Engagement Activities: August - September 2025

Throughout the months of August and September 2025, Beyond Antibiotics research team members were involved in the following notable activities in an effort to share the results of our research towards addressing the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

• Prof Jennifer Rohn was featured on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme where she discussed the MHRA approval for gepotidacin, the first-in-class new antibiotic for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI). Bacteria require two separate mutations to become resistant to this new antibiotic, which makes it a useful addition to antibiotics available to treat UTI. Clips from Prof Rohn’s interview appeared across social media channels, including X.
• Consultant Urologist and doctoral student, Bob Yang, delivered a workshop titled, “Combating Recurrent UTIs: Latest Developments in Embedded Infections and UTI Vaccines” at the ICS-EUS 2025 conference in Abu Dhabi. The session reviewed the science behind intracellular bacterial reservoirs and explored the clinical evidence and applications of the UTI vaccine called Uromune. Ideas for future uses of UTI vaccines were explored. The workshop was attended by 30 clinicians and urologists.
• Prof Eleanor Stride appeared on the BBC “The Documentary’” podcast’s episode titled, “The Engineers: exploring the human”. Prof Stride described her work using drug-loaded microbubbles and activating them at specific target sites. This work has applications for treating bacteria in biofilms, which are often involved in antimicrobial resistance, and cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. Through this targeted activation, effectiveness can be improved while minimising side effects for the rest of the body.   
  • The Engineers - Exploring the Human - BBC iPlayer – TV Version (25 mins)
  • The Documentary Podcast - The Engineers: Exploring the human - BBC Sounds – Radio Version (50 mins)