Bacterial pathogens are rapidly becoming resistant to almost all antibiotics (Nature 495, 141; 2013). To make matters worse, the drug-discovery pipeline of new antimicrobials is almost empty (M. S. Butler and M. A. Cooper Curr. Drug Targets 13, 373–387; 2012). The major funding bodies therefore need to give top priority to research into antibiotic discovery and resistance.
In a snapshot survey last month of the websites of 11 of the world's largest medical and scientific research-funding agencies (in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia), I found none that allocated substantial grant money to antibiotic discovery or development, or to research on antibiotic resistance.
The funding agencies I have surveyed might argue that properly constructed applications all receive a fair hearing, but that is not the same thing. Researchers are generally adept at tailoring their grant proposals to fit funding priorities, particularly when prompted by a large financial carrot.
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Speck, P. Antibiotics: Avert an impending crisis. Nature 496, 169 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/496169a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/496169a
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