A YORK charity has launched its first research project as it bids to help avert the ‘catastrophe’ of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic Research UK is spending about £150,000 to fund laboratory work in France, Germany and Manchester to look for ‘antibiotic resistance breakers’ from already existing drugs.

“We intend to test around 1,500 drugs in total,”said charity chief executive Professor Colin Garner. “These are drugs used for any disease condition and will include paracetamol, aspirin, cancer drugs, heart drugs and so forth.

“Results from this first programme will be out towards the end of the year. The testing is all done in test tubes and we hope to find up to 20 drugs that in combination with an antibiotic kill the resistant bacteria. Without the antibiotic resistance breaker, the antibiotic would be ineffective.

“Bacteria we are testing include those responsible for pneumonia, blood infections and importantly urinary tract infections which are on the rise.”

He said the charity was working with local MPs Kevin Hollinrake and Julian Sturdy to raise its profile in government, and it needed help in raising about half a million pounds in the next 12 months. It was also looking for a volunteer secretary / administrator to work for about two days per month, as it could not afford a paid person.

Meanwhile, Sarah Glover, of Birdgate Dental Practice in Pickering, is marking 20 years in her job by cycling 20 miles a day for 20 days to collect as many 20 pence coins as she can for the charity. She said: “Without antibiotics everyone will be affected, either directly or indirectly.”

Prof Garner said it was thanks to such fundraisers that the charity had been able to embark on its first research programme to try to prevent the doomsday scenario of one person in the world dying every three seconds from resistance.

People can support Sarah’s bike ride by emailing sarah@birdgatedental.co.uk.