Centre Of Research Excellence In Indigenous Children's Healthy EARs (ICHEAR)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,615,897.00
Summary
The overwhelming burden of otitis media (middle ear inflammation, OM) and the consequences of hearing loss on social and educational outcomes in Indigenous children are indisputable. Our CRE_ICHEAR is a multidisciplinary group of Australia’s experts in OM research, policy and practice guidelines. The CRE will derive better value in terms of discovery, translation and sustainability. Increased Indigenous leadership will raise awareness and advocacy, with greater efficiency of research translation
Antimicrobial Stewardship - Establishing Effective Programs For Australian Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,232,361.00
Summary
This project will examine strategies to improve the use of antimicrobial drugs in Australian hospitals. It will evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship programs on antibiotic prescribing practices in Victorian tertiary hospitals and determine the organisational factors associated with success. It will also examine the needs, and establish models for antimicrobial stewardship beyond the tertiary hospital setting, in private hospitals, small metropolitan and rural hospitals.
The Epidemiology And Treatment Of Infections Due To Multiresistant Gram Negative Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,946.00
Summary
This fellowship application deals with the treatment of infections due to antibiotic resistant bacteria. The World Economic Forum recently discussed threats to our modern way of life. The highest ranked threats were climate change, terrorism and antibiotic resistance. During this Fellowship, two large clinical trials of treatment strategies for antibiotic resistant bacteria will be supervised by Professor Paterson.
Modification Of The Microbiome And Utilisation Of Microbial Products As Novel Treatments For COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,226,338.00
Summary
Smoking leads to lung inflammation that causes emphysema - a major health problem in Australia. Emphysema progressively declines even if smoking stops and there are no treatments. Recently changes in gut microbes have been linked to inducing or protecting against inflammation in the gut and lung. Thus we may be able to control inflammation by modifying these gut microbiomes. We may be able to ingest specific microbes or use specific antibiotics or other factors as new treatments for emphysema.
Treatment Of Bacterial Vaginosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,757.00
Summary
The objective of this research project is to determine if the treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) can be improved. Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common causes of vaginal discharge in women. It can also have serious consequences, such as premature labour and can also increase the risk of HIV transmission. These complication cost communities many millions of dollars; for example in the US it is estimated that premature labour caused by BV alone costs about 1 billion dollars a year. The ....The objective of this research project is to determine if the treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) can be improved. Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common causes of vaginal discharge in women. It can also have serious consequences, such as premature labour and can also increase the risk of HIV transmission. These complication cost communities many millions of dollars; for example in the US it is estimated that premature labour caused by BV alone costs about 1 billion dollars a year. The currently recommended treatment for BV works well initially (first month about 80% respond) but by 12 months most (60%) have relapsed. This randomised clinical study is investigating new ways to treat BV. The currently recommended arm of treatment (antibiotic metronidazole) is being compared to two other treatments. The second arm of the study involves the use of two antibiotics at once (metronidazole and clindamycin) and the third arm involves the use of a bacterial (lactobacilli) and oestrogen. Lactobacilli are bacteria that may help maintain the normal bacterial (and there by prevent relapse of BV) and oestrogen may have a similar effect. If either of these treatments improved the longer term treatment of BV, very significant benefits would flow to affected women and the community as a whole.Read moreRead less
The Epidemiology Of Staphylococcus Aureus And Antibiotic Resistance In Community-acquired Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,267,784.00
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus infections range from boils to life-threatening diseases and are increasingly resistant to antibiotics and difficult to treat. This study follows patients with community-acquired S. aureus infections, and close contacts, for 24 months to see if they carry S. aureus (nose swabs) or develop infection. Our data on risk factors for colonisation and infection will help doctors decide whether to trace and treat contacts of patients to protect households from further infection.
Rescuing The Last-line Therapy Colistin Against Gram-negative ‘superbugs’: Increasing The Therapeutic Index By Attenuation Of Nephrotoxicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,631.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative ‘superbugs’ is presenting a significant global medical challenge. Colistin (polymyxin E) is increasingly used as the last treatment option even though the current use is suboptimal. Simply increasing the daily dose is not an option due to kidney toxicity. This project focuses on a new approach using antioxidants to ameliorate the potential for colistin-induced kidney toxicity, thereby allowing higher doses to achieve adequate bacterial kill in patients.
Targeting The Achilles' Heel Of Polymyxins: Eliminating The Nephrotoxicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$673,420.00
Summary
The world is facing a growing threat from the emergence of bacterial 'superbugs' that are resistant to all current antibiotics except the polymyxins. However, kidney toxicity occurs in up to 60% of patients receiving intravenous polymyxins. In this project, we will examine how polymyxins cause kidney toxicity then employ the obtained mechanistic information to decrease this adverse effect. Our study targets the urgent global unmet medical need, lack of new antibiotics for bacterial ‘superbugs’.