Wellcome Trust has provided a grant of S$2.5 million to the National University of Singapore (NUS) to establish the Asian Clinical Research Network (ACRN) to conduct antimicrobial clinical research to develop the most effective ways to treat and prevent life-threatening drug-resistant infections.

This will be the first clinical trial network established in Asia focusing on drug-resistant infections. Other similar networks have been set up in Europe, the United States and Australia and collaborating with these networks is a key long-term goal.

The NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health will be hosting the network and the School will work closely with local partners - namely the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Nanyang Technological University as well as National Centre for Infectious Diseases - to carry out clinical trials related to drug-resistant infections.

Each institution has committed S$500,000 towards establishing and supporting the work of the ACRN, bringing the total funding for this network to S$5 million. The Singapore Clinical Research Institute will also be involved in implementing this network.

Currently, at least 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant infections. Establishing the ACRN will help to improve and strengthen clinical research capabilities in the region, to successfully and efficiently deliver interventions for drug-resistant infections. Importantly, the network will improve access to clinically relevant and vulnerable populations, ensuring that treatments reach those most in need.