Dr Lenka Vodstrcil [BBiomed Sci, BSci(Hons), PhD] is a Senior Research Fellow and the principal epidemiologist in the Genital Microbiota and Mycoplasma Group at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Central Clinical School, 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 >80 publications, national and international collaborations and impacts on treatment guidelines and clinical practice.

Lenka leads a translational research program, aimed at improving management and treatment of the most common vaginal condition, bacterial vaginosis, and effective treatment and control of sexually transmitted infections, particularly Mycoplasma genitalium. 

Her programme of research on bacterial vaginosis is focused on improving cure rates for women through maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiota reflective of optimal sexual and reproductive health. Bacterial vaginosis is associated with several adverse sequelae including preterm birth and STI and HIV acquisition. She manages an NHMRC-funded multicentre randomised controlled trial, which treats the male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis. If this strategy is effective, it will improve bacterial vaginosis treatment outcomes for women globally, and provide an opportunity to make an impact on the prevention of adverse obstetric sequelae such as preterm birth.

Mycoplasma genitalium is an STI superbug also associated with serious reproductive and obstetric outcomes in women. Lenka's research into Mycoplasma genitalium assesses the effectiveness of new drugs and resistance-guided therapy, a strategy that treats patients according to their Mycoplasma genitalium drug-resistance profile. 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/