Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Lenka Vodstrcil [BBiomed Sci, BSci(Hons), PhD] is a Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Head of the Genital Microbiota and Mycoplasma Group at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University. She completed a PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2009 and began as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre in 2010.
Lenka has a strong track record with >100 publications, national and international collaborations and impact on treatment guidelines and clinical practice.
Research interests
Lenka leads translational research on women's sexual and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections which are prone to antimicrobial resistance.
The common vaginal dysbiosis, bacterial vaginosis (BV), is associated with several adverse sequelae including preterm birth and STI and HIV acquisition, but is highly refractory to treatment. Lenka's women's health programme aims to improve post-treatment cure for women with BV and understand the drivers of a non-optimal vaginal microbiome. She currently co-leads an NHMRC-funded multicentre randomised controlled trial, which treats the male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis. If this strategy is effective, it will provide a cheap and short intervention to not only improve BV cure for women, but open up exciting new opportunities for BV prevention, and prevention of the serious complications associated with BV.
Mycoplasma genitalium is an STI superbug with the propensity to develop antimicrobial resistance. It is associated with gential symptoms in men and women and adverse reporductive health outcomes. Lenka's research into Mycoplasma genitalium assesses the application of novel resistance-guided therapy pathways to treat patients according to the drug-resistance profile and tracks the effectiveness of new treatment strategies. This program aims to maintain a high cure rate, and ensure optimal antimicrobial stewardship.
Lenka is a member of the ARC ITRP Research Hub to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance: https://amrhub.org.au/
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Science, PhD, The expression and regulation of uterine relaxin receptors in pregnancy, University of Melbourne
Jul 2005 → Nov 2009
Award Date: 5 Dec 2009
Research area keywords
- bacterial vaginosis
- vaginal microbiome
- mycoplasma genitalium
- women's health
- genital microbiome
- sexually transmitted infections
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Accelerating preclinical development of a novel bioactive to optimise the vaginal microbiome
Tachedjian, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Bradshaw, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Vodstrcil, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Hearps, A. (Associate Investigator (AI))
19/06/23 → 18/06/25
Project: Research
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Alfred Research Health Alliance Collaborative Seed Grant
Vodstrcil, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Hayward, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
22/11/18 → 25/11/19
Project: Research
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Advancing Women's Research Success Grant 2018
Vodstrcil, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
9/04/18 → 31/12/18
Project: Research
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Antibiotic treatment of male partners to reduce recurrence of bacterial vaginosis in women: a randomised double-blind controlled trial
Bradshaw, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Hocking, J. S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Vodstrcil, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Donovan, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lewis, D. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tabrizi, S. N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Petoumenos, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Chen, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bulfone, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Bilardi, J. (Associate Investigator (AI))
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Australia)
1/01/18 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
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Antibiotic treatment of male partners to reduce recurrence of bacterial vaginosis in women: pilot project
Bradshaw, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Vodstrcil, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Fairley, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Garland, S. M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
16/01/17 → 15/04/18
Project: Research
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Bacterial vaginosis after menopause: factors associated and women's experiences: a cross-sectional study of Australian postmenopausal women
Stewart, L. L., Vodstrcil, L. A., Coombe, J., Bradshaw, C. S. & Hocking, J. S., 16 Apr 2024, In: Sexual Health. 21, 3, 12 p., SH23094.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Case of Haemophilus influenzae urethritis in a male patient
Samra, R. S., Plummer, E. L., Vodstrcil, L. & Bradshaw, C. S., May 2024, In: Sexually Transmitted Infections. 100, 3, p. 189 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › Other › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Cost-effectiveness of resistance-guided therapy for Mycoplasma genitalium in Australia
Adawiyah, R. A., Bradshaw, C. S., Vodstrcil, L. A., Fairley, C. K., Zhang, L. & Ong, J. J. (Leading Author), Dec 2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 10 p., 12856.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus) -
Economic evaluation alongside a clinical trial of near-to-patient testing for sexually transmitted infections
Zhang, Y., Vodstrcil, L. A., Htaik, K., Plummer, E. L., De Petra, V., Sen, M. G., Williamson, D. A., Owlad, M., Murray, G., Chow, E. P., Fairley, C. K., Bradshaw, C. S. & Ong, J. J., Jul 2024, In: Journal of Infection and Public Health. 17, 7, 8 p., 102447.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Near-to-patient-testing to inform targeted antibiotic use for sexually transmitted infections in a public sexual health clinic: the NEPTUNE cohort study
Vodstrcil, L. A., Htaik, K., Plummer, E. L., De Petra, V., Sen, M. G., Williamson, D. A., Ong, J. J., Wu, J., Owlad, M., Murray, G., Chow, E. P. F., Fairley, C. K. & Bradshaw, C. S., Mar 2024, In: The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 44, 15 p., 101005.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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2023 Melbourne Awards – LGBTIQA+ Category (Team Award)
Chow, E. (Recipient), Fairley, C. (Recipient), Vodstrcil, L. (Recipient), Phillips, T. (Recipient), Ong, J. (Recipient), Chen, M. (Recipient), Maddaford, K. (Recipient) & Bradshaw, C. (Recipient), 11 Nov 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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25th IUSTI World Congress 2024
Vodstrcil, L. (Organiser), Vodstrcil, L. (Member of programme committee) & Vodstrcil, L. (Invited speaker)
17 Sept 2024 → 20 Sept 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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STI & HIV World Congress (IUSTI Europe at the ISSTDR-IUSTI World Conference) Chicago. Dedicated to 100 years IUSTI World
Vodstrcil, L. (Speaker)
24 Jul 2023 → 27 Jul 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference
Vodstrcil, L. (Session chair)
18 Sept 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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ANZVS Vulva Education Day
Vodstrcil, L. (Invited speaker)
11 Nov 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Sexually Transmitted Infections (Journal)
Vodstrcil, L. (Associate editor)
18 Jan 2023Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
Press/Media
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BV (Bacterial Vaginosis) Is Actually An STI!!!
20/03/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Could rapid testing reduce high STI rates?
10/02/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Bacterial vaginosis causing more cervicitis than chlamydia: study
15/09/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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A GP guide to treating bacterial vaginosis
Vodstrcil, L., Plummer, E. & Bradshaw, C.
18/03/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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The next frontier for bacterial transplants could be your vagina
20/02/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Blogs