The AMR Narrative

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AMR – Dying to Change the World: London Pre-screening

Our Founder and Executive Director, Vanessa Carter, had the privilege of attending an exclusive pre-screening of AMR – Dying to Change the World on March 11, 2025. Hosted by the Fleming Initiative at the Curzon Theatre in Bloomsbury, London, the event showcased the compelling feature-length documentary on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by filmmaker Alex Tweddle, made possible through the generous support of Dr. Yusuf Hamied.

The evening opened with an insightful address from Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, a distinguished surgeon and Executive Chair of the Fleming Initiative, as well as a featured speaker in the film. He emphasised the profound impact of media and the arts in engaging the public with complex global issues, drawing parallels with movements such as climate change advocacy.

Following this, Dame Sally Davies, the UK Government’s Special Envoy on AMR and former Chief Medical Officer for England (2010–2019), led a dynamic panel discussion. Among the panellists was Vanessa, who shared her personal experience of surviving a life-threatening antibiotic-resistant infection. She underscored the importance of raising awareness through media and the arts, as well as engaging patients and communities on the ground to gain deeper insights into their experiences. She further discussed the importance of patient advocacy and why The AMR Narrative had a strong focus on developing capacity around that. As the inaugural Chair of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors, Vanessa also emphasised that storytelling could play a vital role in highlighting the human impact for policymaking, medical education and research as outlined in their Meaningful Engagement of Patients, Survivors and Carers in addressing Antimicrobial Resistance Guidance Document.

Adding to the discussion, Alex Tweddle revealed that his own mother tragically passed away from a resistant form of sepsis during the documentary’s production—an emotional reminder of the urgency of this crisis. These deeply personal experiences reinforced the need for immediate, collective action.

Narrated by actor Brian Cox, AMR – Dying to Change the World offers a powerful exploration of antimicrobial resistance, weaving together expert analysis and real-world stories to highlight the devastating impact of AMR infections. The film examines key drivers of AMR, including the inappropriate use of antibiotics in agriculture, the prevalence of substandard medications—particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs)—and the rapid global spread of resistant infections.

The documentary features prominent scientific voices in the fight against AMR as well as patients with lived experience and calls for urgent worldwide action. By blending scientific insight with human stories, it transforms a complex medical challenge into an accessible and compelling narrative.

More than just a film, AMR – Dying to Change the World is a rallying cry. It vividly demonstrates that the fight against infections that no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, is not solely a scientific endeavour—it requires global engagement, policy reform, and individual action. As the documentary makes clear, the consequences of inaction are dire to all of us, and the time to act is now.

 

About the Fleming Initiative

Jointly established by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the Fleming Initiative brings together research scientists, policymakers, clinicians, behavioural experts, public and commercial partners to provide the networks, expertise and skills to provide equitable solutions to AMR at a global scale. Discover more at www.fleminginitiative.org

About The AMR Narrative

The AMR Narrative is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that works to develop advocacy capacity, raise awareness and promote community development among patients and the public to improve participation and mobilise action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Discover more at www.theAMRnarrative.org

About the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a Task Force of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Survivors in 2023 to give a platform for and elevate the voices of those with a lived experience of drug resistant infections. The members of the Task Force serve as champions to shape the global narrative and influence policies. Additionally, they contribute to messaging by giving a ‘human face’ to AMR alongside increasing awareness. Discover more at www.who.int/groups/task-force-of-amr-survivors

Photo Credits: Laura Horga, Institute of Global Health Innovation and Jack Cooper, The Fleming Initiative

Chris Shaffer

Chris Shaffer was a music, special education teacher, and high school principal for 45 years. At the end of his educational career, he was thrust into the world of AMR infections when a number of abdominal surgeries left him with an E-coli infection which failed to respond to antibiotics. After doctors in the USA left him with little hope for a cure, diminishing health, and a bleak prognosis, he set out on his own.

Chris found success in phage therapy at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center in Tbilisi, Georgia. With phage therapy giving Chris his life back, he has dedicated his retirement years to advocating for and helping raise awareness of phage therapy used for AMR infections. He tells the story of his phage journey in a book titled, Finding Phage: How I Partnered with a Friendly Virus to Cure My Deadly Bacterial Superinfection. His website, phagetherpyusa.com helps others learn to understand the healing power of phage therapy.

Demi Christofi

Demi is an Associate Scientific Director at a medical communications agency, with a background in microbiology and a longstanding focus on antimicrobial resistance. She holds an MSc in Microbiology, where she first became interested in the global challenge of resistance and the need to bring scientific understanding to wider audiences.

Demi’s career has centred on a simple but powerful belief: that how we communicate science matters. Her work focuses on making complex data clear, engaging, and accessible – whether for healthcare professionals, policy makers, or the patients most affected by infection and resistance. She has contributed to a wide range of AMR-focused projects, including educational programmes, congress communications and stewardship initiatives.

A central thread in Demi’s work is the importance of the patient voice. She is passionate about making sure real-world experiences of treatment failure, recurrent infections, and the anxiety surrounding resistance are not lost in the data. She believes that listening to patients and involving them meaningfully is essential for shaping more effective, human-centred responses to AMR.

Demi is also a strong advocate of the One Health approach, recognising AMR as a complex, interconnected issue that spans human health, animal health, and the environment. She is particularly drawn to efforts that move beyond siloed thinking and focus on practical, joined-up solutions.

In 2025, Demi joined The AMR Narrative as an Independent Advisor, where she supports the charity’s mission to centre communication, community, and inclusion in the global AMR response.

Outside of work, she is a Girlguiding unit leader and a qualified yoga teacher. These roles reflect her commitment to care, learning, and creating supportive spaces for others.

Andrea Hartley

Andrea has worked in health communications and campaigning for 3 decades. She is committed to fighting AMR through timely and appropriate communications globally,.

Andrea set up Skating Panda, the creative social and environmental impact consultancy, over a decade ago and drives its impact and growth. Focused on original and lasting public interest communications as well as issue strategy and advocacy, the Panda team has a track record of prompting tipping points in the status quo that drive better social and planetary outcomes.

Andrea’s combination of commercial marketing and development experience with deep issue knowledge have been sought by decision-makers at global summits, corporate and NGO board members, and have enabled her to set up multi-million fundraising platforms and push through policies that change and save lives. 

Andrea is Vice Chair of mothers2mothers, the world’s largest employer of women living with HIV, and a Board Director of Maymessy, a food poverty social enterprise.

A lifelong advocate for gender equality, she played a key role in establishing the UK’s Women’s Equality Party.

Esmita Charani

Professor Esmita Charani is a pharmacist and researcher investigating how we use antibiotics in different cultural and social contexts. She works with teams in the UK, India, and South Africa to develop research programmes investigating all aspects of antimicrobial resistance in human populations with a focus in hospital settings.

She has experience in communicating her research with patients and the public through various media including animations, blogs, and educational videos.