(External) Modelling of Canadian temperature regimes and antimicrobial use patterns

Advisor: Jordyn Broadbent, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Suggested co-advisors: Nicole Ricker

The global rise of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) microorganisms is a current major health concern and is largely driven by widespread antimicrobial use (AMU) in both human health and animal production. To combat the spread of AMR, the One Health Framework has been adopted in research contexts to better understand the complex flow of resistance genes and organisms between humans, animals, and the environment. Previous work has demonstrated that antibiotic resistance rates are related to increases in local temperature in the Unites States of America (MacFadden et al., 2018 ). Trends in Canadian antimicrobial use and specific AMR infections, which are tracked via several surveillance networks within health care and agricultural settings, are often examined and explained through a socio-economic lens. However, the influence of environmental conditions on these patterns – temperature ranges and the effects of climate change – has yet to be investigated. We are looking for a student to partner with Environment and Climate Change Canada to model and explore the relationship between publicly available data on AMU and infection rates and historical climate data. This project will close an important knowledge gap by incorporating climate change into the One Health AMR Framework and strengthen interpretation of existing Canadian AMR surveillance data.

Two-semester project preferred. 

Knowledge/Skills

Necessary: Basic coding skills in R and/or python, familiarity with CLI, linux