The renewal of my Practitioner Fellowship will continue to facilitate an expanding program of epidemiological and clinical research in viral hepatitis, with a primary focus on hepatitis C. New directions will include development of international clinical cohort and trials networks, particularly to characterise the natural history of early hepatitis C infection and evaluate hepatitis C therapuetic strategies for injecting drug users.
This Centre of Research Excellence will translate the best available evidence to improve cancer outcomes through better management of infections in cancer patients, a rapidly growing group. We will establish new research networks to detect emerging multi resistant infections, develop guidelines on how to manage them, implement locally successful programs that have been shown to save lives nationally and validate new practice changing immune, bioinformatics and diagnostic technologies.
Australian Partnership (for) Preparedness Research On InfectiouS (disease) Emergencies (APPRISE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,996,416.00
Summary
We have assembled national experts in clinical, laboratory and public health research to ensure Australia is equipped for a coordinated, effective and evidence based response to infectious diseases. This multidisciplinary team will create and share new knowledge to detect, prevent and manage emerging infection threats. We will train a robust cross-sectoral work force and develop sustainable research capacity integrated within the health system to ensure national and regional health security.
Improving Outcomes In Patients With Community-acquired Severe Sepsis: The Role Of Pre-hospital Antibiotics.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,138.00
Summary
Severe sepsis occurs when infection causes organ dysfunction. If not treated early, outcomes remain poor. Foremost in effectively treating this condition is the initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics. This Fellowship will assess the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of pre-hospital antibiotics administered by paramedics to patients with suspected community-acquired severe-sepsis, as a means to improve patient outcomes in this highly vulnerable group.
Optimising Patient Outcomes Following Surgery: Bridging The Fields Of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Microbiology And Infection Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Over 2.4 million surgeries are performed yearly in Australia. Up to 15% of procedures are complicated by infection leading to patient suffering. These infections are also implicated in the emergence of antibiotic resistance. My research will help us understand how infections develop, how to prevent these infections and how to incorporate best-practice into patient care. My research will bridge these key areas to help improve outcomes for patients undergoing surgical procedures.
The Primary HIV Combined United Database (PCUD) is the largest database of patients with primary HIV infection in Australia. Dating back to 1983, it collects data from people with HIV seroconversion. Primary HIV infection, or seroconversion provides a unique opportunity to study HIV throughout its natural history. This study aims to link data on long term health outcomes such as AIDS, cancer and cardiovascular disease in this cohort, which can then be used to understand the determinants of progr ....The Primary HIV Combined United Database (PCUD) is the largest database of patients with primary HIV infection in Australia. Dating back to 1983, it collects data from people with HIV seroconversion. Primary HIV infection, or seroconversion provides a unique opportunity to study HIV throughout its natural history. This study aims to link data on long term health outcomes such as AIDS, cancer and cardiovascular disease in this cohort, which can then be used to understand the determinants of progression and complications of HIV infection.Read moreRead less
Identifying Pragmatic Strategies To Prevent And Treat Enteric Infection In Indigenous Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Diarrhoea remains one of the commonest causes of death in young children. Most of these deaths occur in places that have limited clean water, food, and health care. Although deaths from diarrhoea are rare in Australia, Indigenous children still suffer from frequent and severe episodes of diarrhoea, much more so that than non-Indigenous infants. This research aims to reduce this suffering by finding ways to both prevent and treat diarrhoea in young children.
Risk Prediction For Surgical Site Infections Following Prosthetic Joint Replacement Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,449.00
Summary
With an ageing population the number of patients undergoing total joint replacement surgery is rapidly increasing. Surgical site infections are one of the most devastating complications of this surgery and are associated with patient suffering and significant healthcare costs. This research aims to identify those patients at greatest risk of infection and to investigate strategies to aid clinical judgment for early diagnosis of surgical site infection.