There is a global problem of current and emerging bacterial resistance in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative genera to commonly used antibacterial agents (Hawkey & Jones 2009, Gootz 2010, Vasoo et al 2015). It is of particular concern that many of these organisms have developed cross-resistance to several classes of antibiotic (Karchmer et al 2013).  Further, it has been proposed that the increase in multidrug-resistant pathogens (MDR) is due to the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics (Gootz, 2010). The general response to this problem is the need for better antibiotic stewardship and ‘new antibiotics’, such as those with narrower antibacterial spectra which may circumvent problems associated with broad-spectrum agents and allow targeted therapy. This satellite symposium is designed specifically to address the educational gaps in the strategic approach to the discovery and development of targeted-spectrum antibacterial agents, with specific reference to new antibacterial agents for Gram-positive infection.