Our seventh episode of the AMR Action Podcast features Dr. Larissa Matukas, an Associate Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, Head of the Division of Microbiology and an Infectious Disease Consultant at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto. Dr. Matukas speaks about stewardship, surveillance and the use of diagnostic technologies to help combat antimicrobial resistance.

In this episode of the AMR Action Podcast, Lorna McEwan, a cystic fibrosis patient advocate spoke with Dani Peters, CAIC Senior Advisor, about her unique experiences as the oldest CF patient diagnosed at birth in Saskatchewan and her work as a CF advocate. Lorna shares her perspective regarding the importance of biomedical innovation, specifically how a gene-altering drug brought to Canada in 2021 has changed her life for the better. She also provides advice on how patients can advocate for themselves, not give up and share their experiences to impact broader policy and health care in Canada.

Patient advocates Hailey Laxer, cystic fibrosis (CF) patient, and Kristine Russell, sepsis survivor, speak with CAIC senior advisor Dani Peters about their unique patient journeys and how antibiotics have saved each of their lives. They discuss how the new antibiotic pipeline has dried up and the critical role of biomedical innovation in enabling Canadians to live healthier, better lives. Hailey and Kristine also share their personal stories and perspectives on how patients should be engaged in the issues related to antimicrobial resistance and access to newer antimicrobials in Canada.

About the speakers:

Hailey S. Laxer is a driven and ambitious leader with a keen interest in healthcare, health equity and disability rights. She is currently studying law at McGill University with the goal of using law to inform and empower her efforts in health and patient advocacy. Hailey is a results-driven fundraiser of over $390,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. She is a tireless public speaker and advocate for access to medications and patient rights. Her efforts for this cause earned her regional and provincial honours.

Kristine Russell is a survivor of postpartum sepsis as well as the parent of a child who also survived neonatal sepsis. In addition to being involved as a Patient Advisor with CAIC, she is actively involved with Alberta Health Services, UBC’s Action on Sepsis and Sepsis Canada, and is also the Marketing and Communications Program Manager for Sepsis Canada’s network. She calls Medicine Hat, Alberta her home with her husband Steven, sons Nolan, Gavin, and daughter, fellow sepsis survivor, Ellie.

Our fourth episode of the AMR Action Podcast features Dr. Lori Burrows, Associate Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research (IIDR), McMaster University and Dr. Gerry Wright, Director of the IIDR, McMaster University. CAIC Senior Advisor Dani Peters speaks with Dr. Burrows and Dr. Wright about the McMaster Antibiotic Access & Capacity (MAAC) Project, a collaboration between CAIC and McMaster University. Steered by a committee whose members represent the many facets of the antibiotic space in Canada — industry, academia, economics, microbiology, policy, knowledge translation, and medicine — the MAAC Project was established to improve the health of Canadians by increasing prescribing options and optimizing the use of appropriate antibiotics via an integrated model that follows the principles of accessibility, stewardship, and reasonable costs. Tune into the episode to learn more and access the full report: https://iidr.mcmaster.ca/MAAC/

Dans le troisième épisode du Podcast d’action sur la RAM, l’animatrice invitée Julie Barré s’entretient avec le Dr. Daniel Thirion, Professeur titulaire de clinique à la Faculté de pharmacie de l’Université de Montréal, qui présente une perspective du Québec sur les innovations antimicrobiennes, la gérance des antimicrobiens et les raisons pour lesquelles combattre la résistance aux antimicrobiens est essentiel pour améliorer les résultats des patients.

Julie Barré est une consultante sénior qui compte 25 années d’expérience professionnelle, dont 15 de celles-ci qui furent dédiée à la conceptualisation et la mise en place d’initiatives visant à transformer et améliorer les soins de santé pour la population canadienne.

Our second episode of the AMR Action Podcast features Dr. George Zhanel, Professor, Medical Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Dr. Daniel Thirion, Professor and Pharmacist, Universite de Montreal and Royal Victoria Hospital. CAIC Senior Advisor Dani Peters speaks with Dr. Zhanel and Dr. Thirion about a range of topics, including the role of federal and provincial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) programs, the challenges associated with improving patient outcomes amidst growing AMR and the need to fix the broken market for new or newer antimicrobials in Canada.

Kevin Outterson, Professor of Law at Boston University and Executive Director of Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X), speaks with CAIC Senior Advisor Dani Peters regarding economic incentive models to support the market for new and novel antimicrobials and considerations for Canadian policymakers, health professionals and innovator firms.