Research Tuesdays: Superbug solutions

Superbugs-antibiotic-resistant bacteria bolstered by over-prescription and unchecked use in farming-are wreaking havoc on global health, claiming over 1.3 million lives annually. As we teeter on the edge of a post-antibiotic world, new solutions are needed to safeguard against infection.
Luckily, the University of Adelaide is no stranger to battling bacteria. Our researchers are following in the footsteps of Howard Florey, University alum and penicillin pioneer, and innovating against these silent killers. They’re developing ground-breaking medical therapies for superbug challenges-like surgical site infections, non-healing wounds and implant illnesses-and ensuring these breakthroughs transition from laboratories into the real world.
But it doesn’t stop there. Our partnerships with veterinary scientists are also driving advancements in safer food production and animal wellbeing. And even everyday activities, such as cooking, are under scrutiny as we explore the complex interplay between everyday human behaviours and microbial threats.
Join us this August to see how science is turning the tide against superbugs.
The presenters
Dr Katharina Richter is a research fellow within the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing. She has won numerous awards for excellence in science, innovation, and science communication, including the Innovator Under 35 Asia-Pacific, the SA Science Excellence Award for PhD Researcher of the Year, an SA Young Tall Poppy Science Award, the Women in Innovation Award, and a finalist place in the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science 2022.
Dr Andrea McWhorter is a post-doctoral research fellow within the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide. She has been a Co-investigator on multiple poultry-related research schemes, including urgent COVID-19 investigations. She was recently awarded the Industry Engagement Award by the Australian Society for Microbiology.