Research Strengths
The Research Centre for Infectious Diseases brings together established and emerging researchers with synergistic skills that is rapidly accelerating basic research into the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of infectious organisms.
This knowledge is also enabling us to translate basic discoveries into improved health outcomes.
Key research themes
The study of bacterial, viral and parasite pathogenesis has changed dramatically in recent years due to revolutionary technological developments and availability of advanced molecular and cellular tools for investigation of the pathogen-host interface. We work on:
- Understanding the key determinants of bacterial, viral and parasite pathogenesis.
- Identification and validation of bacterial, viral and parasite vaccine targets and optimisation of vaccine delivery protocols.
- Identification and validation of novel bacterial, viral and parasite drug targets and chemotypes.
Research achievements
Higher degree research training and early career researcher mentorship are major components of the RCID vision to develop the next generation of Australian infectious disease research scientists.
This high-calibre of researchers in the RCID is reflected, not only by the quality of their research outputs, but also in other forms of peer-recognition, such as prizes and fellowships. The following is a summary of awards and prizes won by students and researchers of the RCID since 2013.
| Year | Recipient | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ben Liffner | Hans-Jürgen and Marianne Ohff Research Grant |
| 2018 | Vikrant Minhas | Australian Society for Microbiology SA/NT Student Award - Travel Award |
| 2018 | Byron Shue | Australian Society for Virology - Travel Award |
| 2018 | Amy Burns | Esther Bright Travel Award (Soroptimist International of Adelaide) |
| 2018 | CK Lim | Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research - Travel Award |
| 2018 | Vincenzo Leo | University of Adelaide - Postgraduate Symposium Popular Poster Award |
| 2018 | Rosa Coldbeck-Shackley | University of Adelaide - Postgraduate Symposium Popular Poster Award (Runner up) |
| 2018 | Isabelle Henshall | Australian Society for Parasitology Conference Travel Award |
| 2018 | Shannon David | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Travel Grant |
| 2017 | Prof James Paton | South Australian Scientist of the Year |
| 2017 | Shannon David | University of Adelaide- Postgraduate Symposium 3 Oral Presentation Award |
| 2017 | Jilong (Brad) Qin | University of Adelaide- Postgraduate Symposium Popular Poster Award |
| 2016 | Shannon David | University of Adelaide- Postgraduate Symposium Popular Poster Award |
| 2016 | Dr Bart Eijkelkam | Adelaide Protein Group - Early Career Researcher Award |
| 2016 | Dr Bart Eijkelkam | Faculty of Sciences - Daniel Walker Medal for ECR Research Excellence |
| 2016 | Dr Nick Eyre | International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and Related Viruses (Kyoto, Japan) - Travel Fellowship |
| 2016 | Matthew Doyle | University of Adelaide - Doctoral Research Medal |
| 2015 | Prof James Paton | Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiologists |
| 2015 | Matthew Doyle | School of Biological Sciences- Postgraduate Achievement Award |
| 2015 | Matthew Doyle | Faculty of Sciences - Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence |
| 2015 | Matthew Doyle | Best poster by a PhD student - BacPath 15 – The Molecular Biology of Bacterial Pathogens Conference |
| 2015 | Dr Nick Eyre | Oral Poster Award - Australian Virology Society Meeting, Hunter Valley |
| 2015 | Dr Danny Wilson | Faculty of Sciences - Early Career Researcher Travel Award |
| 2015 | Dr Christopher McDevitt | Biochemical Society UK Travel Award - Gordon Research Conference Travel Support |
| 2015 | Dr Bart Eijkelkamp | Cass Foundation Travel Award - Europneumo 2015 Invited Talk Travel Support |
| 2015 | Dr Bart Eijkelkamp | Biochemical Society UK Travel Award - Europneumo 2015 Invited Talk Travel Support |
| 2015 | Dr Bart Eijkelkamp | Faculty of Sciences Early Career Researcher Travel Award |
| 2015 | Stephanie Begg | Oral Prize - Adelaide Protein Group Annual Student Award Event |
| 2015 | Jaqueline Morey | Best Poster - Adelaide Protein Group Annual Student Award Event |
| 2014 | Dr Christopher McDevitt | RCDN Travel Award - Biometals 2014 Invited Talk Travel Support |
| 2014 | Stephanie Begg | Best Poster - 5th FEBS Special Meeting on ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Proteins: From Multidrug Resistance to Genetic Diseases |
| 2014 | Rachelle Babb | University of Adelaide- 3 Minute thesis competition |
| 2014 | Matthew Doyle | Oral Prize - Adelaide Protein Group Annual Student Award Event |
| 2014 | Matthew Doyle | School of Biological Sciences- Postgraduate Symposium Best Oral Presentation |
| 2013 | Prof James Paton | Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences |
| 2013 | Dr Miranda Ween | Executive Dean of Sciences Order of Merit for Early Career Research Excellence |
| 2013 | Dr Miranda Ween | Research Career Development Network Early-Career Award, University of Adelaide |
| 2013 | Matthew Doyle | Poster Prize - Adelaide Protein Group Annual Student Award Event |
| 2013 | Matthew Doyle | Best Oral Presentation - The Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting |
| 2013 | Matthew Doyle | School of Biological Sciences- Research Symposium Poster Award |
| 2013 | Victoria Lewis | Best Poster - The Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting |
| 2013 | Dr Miranda Ween | Winner - Disease Zone - I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here! |
| 2013 | Dr Alistair Standish | Best oral presentation by a Postdoctoral Fellow - BacPath 12 – The Molecular Biology of Bacterial Pathogens Conference |
| 2013 | Dr Elizabeth Tran | Best poster by a Postdoctoral Fellow - BacPath 12 – The Molecular Biology of Bacterial Pathogens Conference |
The Research Centre for Infectious Diseases has been awarded more than $41 million dollars in competitive research funding since it was established in 2008.
This has enabled the RCID to remain focused as one of the most research intensive centres at University of Adelaide.
| Year End | Year Start | Applicants | Funding body | Project | Funded amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2015 |
|
DVCR Interdisciplinary Research Fund | Next generation metalloproteomics | $28,000 |
| 2015 | 2015 |
|
DVCR Interdisciplinary Research Fund | Bioruptor Plus | $50,000 |
| 2019 | 2015 |
|
NHMRC Program Grant | Proteins and glycans in host-pathogen interactions: targets for novel drugs and vaccines | $8,795,785 |
| 2017 | 2015 |
|
ARC Discovery Grant | The critical role of bacterial poly-histidine triad proteins in zinc recruitment. | $384,300 |
| 2018 | 2015 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | Novel perspectives on the function of AB5 toxin B subunits | $1,002,230 |
| 2017 | 2015 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | The molecular basis for manganese uptake by pathogenic bacteria | $613,134 |
| 2015 | 2015 |
|
Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation | Investigation of a novel protein tyrosine phosphatase in Streptococcus pneumoniae | $35,000 |
| 2015 | 2015 |
|
The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering | Gamma-irradiated virus vaccines: concepts and parameters | $13,250 |
| 2018 | 2014 |
|
NHMRC Program Grant | Hepatitis C infection: epidemiology pathogenesis and treatment | $5,427,855 |
| 2016 | 2014 |
|
ARC DECRA Fellowship | The molecular determinants of biofilm formation in Streptococcus pneumoniae: novel targets for vaccines and therapeutics. | $395,220 |
| 2014 | 2014 |
|
IPAS Extending Collaborations Pilot Projects | Towards a light-driven, biocompatible sensor for the rapid detection of bacterial toxins | $16,000 |
| 2017 | 2013 |
|
NHMRC | Senior Principal Research Fellowship | $808,375 |
| 2013 | 2013 |
|
Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation Equipment Grant | Zetasizer Nano ZSP for protein characterisation and drug discovery | $67,595 |
| 2013 | 2013 |
|
IPAS Extending Collaborations Pilot Projects | Development of a photoswitchable, membrane-based metal ion sensing platform | $8,500 |
| 2013 | 2013 |
|
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation | The role of a Type I secretion system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation | $31,000 |
| 2015 | 2013 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | Capsule synthesis and yyrosine phosphorylation in Streptococcus pneumoniae |
$567,767 |
| 2015 | 2012 |
|
ARC Linkage Grant | A single vaccine for influenza and pneumonia. | $276,000 |
| 2013 | 2012 |
|
Garnett Passe & Rodney Williams Foundation - Training Fellowship | The molecular determinants of biofilm formation in Streptococcus pneumoniae: novel targets for vaccines and therapeutics. | $150,000 |
| 2012 | 2012 |
|
Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation Equipment Grant | Sub-cellular particle analysis instrumentation for drug discovery | $54,783 |
| 2012 | 2012 |
|
NHMRC Equipment Grant | Temperature controlled protein purification system | $62,042 |
| 2013 | 2012 |
|
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation | NTHi and its biofilm formation | $68,000 |
| 2012 | 2012 |
|
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation | The search for novel inhibitors of capsule synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae | $35,000 |
| 2014 | 2012 |
|
ARC Discovery Grant and DORA Fellowship | Novel perspectives on the function of AB5 toxin B subunits | $860,000 |
| 2014 | 2012 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | The roles of manganese and zinc in host-pathogen interaction | $568,375 |
| 2014 | 2012 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | Imaging the hepatitis C virus life cycle in living cells | $461,325 |
| 2014 | 2012 |
|
ARC Discovery Grant | The molecular basis for bacterial susceptibility to zinc. | $255,000 |
| 2014 | 2012 |
|
ARC Discovery Grant | Functional characterization of poly-histidine triad proteins. | $275,000 |
| 2012 | 2012 |
|
Merck Investigator Studies Program | Analysis of Boceprevir drug susceptibility and resistance in HCV genotype 6 | $115,000 |
| 2011 | 2011 |
|
NHMRC Equipment Grant | Ultracentrifuge | $78,000 |
| 2011 | 2011 |
|
Australian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: PG studentship | The role of ABC transporters in Pseudomonas aeruginosa multidrug resistance | $15,000 |
| 2012 | 2011 |
|
ACH2 | Phase II. Development of a laboratory based platform to manage patients who develop antiviral drug-resistance to the STAT-C compounds | $113,000 |
| 2011 | 2010 |
|
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenge Explorations | A toxin-binding probiotic for prevention of ETEC diarrhea | $110,000 |
| 2014 | 2010 |
|
NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship | $560,000 | |
| 2011 | 2010 |
|
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation | The role of manganese in the virulence and pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa | $98,000 |
| 2011 | 2010 |
|
Dept Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology; Australia- China Special Fund for Scientific and Technological Cooperation |
New medicines for important infectious diseases | $198,591 |
| 2010 | 2010 |
|
Australian Cancer Research Foundation | South Australian Cancer Genome Facility | $3,500,000 |
| 2014 | 2010 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | Molecular analysis of pneumococcal pathogenesis. | $1,068,030 |
| 2014 | 2010 |
|
NHMRC Program Grant | Pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of bacterial infectious diseases. | $9,427,000 |
| 2011 | 2010 |
|
ACH2 | Development of a laboratory based platform to manage patients who develop antiviral drug-resistance to the STAT-C compounds | $142,000 |
| 2011 | 2010 |
|
Roche Pillar Award | Ultra-deep sequencing of hepatitis C and hepatocytes following interferon exposure | $40,000 |
| 2013 | 2009 |
|
NHMRC Program Grant | HIV and HCV Vaccines and Immunopathogenesis | $17,800,000 |
| 2009 | 2009 |
|
NHMRC Equipment Grant | Bacterial cell lysis system | $27,000 |
| 2011 | 2009 |
|
ARC Linkage | Environmental genomics: mining, climate change, water, crime and health. | $500,000 |
| 2009 | 2009 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | Intra- and intercellular spreading in Shigella pathogenesis | $168,750 |
| 2009 | 2009 |
|
NHMRC Development Grant | Proof of concept studies on a novel class of antibiotics | $196,000 |
| 2009 | 2009 |
|
Faculty of Health Sciences Research Development Award | Mechanism of LPS O antigen biosynthesis in Shigella and E. coli | $12,000 |
| 2009 | 2009 |
|
Adelaide Research and Innovation Commercial Accelerator Scheme | Proof of concept studies on a novel class of antibiotics | $250,000 |
| 2011 | 2009 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | The molecular physiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae during sepsis | $568,135 |
| 2009 | 2009 |
|
ARC LIEF | South Australian Facility for Small and Large Molecule X-Ray Diffraction Structure Determination | $560,000 |
| 2012 | 2009 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | Virulence strategies of LEE-negative Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli | $744,455 |
| 2010 | 2008 |
|
NHMRC Project Grant | Identification of interferon stimulated genes that limit HCV replication and predict therapeutic outcome | $468,750 |
| 2008 | 2008 |
|
NHMRC Equipment Grant | Facility for in vivo transcriptional analysis of the host-pathogen interaction | $61,000 |
| 2008 | 2008 |
|
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation | Treatment and/or prevention of pneumococcal disease by designing novel drugs targeting capsule biosynthesis proteins CpsB and CpsD | $50,417 |
| 2010 | 2008 |
|
PATH Vaccine Solutions | Trivalent pneumococcal protein vaccine: Preclinical optimization, GMP production and Phase I US trial | $650,000 |
| 2010 | 2008 |
|
PATH Vaccine Solutions | Pneumococcal vaccine candidates: Efficacy tests in animals | $840,000 |
| 2011 | 2008 |
|
Meningitis Research Foundation (UK) | Chracterization and vaccine potential of pneumococcal virulence factors expressed during meningitis | $437,000 |
| 2012 | 2007 |
|
NHMRC | Australia Fellowship | $4,000,000 |
| 2011 | 2006 |
|
NIH | Characterization of a novel AB5 cytotoxin | $1,400,000 |