Infectious diseases

Major challenge

Bacterial infections remain a major global health challenge, driving significant illness, mortality, and healthcare burden. Many bacterial infections and hospital-acquired infections still lack effective vaccines or treatments.

Antibiotic resistance is a major global threat to humans and livestock. Many bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics leading to treatment failure, higher mortality and limited therapeutic options. Without effective intervention we jeopardise decades of medical progress.

Our research approach

Our research scientists are tackling this challenge through a multidisciplinary, mechanism‑driven approach grounded in deep expertise in bacterial physiology, virulence pathways, host–pathogen interactions, and antimicrobial resistance. By integrating next‑generation vaccine design, fragment‑based drug discovery, glycoscience, high‑throughput screening, and advanced microbial pathogenesis studies, we are identifying new therapeutic targets, uncovering resistance mechanisms, and developing precision therapeutics capable of outsmarting evolving bacterial pathogens.

What this means for patients and the future of care

Our program addresses high impact bacterial diseases – including rheumatic heart disease, strep toxic shock syndrome, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, meningitis, middle ear infections, and gastroenteritis – with the goal of reducing infection rates, improving treatment outcomes, and preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Advances in rapid diagnostics and targeted therapies will enable clinicians to move from broad spectrum empirical treatment to precise, pathogen specific care, improving patient outcomes while reducing unnecessary antibiotic use. Collectively, this research will strengthen global health security and support a sustainable future for antimicrobial stewardship.

Key staff

Distinguished Professor Mark von Itzstein, Emeritus Professor Michael Good, Emeritus Professor Ronald Quinn, Professor Michael Jennings, Professor Kate Seib, Professor Glen Ulett, Professor Thomas Ve, Associate Professor Todd Houston, Associate Professor Milton Kiefel, Associate Professor Manisha Pandey, Associate Professor Santosh Rudrawar, Dr John Atack, Dr Christopher Day, Dr Ibrahim El-Deeb, Dr Freda Jen, Dr Ailin Lepletier, Dr Evgeny Semchenko, Dr Mehfuz Zaman

Major challenge

Viral infectious diseases pose critical and complex global health challenges, driven by the rapid mutation rates of RNA viruses, their ability to evade immunity, and their potential to spread quickly across highly connected populations. These characteristics make long‑lasting vaccines difficult to achieve, increase the risk of antiviral resistance, and elevate the likelihood of future pandemics.

Our research approach

Our research scientists are addressing these challenges through a multidisciplinary approach grounded in deep expertise in viral structure, replication, genetic variation, and immune evasion. Using structural virology, gene and cell technologies, rational drug design, and high‑throughput screening of drug and natural‑product libraries, we are developing next‑generation vaccines and antivirals. Our teams also investigate virus–host interactions and the long‑term consequences of infection to better understand disease progression and identify new therapeutic opportunities.

What this means for patients and the future of care

Our program targets a broad range of high‑impact viral diseases including hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, human parainfluenza viruses (hPIV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), norovirus, Dengue virus, Ross River virus, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and other emerging alphaviruses.

By accelerating the discovery of antiviral candidates and advancing vaccines that address diverse and evolving viral threats, we are improving outcomes for patients with acute and chronic viral conditions while strengthening global preparedness for future outbreaks. Insights into virus-host interactions and complex disease mechanisms support more informed clinical decision making, reduce healthcare burden, and contribute to improved long‑term patient outcomes.

Key staff

Distinguished Professor Mark von Itzstein, Emeritus Professor Ronald Quinn, Professor Johnson Mak, Professor Nigel McMillan, Professor Bernd Rehm, Associate Professor Lara Herrero, Dr Ibrahim El-Deeb, Dr Larissa Dirr, Dr Patrice Guillon, Dr Grant Hansman, Dr Miaomiao Liu, Dr Mehfuz Zaman

Major challenge

Fungal infectious diseases pose a profound clinical and public health challenge, ranging from widespread superficial and mucosal infections to life‑threatening invasive diseases that affect individuals regardless of immune status. Immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing cancer treatment or immunosuppressive therapies, face the greatest risk, with invasive fungal infections contributing to high morbidity and mortality. Limited treatment options, rising antifungal resistance, and delays in accurate diagnosis further hinder effective management and contribute to poor patient outcomes.

Our research approach

Our research scientists are addressing these challenges through a specialised, mechanism‑driven approach grounded in deep expertise in structural glycoscience, glycobiology, and structure‑guided drug discovery. By uncovering how major fungal pathogens use glycans to mediate adhesion, immune evasion, and virulence, our teams are defining the molecular interactions that drive fungal disease. This insight is paired with advanced capabilities in computational modelling, molecular dynamics, biophysics, and medicinal chemistry to identify and optimise novel antifungal drug candidates with precision.

What this means for patients and the future of care

Through this integrated strategy, we are developing next‑generation therapeutics aimed at protecting the patients most vulnerable to severe and often fatal fungal infections, including those with cancer and transplant recipients.

Our work is shaping the future of care by delivering antifungal treatments that are more effective, less toxic, and capable of reaching difficult‑to‑treat infection sites. These innovations help overcome rising antifungal resistance, broaden coverage to a wider range of fungal pathogens, and enable more personalised, targeted treatment strategies. Earlier and more effective intervention reduces healthcare burden and strengthens global preparedness against the escalating threat of widespread fungal outbreaks in vulnerable populations.

Key staff

Professor Joe Tiralongo, Associate Professor Thomas Haselhorst

Major challenge

Infectious diseases continue to evolve, increasing in scale, complexity and global impact. The accelerating pace of emerging pathogens highlights the urgent need for new ways of thinking, more agile response capabilities, and scalable solutions. Novel platform technologies are becoming indispensable; offering adaptable, rapid‑deployment approaches that strengthen our ability to detect, prevent, and respond to diverse and unpredictable infectious challenges.

Our research approach

Our research scientists are harnessing a suite of novel platform technologies to confront the escalating global challenge of infectious diseases. From repurposing safe, existing drugs to treat infections and their complications, to pioneering rapid‑development vaccine platforms for intractable pathogens, our teams are delivering transformative solutions. We are advancing groundbreaking methods to detect aerosolised biothreats, quantum biosensing, advanced nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, low‑cost field‑ready pathogen detection, the discovery of new adjuvants to enhance the immune response to vaccinations, biodiscovery from natural products, and innovations to improve vaccine efficacy. Together, these world‑leading capabilities position our researchers at the forefront of global infectious disease preparedness and response.

What this means for patients and the future of care

By integrating novel platform technologies across drug discovery, diagnostics, and vaccine innovation, our research approach is accelerating the development of faster, more precise, and more effective interventions for infectious diseases. These capabilities enable earlier detection, more targeted treatments, and rapid vaccine responses to emerging threats, ultimately reducing disease burden and improving patient outcomes. As these technologies mature, they will enable a more resilient, responsive, and personalised future of care where patients will benefit from timely, evidence‑driven solutions that can adapt to an ever‑evolving infectious disease landscape.

Key staff

Emeritus Professor Ronald Quinn, Professor Katherine Andrews, Professor Johnson Mak, Professor Nigel McMillan, Professor Shivashankar Nagaraj, Professor Sally-Ann Poulsen, Professor Bernd Rehm, Professor Joe Tiralongo, Associate Professor Rohan Davis, Associate Professor Thomas Haselhorst, Associate Professor Yun Feng, Associate Professor Frank Sainsbury, Associate Professor Horst Schirra, Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic, Associate Professor Erik Streed, Dr Grant Hansman, Dr Miaomiao Liu, Dr Alpesh Malde, Dr Mehfuz Zaman