A multi-drug resistant pathogen reference strain and clinical isolate collection

Concepts

• research and development
• macclesfield
• clinical isolate collection
• clinical isolate collection representative
• clinical isolates
• specific isolates
• new isolates
• isolates
• national reference laboratory data
• target pathogens

Location

MACCLESFIELD

Description

A multi-drug resistant pathogen reference strain and clinical isolate collection representative of pathogens and resistance mechanisms directly aligned to the PACE first funding call that can be used by the provider to generate antimicrobial susceptibility data across PACE-funded projects and that can be made available to PACE awardees for onward project progression. Continued expansion and characterisation of the strain and isolate collection to ensure it remains reflective of contemporary and genomically diverse multi-drug resistant and epidemic lineages of target pathogens (~20-30 strains) across E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and S. aureus. This expanded collection will be made available for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) across PACE-funded projects and the wider AMR community.

Total Quantity or Scope

The UKHSA are well positioned to provide the services required by PACE for PACE portfolio funded projects and the wider AMR community. This will include but not be limited to the following: AST against a well characterised (including phenotypically, whole-genome sequenced with full antibiogram data) set of isolates and strains directly relevant to the PACE funding call, and; AST data delivered according to industry standards, and; Provided in an open-access environment, enabling PACE awardees to directly learn from and access the lab capability provided for onward studies, and; An opportunity to transfer specific isolates to PACE awardee labs for onward studies, and; The isolate bank will be evolved using the latest surveillance and national reference laboratory data on clinical isolates currently circulating nationally and internationally, and; UKHSA AMR labs then enable rapid characterisation of new isolates including full antibiogram and whole genome sequencing, and; A service model that can account for diverse needs of the PACE-funded projects as they arise i.e. variations to SOPs as required and ability to provide rapid surge capacity as and when needed.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

Following the voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice previously published, indicating that Medicines Discovery Catapult, intends to enter into a contract with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for a multi-drug resistant pathogen reference strain and clinical isolate collection without a call to competition in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ((32.2(b) ii), Medicines Discovery Catapult has now entered into the contract with UKHSA. The contract is directly aligned to the PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy) first funding call that can be used by the provider to generate antimicrobial susceptibility data across PACE-funded projects and that can be made available to PACE awardees for onward project progression and will allow continued expansion and characterisation of the strain and isolate collection to ensure it remains reflective of contemporary and genomically diverse multi-drug resistant and epidemic lineages of target pathogens (~20-30 strains) across E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and S. aureus. This expanded collection will be made available for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) across PACE-funded projects and the wider AMR community. The UKHSA maintains unique capabilities and assets that are part of the country's critical national infrastructure to support this aim, this includes; The English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR), which identifies emergence and trends in key resistance-causing pathogens. The AMRHAI (antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections) national reference unit, part of the Bacteriology reference department (BRD) - a national and international laboratory reference centre for a bacterial infections. The isolate bank will be evolved using the latest surveillance and national reference laboratory data on clinical isolates currently circulating nationally and internationally and; UKHSA AMR labs then enable rapid characterisation of new isolates including full antibiogram and whole genome sequencing.