Lewis-Burke lobbied for a university client to become part of the U.S. government’s efforts to preserve effective antibiotics for human health. Lewis-Burke innovated a unique plan for the client’s zoonotic surveillance capability to become a part of the Federal efforts (Center for Disease Control (CDC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to combat antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Lewis-Burke’s plan led the client to approach an external in-state alliance whose members provide a number of global surveillance platforms that, if linked, could form a global surveillance network that would detect and warn of the transmission of resistant bacteria to the United States. Lewis-Burke recognized the opportunity for the client and their alliance partners. Highlighting the unique zoonotic disease surveillance capabilities, the firm developed a pilot project proposal to assess the science and technology of global surveillance with a pilot network program.

To create the pilot project proposal, Lewis-Burke developed an engagement plan for the client and alliance members to lobby the University’s congressional delegation as its prime legislative advocate. Lewis-Burke supported the client and alliance member’s meetings with members of the congressional delegation, congressional committees and caucuses, as well as CDC and USDA leadership. The effort resulted in a congressional funding opportunity to resource the coalition’s pilot program; a request by federal agencies to form a partnership and an opportunity for future efforts to address other challenges such as drug development.  This effort branded the client to congressional leaders, USDA, CDC, as well as the White House as a unique global leader in the fight to preserve antibiotics.