The Development Of Novel Antibacterials Targeting Clostridium Difficile Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,546.00
Summary
Clostridium difficile is a bacterium associated with infections in the gut which may result in mild to severe diarrhoea and inflammation of the colon. These infections are an increasing problem for hospitalised patients in the US, the EU and Australia. We have been very successful in the past at developing new drugs to treat external infections caused by resistant strains of bacteria, for example, golden Staph. We now aim to develop our drugs to treat C. difficile infections in the gut.
A National Centre For Antimicrobial Stewardship: Using A One Health Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,601,801.00
Summary
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a serious worldwide problem. The National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship will use a One Health approach to address antibiotic use in both humans and animals. We will focus on hospitals, aged care, and general practice. In animal health, we will investigate links between antibiotic use in animal production and resistant bacteria, and evaluate usage in companion animals. The aim is to promote appropriate antibiotic use in animal and human health.
Integrative Systems Pharmacology, Neutron Reflectometry And Molecular Dynamics Approaches To Unravelling The Interactions Between Polymyxins And Bacterial Membranes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$968,005.00
Summary
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii are among the 6 top-priority dangerous ‘superbugs’ causing life-threatening infections worldwide. This study will employ a multi-disciplinary approach to decipher the complex interactions of polymyxins with the membranes of these three ‘superbugs’ and to discover novel antibiotics with superior efficacy. This innovative project targets the urgent unmet global medical crisis due to antibiotic resistance.
Targeting The Unmet Global Medical Need Caused By Gram-negative 'superbugs': From Antibiotic Discovery To Novel Therapeutic Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
Bacterial ‘superbugs’ present a significant global medical challenge. ‘Old’ polymyxins are the only antibiotics against Gram-negative ‘superbugs’ but with limited pharmacological information available. In the next 5 years, as a pharmacologist I will continue re-developing polymyxins and discovering novel antibiotics against these problematic bacteria. My research targets the “Bad Bugs, No Drugs” disaster highlighted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the World Health Organization.
Redefining Antibiotic Dosing To Reduce Bacterial Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,513.00
Summary
>3000 Australians die every year from severe infections (nearly 3-fold higher in number than our annual road toll). These treatment failures are due to sub-optimal antibiotic dosing from a poor understanding of why concentrations are different in these patients. I will use my laboratory to define what antibiotic concentrations we need to achieve and perform clinical studies with my collaborative network to demonstrate that we can redefine antibiotic dosing to reduce the emergence of superbugs ....>3000 Australians die every year from severe infections (nearly 3-fold higher in number than our annual road toll). These treatment failures are due to sub-optimal antibiotic dosing from a poor understanding of why concentrations are different in these patients. I will use my laboratory to define what antibiotic concentrations we need to achieve and perform clinical studies with my collaborative network to demonstrate that we can redefine antibiotic dosing to reduce the emergence of superbugs.Read moreRead less
Antimicrobial Stewardship – Establishing An Effective Model For Australian Private Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$55,807.00
Summary
Inappropriate and overuse of antibiotics in hospitals has accelerated world-wide antimicrobial resistance. Strategies to improve antibiotic prescribing have been effective in slowing down antibiotic resistance, however there has been little uptake of these strategies in Australian private hospitals. Needs, resources, and current barriers for these strategies will be investigated in the private hospital setting and results will be used to construct a program model that can be adopted by private h ....Inappropriate and overuse of antibiotics in hospitals has accelerated world-wide antimicrobial resistance. Strategies to improve antibiotic prescribing have been effective in slowing down antibiotic resistance, however there has been little uptake of these strategies in Australian private hospitals. Needs, resources, and current barriers for these strategies will be investigated in the private hospital setting and results will be used to construct a program model that can be adopted by private hospitals in AustraliaRead moreRead less
From Lead Compounds To Potential Therapeutics: Drugs To Treat Clostridium Difficile Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,460.00
Summary
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) attacks the gut resulting in diarrhoea and inflammation of the colon. It is classified as the number one antibiotic-resistant bacterial threat in the USA where there are 500,000 cases of CDI and 30,000 deaths. CDI is an increasing problem for hospitalized patients in the US, the EU and Australia. Our recent NHMRC funded project established drug leads against CDI and we now require continued studies to develop our drug leads towards marketable therapeutics.
Targeting Iron Piracy From Host Proteins By Neisseria And Haemophilus Spp. For The Development Of Novel Antimicrobials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
The bacteria that cause the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea and meningococcal disease are a serious health concern. In order to cause disease, these bacteria must obtain the nutrient iron from our bodies. This proposed research will use cutting edge technologies to understand on a molecular level how these bacteria obtain iron during infection. It will then apply this knowledge to develop molecules that prevent these bacteria from obtaining iron, as a means of treating these diseases.
Systems-level Characterisation And Therapeutic Targeting Of Small RNAs In Acinetobacter Baumannii Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,990.00
Summary
This proposal aims to understand how a superbug that causes severe infections in hospitalised patients worldwide and is known to be resistant to almost all available antibiotics, causes disease. We then plan on using this information to guide the development of a new type of therapy to treat this severe infection.