A University of Queensland clinical scientist has won a prestigious European award for potentially life-saving antibiotic drug therapy research.
Professor Jason Roberts said the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Young Investigator Award was an important acknowledgement of the work created by a network of UQ researchers.
It was awarded in recognition of Professor Roberts’ research into preventative treatments for dangerous multi-drug resistant bacteria, or superbugs, as part of his work on immunity and infectious diseases at UQ’s School of Medicine and the UQ Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR).
“The prize is really a very pleasant acknowledgement of all the great work being done by my colleagues across the School of Medicine, UQCCR and the School of Pharmacy,” he said.
“This award promotes our research efforts to a wider audience and recognises the hard work and outstanding achievements we have been able to make in improving outcomes around the world for intensive care unit patients with severe infections.”
Professor Roberts said his research was part of a growing body of work across UQ that aimed to combat the rising global threat superbugs posed to public health.
“Our research seeks to stop people dying from infection in the ICU, but also to minimise the emergence of superbugs,” he said.
“Antibiotic dosing is a key component of this, and we aim to develop antibiotic doses that will stop the emergence of superbugs, which are a threat to modern healthcare.”
He said the research outcomes should result in better healthcare and ways to safeguard precious antibiotics.
The Young Investigator Award, presented in Copenhagen, acknowledges excellence in research and aims to stimulate further high-quality research.
Media: Professor Jason Roberts, +61 07 3646 4108, j.roberts2@uq.edu.au; UQCCR Marketing Communications Officer Chelsey Parish, +61 7 3346 6041, 0438 753 471, c.parish@uq.edu.au; or UQ Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Media Manager Bernadette Condren, +61 7 3346 5309, b.condren@uq.edu.au.
