Our Infection Research Program helps to better prevent, understand, and treat severe infectious diseases that impact our communities.
Infectious diseases continue to pose a significant threat to public health. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored how quickly societies can become vulnerable to emerging pathogens. Factors such as increasing population density and global warming further elevate the risk of outbreaks, highlighting the urgent need for effective preparedness and response strategies.
Antimicrobial resistance is another major concern. The widespread and often unnecessary use of antibiotics accelerates the development of resistant strains, undermining the effectiveness of treatments for severe bacterial infections. These resistant organisms, along with other pathogens, are frequently encountered in healthcare settings, placing additional strain on our health systems.
In addition to preventing and detecting infectious diseases, there is currently a lack of evidence-based guidelines to effectively treat serious infections such as sepsis and prosthetic joint infections, where timely and targeted therapy is critical to patient outcomes.
The Infection Research Program at HMRI brings together multidisciplinary experts to address these critical challenges. Our researchers are committed to translating scientific discoveries into real-world solutions to improve health outcomes both locally and globally.
1.5+ MILLION
OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES WERE REPORTED IN AUSTRALIA IN 2023
165,000+
INFECTIONS ARE ACQUIRED IN HOSPITALS IN AUSTRALIA EVERY YEAR
COVID-19
WAS THE 2ND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH GLOBALLY IN 2021
Sources: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, World Heath Organisation, NSW Health Clinical Excellence Commission
We're working to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on human health by addressing important evidence gaps in the diagnosis, prevention, and management of infections.
Our program has expertise across four critical research areas:
Infection prevention and control/ antimicrobial stewardship
We’re researching how to prevent the spread of pathogens and infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings to keep patients safe.
We are also investigating ways to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use to help prevent the development of new resistant strains.
Pandemic preparedness
We are working to improve how we track and respond to infectious disease outbreaks by building strong surveillance systems.
Our work includes monitoring respiratory viruses and developing effective response strategies to enhance community resilience in the face of future pandemics.
Severe bacterial infections
We’re researching conditions such as sepsis and prosthetic joint infections, aiming to improve treatment outcomes and develop effective management strategies.
Our research aims to improve treatment and care guidelines, leading to better management strategies and outcomes for patients.
Translational virus research
We are researching viral infections, such as COVID-19, to discover more effective treatment options.
Our focus is on translating scientific findings into clinical applications, for example, by developing drugs that target specific mechanisms we have identified.
