Improving The Prevention And Clinical Management Of Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$236,146.00
Summary
Modern methods of analysis employ complex tools that are not always available or easily understood by doctors making decisions. The dosing of antibiotics is usually constant, even though known factors influence its effectiveness. Similarly, how effective vaccines are can be estimated from routinely available data. This project will develop tools and strategies to assist doctors and public health authorities make the best decisions by improving the analysis of existing data.
Ineffective antibiotic therapy is associated with increased mortality in infected patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Early administration of efficacious antibiotic therapy improves survival substantially. This work seeks to extend upon my previous studies that have described the different concentrations of antibiotics between ICU patients and non-ICU patients. Predicting when to change antibiotic doses in ICU patients is likely to substantially improve patient outcomes.
Improving Cancer Survival By Optimising Drug Exposure At Sites Of Cancer Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
The metastatic spread of cancer is responsible for 90% of cancer related deaths. While the standard of care is to administer high doses of toxic drugs to kill the cancer, this often leads to life threatening side effects without guarantee of a cure. This work is aimed at identifying how nanometer sized chemotherapeutic ‘nanomedicines’ can be optimally developed to enhance drug targeting towards sites of tumour growth and metastasis and maximise therapeutic success whilst limiting side effects.