
Training our future researchers and leaders
Doctoral Training programmes
To tackle the global challenge of AMR, high-quality PhD training is an urgent priority to ensure the next generation of researchers is equipped with the skills to make a real impact worldwide. GW4 hosts over 30 externally funded Doctoral Training Centres and partnerships.

The University of Bristol is leading the Medical Research Foundation’s National PhD Training Programme in Antimicrobial Resistance Research. It is the only national PhD Training Programme that will train new researchers to explore ways to tackle AMR. The University of Exeter is a partner in this cross-institutional training programme.
The Programme supports 5 core-funded PhD students at the University of Bristol and 2 at the University of Exeter and at Exeter’s Penryn Campus. Wider-cohort students (funded to attend the Programme’s annual conference and one residential training course during their PhD are based at Bath and Cardiff universities.
Other GW4 Doctoral Training Programmes with an AMR and AMR-related research focus include:
BBSRC South West Biosciences DTP
NERC GW4 FRESH Centre for Doctoral Training
Wellcome Trust GW4 Clinical Academic Training Programme for Health Professionals (GW4 CAT HP)
GW4 CRUCIBLE
The theme for the 2020 GW4 Crucible Programme was ‘Interdisciplinary approaches to AMR’. GW4 Crucible provided the opportunity for future research leaders across a broad range of disciplines to come together and generate innovative, multifaceted responses to address the global challenge of AMR. Five collaborative interdisciplinary research projects received seed funding to further their research projects.
The GW4 AMR Alliance will build on the momentum generated from GW4 AMR Crucible, to deliver alumni-led networking activities, for example hosting online debates and creating a global early career researcher (ECR) network along with networking to enhance clinical links across GW4.
GW4 EARLy CAREER SYMPOSIA
The GW4 Early Career Symposia Scheme enables postgraduate researchers and ECRs to work together to deliver a flagship symposium. The themes for 20/21 were Climate, the Creative Economy and AMR.
The GW4 ECR AMR symposium on “Multidisciplinary Approaches to AMR: Pandemics, Practices and Innovation” took place on 5 -7 July 2021. The 3-day event created a space for discussion and knowledge exchange about the different realities and challenges of AMR. The symposium will also reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed changes to research, society and public health policy and how these may influence the future of AMR.
The 2020 GW4 ECR symposium ‘Multidisciplinary approaches to antimicrobial resistance: bench to bedside and beyond’ took place from 30 Nov – 4 Dec 2020. The week-long event addressed a ‘One Health’ approach to AMR and comprised interactive webinars from invited speakers and selected abstracts, themed discussion forums, an online poster session and an images of research gallery.
