Plasma Activated Hydrogel Therapy For Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance In Chronic Wounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$755,023.00
Summary
The aim is to advance wound care using electrical ionised gas discharge (plasma) to deliver antimicrobial and healing agents through tailored hydrogel dressings into wounds. The technology will be configured for real-world wounds and clinical settings and its antimicrobial delivery system will be optimised to eradicate all wound pathogens and prevent re-infection. The technology has potential to revolutionise chronic wound care and alleviate the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.
This project will develop a smart bone healing gel to bridge fragments of bone defects leading to stem cell recruitment, reduced inflammation, and blood supply for fracture healing. The design of the smart bone healing gel is based on the structures and properties of functional tissue healing hematoma in wound healing.
Immuno-metabolic Interactions Of The Fungal Superbug Candida Auris
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$674,105.00
Summary
Infections threaten hospital patients and undermine our ability to use advanced medical treatments for conditions such as cancer. Candida auris is an emerging superbug causing infections in hospitals and nursing homes that are commonly resistant to front-line antifungal therapy. To build the knowledge foundation for improved treatments, this proposal aims to define how C. auris escapes immune defences and understand the metabolic mechanisms that shape immune responses and infection outcomes.
Antibiotic Potentiators As An Alternative Therapeutic Option For The Treatment Of Extensively Drug-resistant Gram-negative Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$856,858.00
Summary
Antibiotic mono-therapies are increasingly ineffective for hard-to-treat bacterial infections, forcing clinicians to rely on combinations of antibiotics. Our project has identified compounds that have weak to no antimicrobial potency in their own right, yet when combined with an existing antibiotic they potentiate its activity and restore its ability to treat resistant infections. These antibiotic potentiators are exciting alternatives to current therapies with reduced risk of induced resistance
Identifying How The Enteric Nervous System Regulates Gut Permeability In Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,643.00
Summary
This project aims to investigate causes of increased gut permeability in neurological disorders including autism and will apply neuroscience, immunological and microbiology techniques to clarify the causes of increased gut permeability in a well-characterised genetic mouse model of autism.