Key Takeaways

  • GSK and Fleming Initiative Collaboration: Six fully funded “Grand Challenges” will launch by early 2026, leveraging AI and scientific expertise to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

  • Focus Areas: Projects include accelerating antibiotic and antifungal drug discovery, improving vaccine research, and using AI-driven models for disease surveillance and prescribing practices.

  • Global Impact and Commitment: With AMR deaths projected to rise to 8.22 million by 2050, GSK’s £45m pledge and partnership with Imperial College aim to deliver equitable, innovative solutions worldwide.

Introduction
A recent announcement stated that GSK and the Fleming Initiative announced six major new research projects, called the “Grand Challenges”. The goal of these projects is to capitalise on top scientific expertise and the latest technologies, particularly advanced AI, to find new avenues to decelerate the rate of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The recent WHO GLASS Report from October 2025 highlighted a worsening AMR situation: one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The number of annual deaths associated with AMR is expected to increase from around 4.71 million in 2021 to 8.22 million in 2050.
Grand Challenges Programs
All of the new programmes are to launch by early 2026 and have received full funding for the next three years. The first half of the program will cover supercharging the discovery of new antibiotics for Gram-negative bacterial infections, speeding up the discovery of new drugs to combat fungal infections, and improving understanding of how immune systems respond to drug-resistant bacteria to stimulate vaccines research.
Meanwhile, the other half of the programs will examine using disease surveillance and environmental data to create AI models that predict how drug-resistant pathogens emerge and spread, running an innovative clinical trial to improve how and when antibiotics are prescribed, and using research data and insights to inform policy and public engagement.
Fleming Initiative
The Fleming Initiative, established by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, brings together research scientists, policymakers, clinicians, and commercial partners to provide equitable solutions to AMR at a global scale. GSK became the first founding partner of the Initiative, pledging £45m in funding in 2024 and backing the Fleming’s mission to tackle the prevalent issue of AMR.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, said: “I’m delighted to combine GSK’s leadership in antimicrobial science with world-leading research at Imperial College London. Together, with scaled datasets, emerging drug modalities, and AI-driven models, we will open up new approaches for the discovery of novel antibiotics as well as anticipate and outpace the development of resistance to transform the treatment and prevention of serious infections.”
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