TDR, with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Department of Health & Social Care, designed a Structured Operational Research and Training (SORT IT) programme focused on tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income countries. The programme has recently expanded to countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
This AMR initiative is being implemented in close collaboration with national AMR coordinating committees; WHO regional and country offices in Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Myanmar, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uganda; and a wide network of SORT IT partners.
Research driving stronger health systems
According to TDR’s annual metrics surveys, 79% of 75 AMR-related studies conducted in Africa (Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda), Asia (Nepal, Myanmar), and Latin America (Colombia, Ecuador) have already informed policy or practice. The programme also strengthens leadership in health research and systems more broadly. Among SORT IT trainees:
-92% have applied their skills to AMR challenges
-64% have initiated additional studies
-36% are now mentoring others, helping to build the next generation of operational researchers
More than half of trainees have also applied their skills to outbreak response—including COVID-19 and Mpox—demonstrating the cross-cutting value of SORT IT. Country-level examples from Ghana, Nepal, and Sierra Leone are featured in a special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease.
Timely publication of locally driven research
To overcome costs and difficulties on travel and large gatherings, SORT IT developed an online training platform that continues to be used in hybrid formats for training. Manuscripts are typically published within 10–12 weeks of submission, maintaining rigorous peer review while ensuring timely availability of evidence.
The SORT IT programme prioritizes locally generated research, for local solutions, with local ownership, strengthening the relevance of findings for decision-making. Capacity is built through a team approach involving:
Building skills for research communication and uptake
SORT IT trainees receive ongoing support to strengthen communication skills and promote uptake of their findings. An innovative feature has been the integration of three-minute “lightning videos” alongside abstracts on journal websites - an unprecedented step to enhance dissemination and engagement.
In 2025, a stand-alone Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) was launched to further expand global capacity in research communication.
Expanding global collaboration
The SORT IT network now includes 87 partners across 97 countries, with 80% based in the Global South. Strong collaborations are in place with national AMR committees and WHO regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Americas.
TDR also joined forces with the WHO regional offices for Africa, the Americas and South-East Asia to support 13 additional AMR studies. Embracing a “One Health” approach in the planning process, comprehensive engagement has been established with AMR coordinating committees, WHO country and regional offices and implementing partners in target countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. SORT IT activities are fully aligned with national AMR action plans.
News
AMR SORT IT publications
Good value for money of SORT IT continues due to TDR’s established convening power, global networking capacity, use of SORT IT technical know-how...
During the first two years of the project (2019–2020), through a ‘One Health’ approach, comprehensive engagement was established with...
The Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative on tackling antimicrobial resistance in Africa, Asia and Latin America – progress, achievements,...
Country case studies
Feature story
Featured publications
About SORT IT
