Palaszczuk Government funds Sunshine Coast research probing drug resistant infections

The Palaszczuk Government is funding ground-breaking research into drug resistant infections that could have global implications.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch said today (Wednesday) Dr Derek Sarovich was conducting ‘vital’ research at the University of the Sunshine Coast Clinical Trials Centre.

“The Palaszczuk Government is supporting Dr Sarovich through a $300,000 Advance Queensland research fellowship,” Ms Enoch said on the Sunshine Coast.

“This grant will help him develop a diagnostic test to quickly detect drug-resistant infections.

“His research could improve health outcomes for people worldwide and has the potential to attract the attention of international pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

“Our research fellowship recipients are building on Queensland’s reputation in health innovation and it’s exciting to see what is being pioneered right here on the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Enoch said.

Drug-resistant infections are recognised as an urgent global health priority, with a concerning increase in drug resistance driven by the overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics in both the healthcare and agriculture sectors.

Dr Sarovich said current methods for detecting antibiotic resistance are often expensive, time-consuming and laborious, and represent a significant barrier to the timely and accurate detection of resistance.

The research aims to help overcome this problem by improving the cost, effort and turnaround time for the detection of drug-resistant infections.

Dr Sarovich said the Advance Queensland research fellowship would not only help him develop the diagnostic test but also monitor patients to determine why some don’t respond to antibiotic treatment.

“Currently it takes 24-to-72 hours to test for antibiotic resistance, but the test I’m developing will provide results in just one-to-two hours,” Dr Sarovich said.

“As well as being cheaper and faster, the new diagnostic test will be a great help to doctors and hospitals worldwide who need to decide on effective treatments for very ill people.”

Dr Sarovich said his research would focus on patients with chronic lung infections in Queensland hospitals.

The Palaszczuk Government’s $405 million Advance Queensland initiative focuses on harnessing innovation to unlock business potential, grow our regions, foster new industries, and give future generations the necessary skills and knowledge for the jobs of tomorrow.

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