Based on the background of my clinical experience as an Infectious Diseases Physician and Clinical Microbiologist, I am currently working on a PhD research project in the area of antimicrobial PK/PD in-vitro modelling. I am passionate about tackling the problems of Antimicrobial Resistance and optimising the treatment of complex infection syndromes in vulnerable patients.

Antimicrobials are a precious resource that need to be protected by preventing the rapid emergence of resistance. Hospitalised patients and the critically unwell are those at most risk of dying as a consequence of AMR, yet how to optimise and individually tailor their antimicrobial therapy is desperately lacking translatable data to influence antimicrobial treatment guidelines. The treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections often requires consideration for personalised, off-label use of currently available antimicrobials and the pioneering use of newly developed agents. Conceptually this requires a multifaceted approach that details the patient factors, antimicrobial properties and the characteristics of the infecting pathogen.

Our research directly translates patient antimicrobial and microbiological data into preclinical laboratory-based models, which, in turn, informs rational approaches in the design of clinical antimicrobial dosing studies and treatment guidelines. Ideally placed across the professional fields of clinical medicine, diagnostic microbiology and fundamental research, our research group is perfectly positioned to address complex clinical problems identified at the bedside, examine these questions in the research laboratory, and then translate the results back again to the patient.

Developing robust and clinically relevant laboratory PK/PD models will enable us to engage in independent antimicrobial in-vitro research and foster new collaborations with the biopharmaceutical industry on drug discovery, dosing and licensing. Our research outcomes will develop tools and an understanding of how to rationally optimise antimicrobial therapy in vulnerable patients. This will raise the standard of clinical care by establishing robust evidence, based on PK/PD principles, for personalised treatment regimens in patients. The broader scope of this work is to influence health policy in relation to antimicrobial licensing, susceptibility, indication and dosing recommendations.

TEACHING AND MENTORING

Principal Supervisor, Antimicrobial Pharmacology Research Laboratory Scientist, Dept. Infectious Diseases Alfred Health & School of Translational Medicine, Monash University

• Connor Anderson (2022-onwards): Grade 1 scientist.
• Elke von Gorp (2019-2022): Grade 1 scientist with 4 years’ experience. Commenced European Masters in Public Health (Sept 2022 onwards). 


Supervisor positions

• Supervisor for Infectious Diseases (RACP) Advanced Training: Dr Danielle Fitzpatrick (2023)
• Co-supervisor for Microbiology (RCPA) Advanced Training: Dr Sadid Khan (2022)
• Lecturer, Monash University (Faculty of Medicine; 2011 – 2016)


Mentoring programs

• Monash University Graduate Research PhD mentoring program: Mentor to Isobel Leece, PhD candidate, Shackleton Lab (Oncology), Monash University (2021-present).

• Alfred Health Medical Intern mentoring program: Mentor to Natalie Liu (2023), Amy McCormick (2022), Alice Jiang (2021), Kacey Shale (2020).

• Safer Care Victoria, Community Pharmacist Statewide Pilot, Clinical Reference Group member
  • Pharmacist prescription of antibiotics for UTIs, travel vaccines and contraception
• Public advocate in the promotion of community awareness in antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  • Through my position as the scientific editor of the Australian Society for Antimicrobials (ASA) newsletter
  • Radio interview community radio station RRR (26th March) on AMR.
• Community infectious diseases advice
  • Advice to the Melbourne University Rugby Club in relation to their ongoing COVID preparedness (9 Jan 2022)
• Career promotion in Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and clinical research
  • Career advice for final year high school students (Trinity Grammar School, Melbourne, 22 Jul 2020).
• LGBTI inclusivity in sport