Achievements 2024

The Centre to Impact AMR continues to achieve impact across many key areas. Learn more about the important work we do by clicking on the story links.

January

• Dr Harshini Weerasinghe and Dr Francios Olivier (Traven Laboratory) did a radio interview with Einstein A Go-Go (3RRR) discussing their research into new ways to combat the threats posed by fungal pathogens in the future.
• Chris Greening was featured in a COSMOS Magazine article titled “What we’ve discovered about amazing microbes”.
• Mike McDonald and colleagues published research paper “Horizontal gene transfer facilitates themolecular reverse-evolution of antibioticsensitivity in experimental populations of H. pylori”.

February

• Cornelia Landersdorfer and colleagues published a paper entitled “Identifying and mathematically modeling the time-course of extracellular metabolic markers associated with resistance to ceftolozane/tazobactam in Pseudomonas aeruginosa”
• The “Last Chance to Save a Life” documentary premiered on SBS.

March

• The Centre to Impact AMR’s Indo-Pacific Alliance Against AMR was excited to join as a member of the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform established by the Quadripartite (FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH).

April

• Dr Franesca Short’s work on biocides was covered across multiple media outlets. She talks about how household products can contribute to the rise of superbugs and AMR. Link to our website’s news story, and BDI news article. Corresponding research paper.
• Associate Professor Mark Davis’ research paper on “Risk individualisation and moral injury in the treatment of infection as impediments to the tackling of antimicrobial resistance” was published.

May

• Associate Professor Mark Davis published ‘Antibiotic Stories: The Sociology of Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance Final Project Report’.

June

• Centre leaders and members, Jeremy Barr, Anton Peleg, Nenad Macesic, Dinesh Subedi, Fernando Gordillo Altamirano, Xenia Kostoulias published a paper titled ‘Rational Design of Frontline Institutional Phage Cocktail for the Treatment of Nosocomial Enterobacter cloacae Complex infections.’ on phage cocktail, Entielli-02, designed for frontline treatment of nosocomial Enterobacter infections at the Alfred Hospital.

July

• Jiangning Song was promoted to Professor (Level E)

August

• Dr Pok Man (Bob) Leung (Greening lab) was awarded an ARC DECRA fellowship starting in 2025.
• For National Science Week, the Centre to Impact AMR took part in hosting Monash University’s engaging activities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Cornelia Landersdorfer and team developed a quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model to predict AMR

September

• Centre to Impact AMR appoints new Centre Director, Professor Anton Peleg. We thank Professor Laurence Meagher for his guidance and support as Interim Director.

October

• Professor Trevor Lithgow received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Professor Chris Greening received the Dean’s Award for Excellence - Researcher of the Year
• Professor Jiangning Song was a senior author in a paper that unveiled a breakthrough discovery involving AI modelling for personalised cellular and genetic medicine. The original paper can be accessed here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-024-00913-8
• The VicPhage Team - Jeremy Barr, Anton Peleg, Fernando Gordillo Altamirano, and Dinesh Subedi - was awarded the Monash Faculty of Science Research Engagement and Impact Award.
• Centre member, Dr Rachael Lappan, was the first author of the paper ‘Towards integrated cross-sectoral surveillance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance: Needs, approaches, and considerations for linking surveillance to action’. Co-authors of this paper include Centre Leaders, Nenad Macesic, Mark Davis, Allen Cheng, Dena Lyras, Francesca Short, Jiangning Song, Andrea Whittaker, Karin Leder, Trevor Lithgow, and Chris Greening

November

• Media Release: How a discovery in the Merri Creek may save us from superbugs. The project was led by Prof Trevor Lithgow. Featured on various news platforms including the SMH. Original paper: Genetic variation in individuals from a population of the minimalist bacteriophage Merri-merri-uth nyilam marra-natj driving evolution of the virus 
• Centre Leaders, Jian Li and Kelly Wyres, were recognised among the global top 1% in Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researcher list for 2024
• Centre Leader, Dena Lyras was appointed as a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor

December

• Centre Leader, Simone Li, was selected as a Superstar in STEM, Superstars in STEM
• Centre Leader, Kelly Wyres, published a Monash Lens article on “Ramping up the fight against bacteria to prevent devastating neonatal sepsis”.