Tuesday 13 May 2014 11:33am
Webster Centre principal investigator Professor Greg Cook attracted a $150K Explorer grant for antibiotic resistance research. Explorer grants are intended to advance ideas considered to be transformative, innovative, exploratory or unconventional, and have potential for major impact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released its first global report on antibiotic resistance, revealing it as a serious, worldwide threat to public health.
Professor Cook's Explorer grant will support him to develop novel antibiotics that aim to transform the way we treat bacterial infections and combat multi-drug-resistant bacteria.
In contrast to current antibiotic targets such as the cell wall, and protein and DNA synthesis, Professor Cook's team have developed new antibiotics that target the part of all living cells that produce energy. These new antibiotics or 'metabiotics', so-called because they target a metabolic process, will help the medical community keep pace with the growing problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Read more about Professor Cook and his research:
- Innovative Otago health research gains funding 12 May 2014, University of Otago media release
- $150k grants for research 13 May 2014 Otago Daily Times website
- Professor Greg Cook research profile
