Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time. It arises when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve mechanisms to resist the effects of drugs that once eliminated them. As a result, infections become harder to treat, increasing the risk of severe illness, prolonged hospital stays, and death.
At the Basing Lab, we take a One Health approach to AMR—recognizing the complex interplay between human, animal, and environmental health in the emergence and spread of resistance. AMR is not confined to clinical settings. It is driven by antimicrobial use and misuse in medicine, agriculture, and even environmental contamination.
Our research focuses on:
- Investigating environmental reservoirs of resistant microbes and resistance genes in wastewater systems, surface water, and community water sources
- Characterizing resistance mechanisms, including β-lactamase-producing bacteria from human and animal samples
- Developing molecular diagnostics and point-of-care tools for rapid detection of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens
- Exploring genomic surveillance to track transmission pathways across sectors
Through this integrated lens, our goal is to generate evidence and tools that support AMR monitoring, containment, and policy, particularly in low-resource settings where diagnostic infrastructure and surveillance systems are often limited.
This work contributes to the global effort to slow the spread of AMR and supports sustainable health systems through cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation.