Trustee

Imagine a world without antibiotics when even a simple scratch could kill. Imagine feeling anxious that even minor surgery could lead to an untreatable infection. Imagine being worried about picking up any bacterial infection?

Every day in the United Kingdom around 30 people will die from an antibiotic resistant infection with many more having to be given potent antibiotics. In 2019 around 1.5 million  people in England were treated by their doctor for a drug resistant urinary tract infection (UTI). If we do not reverse this trend of increasing antibiotic resistance it has been estimated by 2050, more than 10 million people will die annually around the globe from drug resistant infections.

Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK) is the world’s first charity created to tackle bacterial antibiotic resistance. Formed in mid-2014 by some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical resistance experts, the charity’s mission is to develop new antibiotic therapies, educate the public and professionals about resistance and provide patient support and information. Due to the growth of our charity we are seeking outstanding individuals to join our Board of Trustees.

This is an exciting time for our charity as we build on the success of previous years. In 2018 we completed our first research projects to identify Antibiotic Resistance Breakers. This has resulted in two or three continuation programmes to be put together. In addition, we have raised sufficient funds to employ a Patient Support Officer, our first step in helping patients affected by antibiotic resistance. Earlier this year we sought applications from academia for research grants totalling £200,000 and have awarded seven grants in total. 

The charity has just completed a strategic review for its next five years of operations. This review refined our mission in tackling the global threat of drug-resistant infections by:

• Driving and enabling innovative and collaborative research to ensure future generations have access to effective treatments
• Supporting patients and their families that are affected by drug-resistant infections
• Working in partnership with key stakeholders to raise awareness and reduce the spread of drug-resistant infections

We are a small charity (last year’s income was around £400,000) but are aiming to go places. We want to increase our Trustee numbers (currently six) to expand the range of expertise represented as well as to allow for succession planning.

Our current Trustees’ details can be found here - https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/

You would be part of our Board responsible for steering and governing the charity to help us reach our ambitious targets. Our current Trustees have a mix of backgrounds and expertise ranging from science, medicine, finance, legal and business. We are keen to broaden the range of expertise and the diversity of our Board and would welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and all sections of society who feel able to help guide us towards achieving our strategic goals. 

If you are interested in our mission, have a strategic outlook, believe you can help us achieve our aims, and ideally have Board-level experience (or potential), then please contact us. Trustees are not remunerated but reasonable expenses will be re-imbursed. Trustees meet formally three times a year – usually there is one face to face meeting with the other meetings by videoconference.

Please provide us with a short CV and covering letter outlining your interest.  Closing date for applications: Friday 12 November 2021

Informal enquiries should be directed to the Chair, Simon Dukes at: simon.dukes@antibioticresearch.org.uk Completed applications with your covering letter should be sent to Joy Richardson – joy.richardson@antibioticresearch.org.uk