Prince William becomes Patron of the appeal to create The Fleming Centre

Prince William has become Patron of a new appeal to create The Fleming Centre which will drive a global movement to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

The Centre will be based at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, where Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic, in 1928 and changed the course of medicine forever. This important programme of work is being led by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which includes St Mary’s Hospital.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when the microbes that cause infections develop resistance to treatments such as antibiotics and antifungals and already kills over one million people around the world each year. It has been caused by the widespread misuse and overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials which has led to the global spread of drug-resistant microbes. If the problem is not resolved, it is estimated that by 2050, drug-resistant microbes will lead to around ten million deaths per year. 

In order to effectively tackle antimicrobial resistance, global awareness and behaviour change is needed alongside scientific advances. The aim of The Fleming Initiative – the driving force behind the construction of an initial Centre in London – is to put society at the heart of solving this problem.

The Fleming Centre will deliver exhibitions and engagement activities to educate, inspire and catalyse action, convening diverse global voices and building consensus for change. At the Centre, scientists will work alongside patients, members of the public and policy makers to scope, test and scale solutions, so that antibiotics can continue to keep us all safe.  It is hoped that this transformative approach at the London Centre will act as a blueprint which can be shared and adapted to local contexts around the globe.

In becoming Patron of the appeal to build the Centre, Prince William will support efforts over the next five years to make these ambitious plans to overcome global anti-microbial resistance a reality.

Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Chair of the Fleming Initiative said:

“At the Fleming Centre, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust are driving solutions to antimicrobial resistance that are co-designed with citizens and underpinned by a rich and diverse evidence base. We are making behavioural science and public involvement the cornerstones of the radical change that’s needed to influence individual behaviour and policy decisions.”

More information about The Fleming Centre can be found at www.flemingcentre.org.