The Hunt For New-generation Lipopeptide Antibiotics Targeting Gram-negative ‘Superbugs’
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
The dry antibiotic discovery and development pipeline, together with the increasing incidence of bacterial resistance in the clinic has been dubbed ‘the perfect storm’. This project involves the design, synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a new generation of polymyxin-like lipopeptides that have low nephrotoxicity and specifically target polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative ‘superbugs’.
The Ethics And Politics Of Pharmaceutical Innovation And Translation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,728.00
Summary
I lead a research program on the ethics and politics of pharmaceutical innovation and translation: how medicines are developed, regulated, funded and taken up into practice. I aim to help policymakers to deal with conflicts among stakeholders. Over the next 4 years I will conduct a suite of research projects on topics of immediate significance to Australian policymakers; develop a new framework for pharmaceutical ethics and create a “Pharmaceutical Ethics and Politics Network.”
Determining The Bacterial Contributions To Tuberculosis And Identification Of Drug Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
Serious issues of drug resistance have emerged in tuberculosis prevention and are placing enormous pressure on global health systems. We have identified an enzyme of M. tuberculosis that is essential for its survival. This project will develop potent inhibitory compounds for this enzyme. Further, we will identify new drug targets through a screen to specifically identify the genes of the organism essential for its survival in the body. This information will be used to develop new TB drugs.
My research team is focused on human parasites of major relevance to the Australian water industry and/or global public health. Our primary focus is the use of advanced technologies to improve understanding of these parasites and to utilize this information to underpin development of new drugs to treat them and novel diagnostic tests to improve their control.
Dependent drug use is associated with a range of physical and mental health problems. However the process by which drug-related changes to the human brain influence behaviours important to remaining abstinent is poorly understood. The current proposal investigates the neural and behavioural effects of drug dependence on cognitive control - responsible for impulse control and decision making - previously implicated in drug dependence.
Dissecting The Interactions Of Antimalarial Drugs With The Two Key Determinants Of Drug Resistance In The Malaria Parasite - The 'chloroquine Resistance Transporter' And The 'multidrug Resistance Transporter 1'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
The malaria parasite is a single-celled organism which invades the red blood cells of its host. The aim of this fellowship is to study two proteins that are central to the parasite’s ability to evade the toxic effects of a number of drugs. The parasite's susceptibility to chloroquine, and other drugs, is altered by small changes in these proteins. This work will advance our understanding of the increasingly widespread phenomenon of antimalarial drug resistance, and of how it may be overcome.
In this fellowship I will develop methods to improve the way drugs are delivered through the use of nanotechnology. Nanoparticles can be used to protect delicate drugs from degrading, and to make sure drugs are delivered where they are required. This helps to lower side effects and improve efficacy of a range of drugs. I lead a multi-disciplinary research team dedicated to understanding of how nanoparticles interact with biological systems, so we can engineer better drug delivery systems.