Developing Core Bioinformatics Capacity At The Australian Institute Of Tropical Health And Medicine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Cost-effective next generation sequencing is now a reality, meaning the bottleneck for research projects is shifting from data generation to data analysis. Researchers at the Australian Institute of Health and Tropical Medicine (AITHM) are engaged in an increasing number of high-impact projects that require timely access to bioinformatic best-practices methodologies. This proposal outlines a strategy to support these projects by developing and expanding the bioinformatics capacity within AITHM.
I am a clinician-scientist in infectious and tropical diseases, working towards the better understanding of the pathophysiology of malaria and other tropical diseases of public health importance in our region, and new ways of prevention and treatment.
Linking Genomics Of Burkholderia Pseudomallei To Melioidosis: Diversity Of Clinical Manifestations, Changing Epidemiology And Microevolution In Chronic Carriage.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,769.00
Summary
The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study has documented 761 cases since 1989, with 102 fatalities. This study has led to improved therapy and public health initiatives. New technology to sequence whole bacterial genomes provides an opportunity to determine why urban melioidosis is increasing and to analyse this unique 22+ year set of bacteria and their linked patient data to find the important bacterial virulence factors, forming a foundation for future diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
CLINICAL RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND ACQUIRED IMMUNITY TO DENGUE VIRUSES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$841,953.00
Summary
Dengue, the commonest arboviral disease of humans, is caused by any of the four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV-1-4). This clinical research project will explore how acquired immunity to dengue viruses is expressed. The results will help dengue vaccine developers make better vaccines for use in Australian travellers and in dengue endemic countries in SE Asia.
The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study: Years 27-31
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,281,718.00
Summary
The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study has documented 914 cases since 1989, with 115 fatalities. A surge in Darwin melioidosis cases over the past 5 years has been linked to urban development and the discovery of a new bacterial strain. Whole genome sequencing of our unique 25+ year set of bacteria and their linked patient data will unravel the changing epidemiology and identify important virulence factors, forming a foundation for future diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
A Prospective Study Of The Aetiology, Associations, Clinical Features And Outcomes Of Community-acquired Pneumonia In Children And Adults In Tropical Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$106,937.00
Summary
Pneumonia is common in Australia and often requires hospital admission. The germs that cause pneumonia in tropical Australia are less well known than southern Australia and likely to be different. This study will identify which germs cause pneumonia in people in tropical Australia and will identify which people become more unwell. I aim to identify the best antibiotics to use, the differences between children and adults, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and people living in different areas.
Dengue is a serious viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes. Dengue results in hundreds of thousands of children and young adults being hospitalized in Asia every year, and some patients die. There is no vaccine or specific treatment. In this fellowship I will lead a research program that aims provide doctors with the tools to diagnosis and treat dengue more efficiently and to develop a novel biological control to prevent dengue being transmitted by mosquitoes.
Malaria And Infectious Diseases In The Asia-Pacific: Drugs, Vaccines And Diagnostics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$210,873.00
Summary
Dr Karunajeewa is an expert in the treatment of malaria and other infectious diseases that have a major impact on the health of people living in developing countries of the tropical zone of the Asia-Pacific region. His ongoing research aims to develop better ways of diagnosing these infections, defining their relative importance in terms of overall burden of disease, finding optimal drug treatments and testing the effectiveness of new vaccines for their prevention.