Research centre funded for global control of two serious infections in young people

Funded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), The Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in Neisseria disease control will significantly drive down cases of meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea in Australia and globally. The centre will launch in early 2025.

“The University of Adelaide prides itself in conducting excellent and impactful research including into vaccine preventable diseases,” says Professor Anton Middelberg, the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Research).

“The establishment of the new Centre of Research Excellence will advance Australian capability and play a major role in protecting the nation and world against the two serious diseases.”

Professor Helen Marshall, who will lead the centre, says: “The CRE will shape immunisation programs against meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea nationally and globally as this is one of the first times a vaccine has been used for cross-protection against two diseases. We will determine the most effective immunisation program to reduce both diseases which will have a huge impact, particularly for children and women.”

Invasive meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea are bacterial diseases that cause an enormous health burden globally.

“Both diseases are caused by closely related bacteria (Neisseria species) with 90 per cent genetic homology. We have the opportunity to prevent both diseases with one vaccine,” Professor Marshall says.

Meningococcal manifests as meningitis or sepsis and has a case fatality rate of 5 to 10 per cent despite treatment. IMD mainly affects children aged under 5 years, and adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old in Australia. Approximately half of all cases are serogroup B IMD, with a four-fold higher incidence among Aboriginal children.

“The establishment of the new Centre of Research Excellence will advance Australian capability and play a major role in protecting the nation and world against the two serious diseases.”Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Research), the University of Adelaide

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is out of control globally and increasing in Australia. In the NT, the highest rates are in 16- to 19-year-olds.

Annual gonorrhoeal notifications have tripled in Australia in the past 10 years, and impact is greatest on women and future generations as it is a frequent cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal factor infertility (there is below 50 per cent chance of infertility with three or more infections). Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge in the treatment of gonorrhoea with cases of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea escalating globally. 

“The World Health Organization (WHO) considers gonorrhoea a major public health problem, recognising urgent solutions are needed due to its propensity to rapidly develop antimicrobial resistance,” Professor Marshall says.

“WHO is considering in what circumstances the meningococcal B vaccine, which provides cross-protection against gonorrhoea as well as against meningococcal B disease, should be used to quell the increasing global epidemic.

“We are bringing together the international and national experts in meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea to ensure we are addressing the most important research gaps and providing robust evidence for the most effective immunisation program while also training young researchers in research excellence and leadership.

“We will engage young people in co-design, communication and nudge strategies to increase uptake of meningococcal B vaccine which provides cross-protection against gonorrhoea, and determine the cost-effectiveness of targeted programs for groups at highest risk of meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea.”