Defining Burden And Drivers Of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria And Healthcare Infections To Plan Cost-effective Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,891.00
Summary
I am an Infectious Diseases physician and early career researcher with interests in drug resistant infections and hospital infections. The research program will describe the threat of drug-resistant infections by demonstrating which superbugs have the greatest impact and by describing how these bacteria disperse through our health system. The research will evaluate and prioritise strategies to confront these problems.
Characterising And Visualising Cross-presenting Dendritic Cells Following Cutaneous Vaccinia Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,682.00
Summary
Live imaging of cells within lymphoid organs provides a valuable tool allowing insight into how immune responses are initiated. Utilising novel reagents we will visualise and define these events following cutaneous infection with vaccinia virus.
Applied Research In The Prevention And Control Of Infections In The Hospital Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$174,434.00
Summary
Hospital infections result in increased: (1) length of stay; (2) costs to the healthcare system and individual and (3) morbidity/mortality. Vaccination and hand hygiene are both proven infection control practices. However, compliance rates are still less than ideal. I will study how a new innovative method impacts on uptake of both. Barriers to masks as an infection control strategy will also be examined, as they are one of the few strategies that can be guaranteed to be available in a pandemic.
Novel Antibiotics Targeting Bacterial Secretion Systems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$303,357.00
Summary
Infection caused by pathogenic bacteria is a major health concern. Strains of bacteria are constantly becoming resistant to front line antibiotics, driving the need for more effective treatments. A drug target that is not currently utilized in clinical treatment is a family of molecular nano-machines embedded in the bacterial cell wall. These machines are called sectretins. The aim of this research is to fundamentally understand their molecular architecture in order to guide the design of potent ....Infection caused by pathogenic bacteria is a major health concern. Strains of bacteria are constantly becoming resistant to front line antibiotics, driving the need for more effective treatments. A drug target that is not currently utilized in clinical treatment is a family of molecular nano-machines embedded in the bacterial cell wall. These machines are called sectretins. The aim of this research is to fundamentally understand their molecular architecture in order to guide the design of potent and selective inhibitory drugs.Read moreRead less
Understanding And Preventing Airborne Transmission Of Infectious Respiratory Aerosols
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,894.00
Summary
This project aims to significantly advance our understanding of how infectious bacteria are transmitted through the air, and what basic control measures are most effective at preventing this. This research is focused on persons with cystic fibrosis (CF), as they may be particularly susceptible to such transmission, but our results will also help us better understand how other infections are spread through the air. This is especially important given the recent global influenza pandemic.
Infection, Immunity And Immigration Models For Prevention And Control Of Infectious Diseases In Refugees
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,615.00
Summary
Australia accepts refugees on humanitarian grounds, with a high proportion of these currently from Africa and the Middle East and many have serious infections such as TB or malaria. The outcomes of refugee children with serious infections, and the relationship of these outcomes to a range of cultural, socio-demographic and clinical factors have not been widely studied in refugees. This research will enable development of a model for optimal care of refugee children with serious illness.
Advancement Of A Personalised Approach To Minimising Infective Complications In Cancer Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,138.00
Summary
Managing infections in patients with cancer have become more difficult and unpredictable because of new generation cancer therapies. Measuring the response of the immune system (immune profiling) will allow us to predict which patients will develop infection so that action such as vaccination can be taken to reduce their risk. This program will refine immune profiling to personalise infection care for cancer patients and to introduce it into hospital practice.