About the project
This project targets antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections using a lab-on-a-chip that mimics the human urinary tract. It enables realistic infection studies and tests phage therapy; phages are natural viruses that kill bacteria. The aim is to develop faster, smarter treatments to combat resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a growing global health challenge, causing prolonged illness and increasing healthcare costs. Current treatments often fail, leaving patients vulnerable to recurrent infections. This project addresses this urgent problem by exploring bacteriophage (phage) therapy, using naturally occurring viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria, as an alternative to antibiotics.
The research will use a cutting-edge lab-on-a-chip system that replicates the human urinary tract environment. This innovative platform enables realistic infection modelling and rapid testing of phage treatments under controlled conditions. By combining microbiology, bioengineering, and advanced imaging, the project aims to uncover how phages interact with bacterial biofilms and host tissues, and to identify strategies for improving treatment effectiveness.
Intended outcomes include developing smarter, faster approaches to combat antibiotic-resistant UTIs and generating insights that could inform future clinical applications. The work is highly relevant to global efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a priority for public health and research funding.
You'll benefit from:
- access to state-of-the-art microfluidics and imaging facilities
- training in interdisciplinary techniques spanning microbiology (Dr Nikolic), bioengineering (Prof Morgan), and phage biology (Dr Nobrega)
- opportunities to collaborate with industry partners and clinical researchers working on AMR solutions
