Professor Catriona Bradshaw [MMBS(Hons), PhD, FAChSHM, FAHMS] is a clinician scientist and Head of Research Translation and Mentorship at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University and Alfred Hospital. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science, Clinical Professor at the University of Melbourne and Principal Research Fellow at the Burnet Institute. Her programme focuses on translational research to improve treatment and control of STIs, including the development and implementation of resistance and point of care diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship in STIs, and strategies to optimise reproductive health. Catriona is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow, Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor and a Centre Head for the Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance (Monash University), and a Co-director of the ARC Research Hub to combat Antimicrobial Resistance.  Catriona has a strong track record of translating findings into policy and practice with >420 publications (h-index 76; >23,000 citations), is a member of national and international STI guideline committees , a board member of the International Society for STD Research and a technical advisor for WHO. She is a past recipient of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Award (2009), the Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases (2022), the Australian Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance Innovation Award (2025) and was listed by Time Magazine in The Time100 most influential people in health for 2025.

Catriona’s research has featured widely in the media over the years including: The Guardian UK, The Guardian Australia, The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, CNN, The Age, The Australian, ABC AM and FM, ABC news, SBS News, Channel 7 News, Channel 9 News, National Geographic, The Conversation, The Herald Sun, Reuters, Science Tech Daily and The Weekly Review Magazine. Her research has been covered by medical news platforms including, Medscape, Australian Doctor, Pulse Today, WebMD, News Medical, Physician Weekly and Medical Republic. Catriona has recorded science podcasts regarding her research for the ABC HealthReport, ABC Lab Notes, ABC Triple J Hook up, Scientific American Science Quickly, and podcasts for the European Socieity of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disesases. In 2025 her senior author publication in the NEJM was covered by >350 media outlets internationally due to the paradigm shift in knowledge and clinical practice.  Catriona has been invited to present at forums to promote science for young women and women in science in the corporate sector and at Monash University.

As a clinical researcher Catriona focuses on translational research to improve treatment and control of STIs, including the development and implementation of resistance and point of care diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship in STIs, and strategies to optimise reproductive health. A major focus of work has been on Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), now considered an STI superbug, which is associated with serious sequelae in women and incurable infections are increasingly encountered. Her MG programme has been responsible for key advances that have provided new drug options and resistance-guided strategies which have been adopted internationally. Her current programme addresses urgent priorities to achieve and maintain high level cure and optimal antimicrobial stewardship and the development of surveillance systems to monitor AMR.

Her programme of research on the vaginal microbiota has been focused on understanding the pathogenesis of the common dysbiosis, bacterial vaginosis, and developing interventions to improve long term cure and maintenance of a healthy vaginal microbiota to optimise reproductive health. Her group has recently completed the world’s first successful male partner treatment trial for bacterial vaginosis (BV)—a condition affecting 1 in 4 women globally and associated with increased risk of STIs, HIV, and pregnancy complications including pre-term birth. This landmark study provided the first conclusive evidence that BV is sexually transmissible and that reinfection from sexual partners is a major driver of recurrence—opening up exciting new opportunities for BV cure and prevention and transforming global clinical practice and policy.

Professor Bradshaw is Vice Chancellors Distinguised Professor; NHMRC Leadership Fellow; member of the Research Executive for Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and The School of Translational Medicine; Head of Research Translation and Mentorship at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre; Foundation Centre Head to Impact AMR; member of the Faculty Review Academy;  and Centre Leader for the Monash University Infection and Immunity Network (UNITY).