Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute
Infectious IDeas
Q2 2024
|
|
|
|
Prof Ramon Shaban recently had the honour of attending the United Nations Multi-stakeholder Hearing on Antimicrobial Resistance at UN HQ in New York. The multi-stakeholder hearing provided an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the on-going preparatory process for the UN General Assembly High-level meeting on AMR to be held on 26 September 2024. Chaired by the President of the UN General Assembly, participants exchanged views on key priorities for the high-level meeting and its political declaration, while exploring key challenges and potential solutions needed for effectively addressing AMR at the national, regional and global levels.
There's a lot to celebrate within our infectious diseases community. Of particular note is the grant success by our Sydney ID members through the Australian Government's Partnerships for a Healthy Region of which $11million was award for funding to explore communicable disease control, improve surveillance and address antimicrobial resistance in the Asia-Pacific region and $5million towards the second phase of the APCOVE project. Congratulations to all our members!
Sydney ID is proud to support the research of our EMCR Arthika Manoharan. She recently received an Abstract Award at ‘Eurobiofilms 2024’ conference in Copenhagen, Denmark for her presentation ‘Outsmarting the bladder: How the biofilm matrix of P.aeruginosa is more than just a protective mechanism in the urinary tract environment.’ Congratulations Arthika. *Photo courtesy: Whiteley
| |
 |  Multi-disciplinary One Health research towards sustainable aquaculture in Tanzania
Aquaculture is an increasingly important contributor to Tanzanian food security, bringing together aquatic and human health. Biosecurity and health challenges require interdisciplinary solutions to ensure sustainable industry expansion. Sydney ID's Dr Kerrie Wiley from Sydney School of Public Health and Dr Francisca Samsing Pedrals from Sydney School of Veterinary Science recently travelled to Tanzania as part of a multi-disciplinary team using a One Health lens to identify priority challenges for sustainable aquaculture industry growth in the Lake Victoria region. Learn more about their exciting work.
| |
| | |
The deadly price of a perfect strawberryJustin Beardsley, our FungiSphere Node Leader, was recently interviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald around the use of the fungicide ipflufenoquin, newly licensed to kill grey mould on farmed strawberries. This fungicide is very similar to Olorofim, a novel antifungal for use in humans that hasn’t even hit the shelves yet. He fears using this chemical on crops is “like handing the enemy the weapon in advance before the battle”. - Sydney Morning Herald. If you have a subscription you can read the article here and learn more about the health threat of drug-resistant fungus. Justin's work is highlighted in his #WeAreSydneyID researcher video.
| |
|
 Australian Laureate Fellow
Sydney ID's Prof Michael Ward has been awarded the prestigious Australian Laureate Fellowship for his project on defining the wild-domestic animal interface and microbial spillover risk. The project will build resilience to the risks associated with the spread of microbes. These include threats to the health and productivity of livestock; undermining ecosystems; putting stress on food security in remote Indigenous communities; and creating pandemic risks. This work will be promoted nationally and globally so others will be able to use their own data to undertake risk assessments.
| |  Australia Day Honours
Presented by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, our Sydney ID members Julie Leask and Matthew O'Sullivan were honoured at the Australia Day 2024 Investiture Ceremony at Government House on 29 May 2024. Both were awarded Officer of the Order of Australia in recogniton of their dedicated service in the field of infectious diseases. Watch the Investiture Ceremony here. Julie's presentation at 11:25 and Matthew's at 29:15.
| |
| | |
- To celebrate the diverse and innovative work of our health and medical researchers working in the area of global health, the FMH Networks team are hosting a Global Health Research Showcase on Thursday 1 August. The half day event aims to build collaborations between global health researchers, explore new opportunities for international research funding and create a community of ethical global health research practice. Registrations are now open.
- Did you miss our recent Distinguished Lecture entitled "The global expansion of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1"? Catchup on this highly topical presentation by our international expert Prof Thijs Kuiken.
- Understanding the environmental determinants of health is crucial as it enables healthcare professionals and policymakers to prevent diseases, promote health equity, reduce healthcare costs, inform policy development, address climate change, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration for holistic health interventions. Environmental Determinants of Health Webinar Series is a 4-part series run by the Centre for Healthcare, Knowledge & Innovation.
| |
Sydney ID members at the World Health Summit meeting in April 2024
Sydney ID members attended the first regional World Health Summit in Melbourne earlier this year, bringing together participants from around the world to explore the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, climate change and planetary health. In his article for Insight+, Sydney ID's Dr Aaron Jenkins said that the Summit has set the stage for continued dialogue and action that bridges Indigenous knowledge and scientific research to tackle the pressing health challenges of our time. Our members were thrilled to welcome the new WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala at the Australian Network of WHO Collaborating Centre breakfast meeting. Did you know that Sydney ID host the WHO CC for Tuberculosis, which is one of 54 WHO CCs in Australia? Find out more here.
| |
Our members publicationsHave you had a publication recently? Send it to us so we can share the great work being done by our members.
Matt Doyle
Nature Communications
|
|
Matt Doyle
Annual Review of Biochemistry
|
|
Winkie Fong, Verlaine Timms and Vitali Sintchenko
Pathology
|
|
Tasnim Hasan, Catherine King, Aiken Dao, Meru Sheel
Clinical Infectious Diseases
|
|
Catherine King, Meru Sheel
PLOS Global Public Health
|
|
Jim Manos, Greg Whitely, Iryna Zablotska-Manos
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|
| |
|
|
Meru Sheel
The Conversation
|
|
Kenya Fernandes, Dee Carter
PLOS One
|
|
Erica Stewart, Claudio Counoupas, Megan Steain, Caroline Ashley, Sibel Alca, Jamie Triccas
Immunology & Cell Biology
|
|
Victoria Brookes, Kate Worthing
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
|
|
Megan Steain, Jamie Triccas
Microbiology Australia
|
|
Desmarini Desmarini, Bethany Bowring, Julianne Djordjevic
mBio
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
