Enhancing Control Of Enteric Bacteria Through Pathogen Genomics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Bacteria part of the Enterobacteriaceae family are responsible for causing significant enteric disease in Australia and internationally. Compounding the public health threat posed by these enteric bacteria is the rise in antimicrobial resistance, which limits treatment options. This project has three complementary research objectives; 1) to investigate new control strategies; 2) to better understand outbreak dynamics and; 3) to explore how bacteria are causing new disease in humans.
RNA viruses are one of the last frontiers for globally significant infections. There ability to rapidly hide from the host's immune response and cause additional infections has made the ability to make vaccines very difficult. By studying patients that naturally and rapidly clear multiple infections we have identified strategies to conquer these highly divergent viruses. We are currently dedicated to trying to understand how we can mold this knowledge into a protective vaccine.
Understanding Immune Responses To Severe Influenza Virus Infection And Vaccination In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
During influenza virus infection, people acquire robust and long-lasting immunity. However, current influenza vaccines elicit only transient immunity. I will define optimal responses in different immune cell types after natural infection versus vaccination; understand why some people fail to generate protective antibodies to the vaccine; and identify key biomarkers aimed at reducing influenza disease impact in high risk groups. This work will improve future influenza vaccination regimens.
Understanding And Harnessing Immunity To Fight Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,138,220.00
Summary
Novel cancer therapies aimed at stimulating the body's immune defence have shown remarkable clinical success, although the immune mechanisms that can prevent disease recurrence remain poorly understood. Our study will fill this important gap in knowledge by elucidating the mechanisms of efficient immune protection from skin cancer and metastatic disease. As such, our results will be important for the development and improvement of innovative cancer therapies.
Leaving No One Behind: Community-driven Approaches To Eliminate HIV In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
Eliminating HIV from Australia is possible with effective HIV prevention methods like treatment as prevention (TasP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However there are inequities in our HIV response with declines of new infections in Australian-born men who have sex with men but not in overseas-born Australian men. This program uses crowdsourcing (sharing solutions from the community to eliminate HIV) and evaluates the value of the proposed solutions, to inform HIV policy.
HIV incidence remains exceptionally high in young South African women. I will leverage samples collected during two funded clinical studies in South Africa to investigate the relationships between female reproductive tract inflammation, microbiome communities and function, contraceptive use and HIV acquisition. This study will improve our understanding of the factors that influence HIV infection in this key population, as well as HIV incidence globally.
The Elimination Of Viral Hepatitis And Ending HIV/AIDS As Global Health Threats.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,114,215.00
Summary
Over the next five years my research will focus on reducing the impact of blood-borne viruses (BBVs), , particularly HCV, in vulnerable populations. Using innovative surveillance systems, research methods, implementation science and mathematical modelling, I will study BBV transmission and develop interventions to reduce it and associated risk behaviours (drug and alcohol use and sexual risk) and increase testing and treatment. My work will advance elimination of BBVs as public health threats.