An international team of scientists has developed an AI tool to aid in formulating national policies to combat antimicrobial resistance. This breakthrough technology bridges critical knowledge gaps, particularly benefiting countries with limited resources.
An AI breakthrough is set to revolutionize the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). An international team of researchers — co-led by Yong-Guan Zhu, a professor of environmental biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and David Graham, a research professor in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University — has developed a cutting-edge AI tool named AMR-Policy GPT.
This innovation, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, is designed to bridge critical gaps in knowledge and support the creation of National Action Plans (NAPs) to address AMR, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries with limited resources.
AMR occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, evolve and become resistant to antibiotic medications, making it harder to treat infections like HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. This phenomenon poses a significant threat globally, increasing the risk of severe illness, the spread of diseases and death.
Recognizing its urgency, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a Global Action Plan in 2015, urging 194 member states to develop country-specific One Health AMR National Action Plans that consider the interconnected health of people, animals and the environment.
However, many countries face challenges in implementing these plans due to inadequate logistics, funding and access to essential information.
The AI tool developed by Zhu, Graham and their team seeks to address these challenges by providing an intelligent, contextually relevant information source that aids policymakers in developing effective AMR strategies.
“We believe our prototype is a valuable starting point for National Action Plans, especially for parts of the world that lack local data or infrastructure to support integrated action against AMR,” Graham said in a news release.
The AMR-Policy GPT tool draws from AMR-related policy documents from 146 countries and functions similarly to established AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT.
However, it offers a more targeted approach, ensuring up-to-date and accurate information on AMR. This makes it an indispensable resource for policymakers, particularly in regions where data and infrastructure are scarce.
Graham emphasized the holistic approach needed to address global health issues, adding: “Any solutions to do with global health need to be viewed holistically and our tool will help guide AMR policy development by increasing knowledge-sharing across countries worldwide, especially related to the environmental spread of AMR.”
The researchers stress that the tool is designed to support and inform policy development rather than generate comprehensive NAPs independently. Looking to the future, the team plans to improve and expand AMR-Policy GPT based on user feedback and aims to integrate additional scientific knowledge with policy information.
Zhu highlighted AI’s critical role in managing AMR.
“Given the enormous and growing volume of information on AMR and its possible influence on policy, we think that AI is an excellent tool for knowledge integration and also for the initial distillation of understanding,” he said in the news release.
Developed with contributions from researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, this AI tool is a significant step forward in the global effort to combat AMR. It exemplifies how advanced technology can be harnessed to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.