All over the world, physicians are encountering bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi that have evolved to resist the effects of medicines such as antibiotics. Known as antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, these agents cause infections that are extremely difficult—and sometimes impossible—to resolve.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year antimicrobial-resistant pathogens are responsible for more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States, with this number expected to rise as more antimicrobial-resistant strains evolve. As a result, the World Health Organization has described antibiotic resistance as one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development.

The current lack of success in developing effective compounds to counter antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and their spread renders our communities, especially people who are hospitalized, vulnerable to this threat.

At NYU Langone, the Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program works to solve this problem by tracking these infections, identifying therapeutic targets, and developing novel drugs and approaches to prevent and manage infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Discovery

We believe that interdisciplinary synergy is the key to big discovery. Our team of researchers and clinicians brings expertise in areas including microbiology, epidemiology, computational biology, pathology, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, population health, pediatrics, and infectious disease.

Together, we have formed an inclusive, patient-focused task force dedicated to collaborating across disciplines to create a comprehensive approach to prevention and treatment.

As one example, we are working with experts in biotech to develop new vaccines and biologics to prevent and treat antimicrobial-resistant and emerging pathogens. Our targets include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which has caused numerous deadly hospital outbreaks.

In addition, our scientists are developing a genomics-driven surveillance system designed to identify and forestall pathogen outbreaks in the community and in hospitals. Our system, which utilizes prospective genomic sequencing, can detect an outbreak before it occurs.

By blending basic and translational research and genomic surveillance, as well as leading initiatives to educate the next generation of researchers and clinicians, our mission is to provide a framework that reduces infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and saves countless lives.

Contact Us

For general inquiries about our program, please email Bo Shopsin, MD, PhD, program director, at bo.shopsin@nyulangone.org.