
Microbes cause some of the world’s most critical health problems and are responsible for approximately one-third of deaths worldwide each year. Emerging and re-emerging pathogens such as Zika virus, Salmonella and multidrug resistant Escherichia coli are a constant and rapidly evolving threat. Microbes interact with host organisms in both health and disease and therefore it is critical to understand how they survive, evolve and replicate.
UNSW School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences is committed to fostering a collaborative and vibrant community of diverse researchers, educators and students. We are dedicated to a broad range of research and teaching activities providing the groundwork for combating critical infectious disease problems.
Our research focuses on transmission, evolution, pathogenesis, replication, prevention and treatment, with an aim to combat the invisible microbes that remain a huge biological challenge affecting both human and animal health.
The burden of infectious disease continues to be significant in Australia. The potential for serious outbreaks presents a major public health challenge and requires rapid detection, and effective control and prevention strategies. Microbes in health and disease research is conducted in collaboration with other research institutions, public health organisations, quarantine services, and agricultural and animal production sectors.
We bring together a wide range of internationally recognised research expertise to investigate the microbiological factors affecting a range of vital health issues including: