Fleming Initiative and Cepheid Launch Landmark Study of Rapid Testing for Drug-Resistant Infections

30-month real-world study at two London NHS Trusts to evaluate how rapid CPE screening can improve clinical practice and inform NHS and national AMR policy

The Fleming Initiative, a partnership established by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and Cepheid, a Danaher company, today announced the launch of TRACE-CPE, a two-and-a-half-year research study to improve testing for AMR, one of the greatest global health challenges.

This real-world study evaluates how rapid molecular screening for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) can improve infection prevention and control, support effective use of NHS resources and service delivery, protect patients and help inform national screening policy. The study will be at two of the hospitals run by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, two of the largest NHS Trusts in England.

The TRACE-CPE study is delivered through a partnership between the Fleming Initiative and Cepheid, first announced in September 2024 at an event aligned with the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR. Cepheid joined the Initiative as its first diagnostics partner, with a substantial, long-term commitment to collaborative scientific and clinical research as well as policy development and advocacy. This is aimed at strengthening and expanding the use of diagnostics in antimicrobial stewardship and the control of resistant infections.