Drugs and diagnostics for superbugs, viruses and cancer
Stopping the inappropriate use of antibiotics, which leads to resistance to antibiotics, by developing a diagnostic tool to identify infection.
Since the 1940s, scientists have been fighting to protect us from bacterial strains that continue to evolve.
And we’re starting to lose the fight. Bacteria are developing resistance to antibiotics, our weapons against them, forcing us to find new ways to protect ourselves.
The development of antibiotics has not kept up with the rate that resistance is developing. Some bacterial strains have become so advanced that we have no way to fight them.
They’re called Superbugs, and they’re taking lives.
Bacterial infections kill more than 9000 Australians each year, and an estimated 700,000 worldwide.
Without intervention, these numbers are set to increase exponentially. In fact, if a highly contagious strain of bacteria were to become resistant to antibiotics there would be a frightening epidemic.
We would be plunged back into a pre-antibiotic era.
Professor Matt Cooper discusses a recent Nature Communications paper
Group leader
Professor Matt Cooper
Group Leader, Drugs and diagnostics for superbugs, viruses and cancer
Group Leader, Chemistry & Structural Biology Division
Director, Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery
+61 7 334 62044
m.cooper@imb.uq.edu.au
UQ Researcher Profile
- 23 February 2021
Our approach
We have a major effort on rational design and development of novel antibiotics active against drug-resistant pathogens, in particular those responsible for hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and NDM-1 bacteria.
We have a strong translational research focus in all of our project areas and work on those indications in which there is a clear commercial case and market need for innovative and disruptive solutions.
Many of the research team have significant experience in both academia and industry, with past projects leading to products on the market today. We collaborate with government agencies and companies locally in Australia and internationally in the US, UK, and Europe.
Aims to achieve
We aim to:
- Stop the inappropriate use of antibiotics, which leads to resistance to antibiotics, by developing a diagnostic tool to identify infection. The doctor can then give the right drug, the first time, in time.
- Rediscover and optimising antibiotics that were discovered in the past but not developed into drugs.
- Crowdsource compounds from across the globe to uncover molecules with antimicrobial properties for the development of new antibiotics, through the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (CO-ADD).
Research areas
Diseases of Ageing
Common diseases
Into the future
Our team
Research excellence
Help us shape the future
Stories
- An antibiotic overlooked since its discovery 40 years ago could help develop new drugs against life-threatening infections caused by some of the world’s most dangerous superbugs.
- Gardening is a great way to relax, be one with nature and get your hands dirty. But lurking in that pleasant environment are some nasty bacteria and fungi, with the potential to cause you serious harm. So we need to be vigilant with gardening gloves and other protective wear.
- An old drug supercharged by University of Queensland researchers has emerged as a new antibiotic that could destroy some of the world’s most dangerous superbugs.