Liverpool AMR Workshop Registration Open 2026

Key Points

• There will be an antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship workshop that will be held at the University of Liverpool on the 11th of November, 2026, in Liverpool.
• The registration for the same can be done online through the website of the university, and the fee for attending the workshop is £55.00.
• It will be a part of the VetCLIN AMR project, which is a nationwide antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance program.
• This workshop is organized for small animal and equine clinical microbiology laboratories.
• According to Professor Dorina Timofte from the University of Liverpool, the objective of this program was to improve the process of detecting, interpreting and reporting of complex resistance mechanisms.
• CVS veterinary group completed the first phase of participation by sending thousands of anonymised bacterial culture and susceptibility test results.
• They have also sent around 300 E.coli isolates along with hundreds of other bacterial isolates in the small animals, equines, and farm animals.
• Gareth Weaver, who is the head of Microbiology at CVS Axiom Labs, had mentioned that the participation of their laboratories is a testament to CVS’ dedication towards antimicrobial stewardship and one health approach.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 02, 2026 – The University of Liverpool will host an antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship workshop as part of an ongoing UK-wide antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance project. The workshop, aimed at small animal and equine clinical microbiology laboratories, is part of the VetCLIN AMR initiative, which seeks to combine lab expertise with large-scale data surveillance to enhance understanding of AMR. The full-day event will take place in Liverpool on 11 November, with registration available on the university’s website.

As reported by Chris Simpson of Vet Times, the workshop is part of the ongoing VetCLIN AMR initiative that seeks to strengthen AMR surveillance and diagnostics.

Who is leading the VetCLIN AMR project?

Dorina Timofte, professor in veterinary clinical microbiology at the University of Liverpool, said:

“The VetCLIN AMR project has focused on improving the detection, interpretation and reporting of complex resistance mechanisms.” She added:

“To address this challenge, VetCLIN AMR is working closely with veterinary diagnostic laboratories to enhance AMR detection through targeted training.”

Prof Timofte stated:

“Together, these collaborations strengthen national AMR surveillance capacity, promote harmonised diagnostic approaches, and support more effective antimicrobial stewardship across the veterinary sector.”

What has CVS contributed to the AMR surveillance project?

Veterinary group CVS said it has completed the first phase of its involvement in the project. In the initial data-sharing phase, CVS said it has shared thousands of anonymised bacterial culture and susceptibility testing results, along with species information, sample details and any unusual or notable resistance patterns.

At the university’s request, the group said it had also sent around 300 E. coli isolates, along with hundreds of additional bacterial isolates across small animal, equine and farm animal cases.

How does CVS view its involvement in AMR surveillance?

Gareth Weaver, head of microbiology at CVS Axiom Labs, said:

“CVS’ involvement reflects our wider commitment to antimicrobial stewardship, responsible prescribing and a one health approach to clinical improvement.”

Mr Weaver stated

“By contributing meaningfully to the development of harmonised national AMR surveillance, CVS is helping ensure that vets across the UK have access to clearer, more reliable diagnostic information and that emerging resistance threats can be recognised and addressed sooner.”

He added:

“The project has also highlighted the value of collaborative working across academic, private and government sectors.”

Mr Weaver said:

“Access to specialist expertise and shared learning has strengthened diagnostic capabilities within CVS Labs and supported the refinement of internal methodologies that would be difficult to achieve in isolation.”

What role does the VMD play in companion animal AMR surveillance?

As reported by Dr Tamsin Dewé, the VMD’s Head of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance and Evidence, writing on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate blog, the VMD is leading the Private Laboratories Initiative (PLI) to build partnerships with private veterinary laboratories, thereby improving data sharing and strengthening AMR surveillance across four key animal sectors: companion animals, farm animals, fish, and equine.

Dr Dewé stated: “University of Liverpool’s Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in Clinical Infections from Companion Animals, or VetCLIN AMR, is the companion animal stream of the PLI.” She added:

“Liverpool has an ongoing surveillance initiative, the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET), which contributes to VetCLIN AMR.”

Prof Timofte added:

“Research at the University of Liverpool relies on the invaluable participation of veterinary practices and diagnostic laboratories, including CVS.”

She stated:

“Their continued support enables the generation of large-scale data that strengthens national AMR surveillance and drives the harmonisation of diagnostic practices for bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.”

Background of the AMR Surveillance Development

The VetCLIN AMR project operates within the broader context of the UK’s 2024 to 2029 antimicrobial resistance national action plan. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has been working to address critical gaps in AMR surveillance in companion animals, where there has historically been limited national monitoring compared to livestock and human sectors.

In January 2026, the VMD launched what it described as the world’s first pilot project to develop a national AMR surveillance programme for healthy cats and dogs, delivered by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). The PLI, under which VetCLIN AMR operates, aims to integrate data from private veterinary laboratories into national surveillance systems, as much AMR testing in sick animals occurs in private settings rather than government facilities.

The University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences hosts the VetCLIN AMR project, which brings together advanced veterinary microbiology laboratory expertise and large-scale data surveillance to better understand AMR in bacteria from animal clinical infections. The project is part of the UK’s private lab initiative, and for small animals is collecting UK-wide data on susceptibility testing, providing for genomic and phenotypic analyses of important isolate collections, and delivering the first proficiency scheme for AMR testing across the UK.

Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Veterinary Professionals?

The expansion of AMR surveillance through initiatives like VetCLIN AMR and the November 2026 workshop is likely to affect veterinary professionals in several ways. Veterinary clinicians and diagnostic laboratory staff who participate in the workshop may gain enhanced capabilities in antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship, potentially leading to more informed prescribing decisions in small animal and equine practice.

As national AMR surveillance capacity strengthens through projects like VetCLIN AMR, veterinary professionals may benefit from access to more comprehensive and harmonised diagnostic data across the UK, which could improve the reliability of susceptibility testing results and enable earlier recognition of emerging resistance threats. The collaborative framework between academic institutions, private laboratories and government bodies, as highlighted by CVS’ involvement, may establish precedents for continued data sharing that could become standard practice within the veterinary sector.

For veterinary practices considering participation in similar surveillance initiatives, the model demonstrated by CVS—sharing anonymised bacterial culture and susceptibility testing results along with isolate samples—may provide a template for contributing to national AMR monitoring efforts. The integration of private laboratory data into national surveillance systems through the PLI could ultimately influence prescribing guidelines and infection control strategies that veterinary professionals will need to follow.

The workshop and broader VetCLIN AMR initiative may also affect continuing professional development requirements, as antimicrobial stewardship becomes increasingly embedded in veterinary practice standards. With the course fee set at £55.00 for the full-day event, the workshop represents a relatively accessible CPD opportunity for laboratory staff and clinicians working in small animal and equine microbiology.