The Role Of Paramyxovirus P Protein Subcellular Trafficking In Virus Pathogenicity And Antagonism Of Host Interferon Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,491.00
Summary
Emerging zoonotic viruses pose a major health threat worldwide, highlighted by recent outbreaks of viruses such as Nipah and Hendra via interspecies invasion to infect humans. A major barrier to interspecies infection is the innate immune response, which viruses must evolve to combat before successful infection can occur. We aim to examine in detail the mechanisms underlying immune evasion of such viruses, with the ultimate goal of discovering novel targets for therapeutics to viral infection.
Sexually Transmitted Infections(STIs) And Co Transmission Of HIV In Men Who Have Sex With Men. The Presence Of STIs In The Rectum And Its Effect On HIV Viral Load Independent Of Anti-retroviral Treatment In HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,721.00
Summary
I am a trainee sexual health physician with a special interest in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how it influences HIV transmission between men who have sex with men(MSM). I intend to achieve this by conducting research to help better define the causes of rectal STIs in MSM and what can be done to detect and treat them early. This will hopefully lead to a decrease in HIV transmission in a group who are at higher risk for STI/HIV infections and hence improve their overall health.
Improving Epidemiological Assessment For The Prevention Of Travel-related Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,743.00
Summary
Understanding the epidemiology and healthcare burden of travel-related infections is important in order to improve the provision of pre-travel preventive healthcare in Australian travellers. Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceptions of travel-related risks, attitudes towards travel, and pre-travel preventive health seeking behaviour is also critical to improve the provision of safe travel advice and optimise pre-travel preparation among Australian travellers.
Improving The Treatment Of Neonatal Sepsis Through Vancomycin Pharmacokinetic And Pharmacodynamic Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$71,458.00
Summary
Our study will assess whether vancomycin, a key antibiotic used to treat severe infections in young infants, is best given as a continuous infusion or as multiple doses per day. We will determine which is the most effective method to achieve the target blood level of vancomycin and if current recommended target levels for vancomycin are appropriate for infants. Findings will be used to develop a bedside tool that will enable clinicians to tailor the dose of vancomycin to individual children.
Tuberculosis In The Asia-Pacific: Identification And Comparison Of Transmission Hot Spots
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,253.00
Summary
The Asia-Pacific is home to 60% of the global burden of tuberculosis and an increasing proportion of Australia's immigrant population. Although most targets relating to this disease are likely to be achieved, patterns of tuberculosis transmission in the Asia-Pacific are not fully understood and the possibility of regional hotspots exists. We aim to use mathematical techniques to examine the way in which tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person in populations within our region.
Optimising Management Of Injection-related Infections In People Who Inject Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,743.00
Summary
People who inject drugs are a vulnerable group who are at increased risk of bacterial infections, which can lead to serious illness and death. This project aims to optimize management of bacterial infections in people who inject drugs. Measuring the current burden of infections, analysing different management strategies employed in hospitals and discussing attitudes and barriers to care with both healthcare workers and people who inject drugs will provide the evidence to optimize ongoing care.
Optimisation Of Beta-lactam Antibiotic Therapy As A Strategy To Improve Efficacy And Combat The Emergence Of Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a global health priority that threatens to compromise advances in modern medicine to return practices to the pre-antibiotic era. Critically ill and patients with impaired immune function represent a vulnerable group who struggle to fight infections and who rely heavily on lifesaving antibiotics. This project aims to investigate how the efficacy of antibiotics can be optimised to prevent the emergence of resistance and preserve their effectiveness for the future.
Encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain tissue, is a complex disease and children are the most commonly affected. The Australian Childhood Encephalitis (ACE) Study, a national surveillance study, aims to describe the burden and characteristics of this disease in Australian children. The Discovery of Infectious aetiologies in Cryptic Encephalitis (DICE) study aims to perform cutting edge diagnostic tests and provide a new understanding of the infectious basis to encephalitis in Australia.
Molecular Analysis Of Endocarditis Causing Strains Of Staphylococcus Aureus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,960.00
Summary
"Staphylococcus aureus" or "Golden Staphâ is one of the principal causes of infective endocarditis, the infection of the endocardial surfaces of the heart and heart valves that may result in valvular insufficiency and eventual heart failure. This work will define the molecular mechanisms that allow S. aureus to survive and persist on endocardial surfaces. Such insight may lead to new future treatment regimes for infective endocarditis.