This program directly addresses the major threat of antimicrobial resistance , bringing together the power of modern genomics and the promise of novel positive therapies to eradicate AMR organisms and AMR genes from individuals at risk from severe infection.
Understanding And Improving Outcomes Due To Sepsis In At-risk And Underserved Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Sepsis is life-threatening organ failure that occurs in response to infection. Each year, 19 million adults suffer from sepsis and 6 million die. My research will measure sepsis risk factors and frequency in ageing Australians and new mothers (Australia and Vietnam). I will measure the long term impact of sepsis to better understand how sepsis impacts survivors and their families. I will develop and implement relevant, culturally appropriate and evidence-based strategies to reduce sepsis.
Genomics For Combating Antimicrobial Resistant Bacterial Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,027,364.00
Summary
Applying genomics to bacterial pathogens is revolutionising the way we understand infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). There is a major opportunity to now bring the technology into routine clinical and public health practice. This research program will investigate and deliver the technology of pathogen genomics directly into public health disease surveillance, outbreak detection and the diagnosis and response to infectious diseases and AMR in hospitalised patients.
Understanding The Development And Spread Of Pan Resistance In Acinetobacter Baumannii
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,339,215.00
Summary
Resistance to all antibiotics available for treatment of bacterial infections is a cause for global concern (Word Health Organization, US Centres for Disease Control) as it also compromises therapies relying on antibiotics such as transplantation and cancer chemotherapy. Extensively antibiotic resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, mainly causes hospital-acquired infections. This project will seek to track different types of these bacteria as they repeatedly spread around the world.
Structural Role Of The Host Cytoskeleton During Invasion Of Intracellular Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
During infection by bacteria, the 'skeleton' of cells plays critical roles in sensing the invading germs and destroying them. To counteract this, bacteria have evolved strategies to hijack the cell skeleton to promote their own survival, and spread. This intriguing molecular arms race is continuously co-evolving. Understanding this process in great details will have the potential to design novel therapeutics to counteract bacterial and viral infections.