As the threat of drug‑resistant fungal infections grows into a serious global health concern, the University of Exeter is taking decisive action with groundbreaking funding to tackle antifungal resistance.
With an additional £1.1 million investment in its latest funding round, the University of Exeter's pioneering FAILSAFE project has now directed a total of over £2.8 million in just one year to support 135 researchers worldwide. This fresh funding boost is empowering researchers to develop groundbreaking solutions that could mean the difference between prevention and crisis in the global fight against antifungal resistance.
Spearheading this vital work, the University of Exeter FAILSAFE project (Fungal AMR Innovations for LMICS: Solutions and Access For Everyone), backed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care's Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), is a pioneering initiative tackling antifungal drug resistance. The project aims to promote global innovations and solutions to tackle the health threat of fungal infections that are increasingly resistant to available treatments.
Fungal antimicrobial resistance poses a critical threat to both human health and global food security. Fungal infections can be devastating, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as children with leukaemia and those with compromised immune systems. As well as increasing the number of deaths due to fungal diseases, drug resistant fungal pathogens also jeopardise animal health, and essential crops that that sustain the global food supply.
Life-threatening fungal diseases claim as many lives annually as tuberculosis or malaria, yet the organisms responsible remain significantly understudied, and only a limited number of drugs are effective. These drugs are developing resistance, meaning they no longer work, thereby intensifying this urgent crisis. As part of the broader global challenge of AMR, which includes resistance to antibacterial drugs, fAMR demands immediate and coordinated global action.
Managed by the University of Exeter's MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, with support from the NIHR Exeter BRC, FAILSAFE is dedicated to advancing research and solutions to the growing threat of fungal AMR, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of disease is greatest.
The newly awarded projects address five key areas:
- Investigating the drivers and threats of antifungal resistance
- Developing new antifungal drugs and formulations
- Enhancing surveillance of fungal pathogens and resistance to enable future R&DAdvancing research on vaccines against drug-resistant fungal pathogens
- Innovating new diagnostics for fungal infections
Professor Elaine Bignell, co-lead of FAILSAFE at the University of Exeter, said "We are thrilled to support a new cohort of outstanding researchers dedicated to addressing the global crisis of fungal AMR. This round of FAILSAFE funding reflects the extraordinary quality and diversity of applications we received from around the world. By investing in these 28 projects, we are not only advancing scientific discovery but also building vital research capacity in regions most affected by fungal diseases. We look forward to seeing the impact of these projects as they deliver tangible solutions to this urgent health challenge."
Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on AMR, said "Fungal antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat that affects humans, animals, and the environment, yet it remains one of the least studied areas of AMR research. Building on the success of the first round of 15 projects, I'm delighted that GAMRIF and the Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter are continuing their partnership. Together, we aim to strengthen the global fungal AMR research community and drive innovative, One Health solutions for low- and middle-income countries where the burden is greatest."
In addition to funding groundbreaking research, FAILSAFE has established a collaborative global network of medical mycologists. Since its inception in November 2024, this community has rapidly grown to over 830 members spanning 82 countries uniting experts worldwide to confront the rising threat of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance. By fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and supporting innovation, the FAILSAFE community is playing a vital role in advancing the field of medical mycology.
