300 years after the original Longitude Prize, a new challenge targeting antimicrobial resistance was set up by the UK Government, Innovate UK and Nesta/Challenge Works.
It’s estimated that in 2019, 1.9 million people died from an antibiotic resistant infection or superbug, and it’s estimated that 10 million people a year will die from a drug resistant infection by 2050. In the absence of new antibiotics, and to preserve the effects of the ones we have, accurate and fast diagnostic testing is essential.
This prize sought a new diagnostic test that could rapidly tell whether an infection is bacterial, if an antibiotic is needed to treat it, and if so, which specific antibiotic would be the most suitable.
Hundreds of teams have worked with the Longitude Prize on AMR to invent and create rapid tests using diverse technologies, creating life-saving technologies.
The Longitude Prize for AMR came to a close in September 2022.
To learn more visit the Longitude Prize for AMR.