Infectious diseases targeted by new ithree institute

Pathogens watch out. The University of Technology Sydney's new ithree institute - a relaunch of its Institute for Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases (IBID) - is seeking to improve our understanding of infectious diseases in humans and animals with a vision to improving treatment and prevention.

The institute launches tonight at UTS at a ceremony hosted by institute director, Professor Ian Charles, and the new chair of the scientific advisory board, former Australian Chief Scientist, Professor Jim Peacock.

The institute's team is taking a holistic systems biology approach to give greater insight into basic biology and its application to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases - the so-called One Health model.

"The institute's inter-disciplinary approach to basic and translational research focuses on understanding 'infectious ecology' and will underpin the development of new solutions to the threat posed by infectious disease," Professor Charles said.

Charles moved to UTS from the UK where he was one of the founding members of the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at University College London (UCL), one of the UK’s first institutes that focused on translational medicine.

According to Charles, despite decades of research and development of new medicines, infectious disease remains one of the most important global issues for animals and humans.

The institute will host one of the most powerful microbial imaging facilities in the world, allowing scientists to study the sub-cellular structures of bacteria and parasites – and their interactions with host cells – at a resolution at least twice as sharp as other light microscopes.

Microbial proteomics is another area of interest, with the hope of finding new components for vaccines and antimicrobial drugs to counter drug resistance.

"The core philosophy at UTS is to generate excellent research and drive innovation," said UTS Chancellor Professor Vicki Sara.

"The ithree institute under the leadership of Professor Charles will focus on building its own in-house programs and seek partnerships with other research bodies here and internationally."