Since their widespread deployment in the mid-20th century, effective antibiotics have been at the forefront of medicine saving countless lives.

But the last two decades have seen an alarming rise in pathogens resistant to antibiotics (anti-microbial resistance or AMR), while there are fewer novel antibiotics in the research and development pipeline. During her time as the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, and since leaving that position in 2019, Dame Sally Davies, the UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance, has been tireless in pointing out the great dangers of AMR to health throughout the world and suggesting what needs to be done.

In conversation with Chris Dye, Sally Davies will explore this major 21st century challenge and discuss whether people’s greater appreciation of medical risk due to the pandemic will help the development of effective countermeasures.

Prof Dame Sally Davies and Prof Chris Dye in conversation: "The challenge of anti-microbial resistance"