November 13 to 19. For the first time, Switzerland will actively participate to this week. Indeed, the crisis of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is such that an increasing number of infections is becoming difficult to treat, or even impossible. WHO is deeply concerned with this issue and is stimulating its state members to organise campaigns at the national level. Switzerland has already reacted to the antibiotic resistance issue by promoting a National Research Programme of 20 millions CHF(NRP 72) as well as a national Strategy on antibiotic resistance (StAR).

Additional information: StAR NRP72

FEMS 2017, the 7th congress of FEMS (Federation of European Microbiological Societies) will be hosted by the Spanish Society for Microbiology (SEM). More than 2’000 participants from all over the world are expected in Valencia from July 9 to 13 to attend this event, which is offering 6 plenary lectures, 32 symposia, 24 workshops, poster discussion sessions, and several special events such as how to publish a paper, or from research to start-up creation, or education. All the domains of microbiology will be considered, including basic and applied research, environment and medical microbiology, microbial cell structure, genetics, antimicrobial resistance, mycology, virology, food microbiology, bioremediation, climate changes, etc..

Additional information: FEMS 2017