Antibiotic-resistant superbugs threaten global health

In this latest Research Tuesdays event, Superbug Solutions, University of Adelaide researchers Katharina Richter and Andrea McWhorter will explain the serious impact of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on global health and explore the research being conducted to deliver solutions.

Dr Katharina Richter is a research fellow at the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing.

“Superbugs are antibiotic-resistant bacteria bolstered by over-prescription and unchecked use in farming,” she said.

"They are wreaking havoc on global health and claiming over 1.3 million lives annually. As we teeter on the edge of a post-antibiotic world, new solutions are needed to safeguard against infection.”

Luckily, scientists across the world are hard at work battling bacteria.

“At the University of Adelaide, researchers are following in the footsteps of Howard Florey, University alum and penicillin pioneer, and innovating against these silent killers,” said Dr Richter.

“They’re developing ground-breaking medical therapies for superbug challenges – like surgical site infections, non-healing wounds and implant illnesses – and ensuring these breakthroughs transition from laboratories into the real world.”

Partnerships with veterinary scientists are also driving advancements in safer food production and animal wellbeing.

“Even everyday activities, such as cooking, are under scrutiny as we explore the complex interplay between everyday human behaviours and microbial threats,” said Dr Richter.

Join the University of Adelaide’s Katharina Richter and Andrea McWhorter to learn how science is turning the tide against superbugs.

Speakers

Dr Katharina Richter is a research fellow within the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing. She has won numerous awards for excellence in science, innovation, and science communication, including the Innovator Under 35 Asia-Pacific, the SA Science Excellence Award for PhD Researcher of the Year, an SA Young Tall Poppy Science Award, the Women in Innovation Award, and a finalist place in the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science 2022.

Dr Andrea McWhorter is a post-doctoral research fellow within the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide. She has been a Co-investigator on multiple poultry-related research schemes, including urgent COVID-19 investigations. She was recently awarded the Industry Engagement Award by the Australian Society for Microbiology.

The Research Tuesdays lecture series is very popular so early registration to attend the in-person event is advised.
The talk will also be available to watch streamed online.

When

Tuesday, 8 August 2023. 5:30pm.

Where

The Braggs Building, North Terrace campus, The University of Adelaide

Tickets

Click here to reserve an in-person ticket.

Click here to register for the online webinar.