New research aims to unearth ‘hidden’ HIV
Researchers have identified a way to unearth 'hidden' HIV cells, which will provide vital information towards finding a cure for the disease.
Infectious Diseases research
The Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health and Monash University incorporates a large clinical service.
We have active research programs in the fields of HIV, viral hepatitis, infections in the immunosuppressed (e.g. malignancy, intensive care and post-splenectomy patients), influenza, drug resistant organisms, antibiotic use, infection prevention and hospital epidemiology.
Clinical Research Unit (CRU)
Our Clinical Research Unit conducts single and multi-centre investigator and industry-initiated studies.
Achievements
- Professor Margaret Hellard was awarded an NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship (2016-2020) for her research program ‘Reducing the impact of blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections in young people’.
- Dr James McMahon and Dr Janine Trevillyan were awarded NHMRC Early Career Fellowships to commence in 2016 for their respective projects on prevention of HIV with antiretroviral therapy and eliminating excess cardiovascular risk in people living with HIV.
- Dr Julian Elliott was awarded an NHMRC Partnership Project Grant (2016-2018) of $928,417 to study new approaches to evidence synthesis: ‘Evidence Innovation: transforming the efficiency of systematic review’.
- Professor Allen Cheng is part of the team (CIC), led by University of Sydney’s Professor Tania Sorrell (CIA), awarded a $2.5 million NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Population Health Research (2016-2021). The CRE is entitled ‘Protecting the public from emerging infectious diseases’.
- Professor Jennifer Hoy (CIB), Professor Suzanne Crowe (CIC) and Dr Julian Elliot (CID) were awarded an NHMRC Project Grant (2016-2018) of $632,037 led by Burnet Institute’s Associate Professor Anthony Jaworowski (CIA) and with Doctor Anna Hearps (CIE) of Burnet Institute (CIE) entitled ‘A new monocyte atherogenic phenotype in chronic HIV disease’
Postgraduate students
27 PhD students
Publications
37 journal articles
Current research
PrEPX
PrEPX is a research study that is examining how expanding the use of PrEP impacts the rates of new HIV infections in Victoria. PrEPX will close enrolments in Victoria on March 31.
Find out morePrEPX South Australia
Alfred Health’s highly successful PrEPX study for those at risk for HIV infection has expanded into South Australia thanks to a new partnership with South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and SA Health.
Find out morePrEPX Tasmania
Alfred Health’s highly successful PrEPX study for those at risk for HIV infection will be expanded into Tasmania thanks to funding from the Tasmanian Government.
Find out moreHIV research
Alfred Health is a leader in HIV research, with a national and international profile encompassing basic science, clinical research and translational research.
Find out moreGeneral infectious diseases
The General Infectious Disease team and the Cardiothoracic Unit reviewed the occurrence of bacteremia in patients receiving ventricular assist device implants between 1990 and 2009.
Find out moreClinical microbiology
The unit contributes significant laboratory and clinical data to the Australian Group on Antibiotic Resistance resulting in regular publications that supply critical data on trends and resistance in Australia.
Find out moreInfections in the immunosuppressed host
The Immunocompromised Host Service studies prevention, diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal disease.
Find out moreViral hepatitis study
The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Treatment and Prevention (TAP) study is a world first study examining the feasibility of treating with direct acting antiviral drugs using a nurse led model of care in a community based environment for a cohort of HCV-positive people who inject drugs.
Find out morePublications
Low T-cell responses to mitogen stimulation predicts poor survival in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Yong MK, Cameron PU, Slavin MA, Cheng AC, Morrissey CO, Bergin K, Spencer A, Ritchie D, Lewin SR
(2017), Front Immunol, 8, 1506
Cancer therapies in HIV cure research
Rasmussen TA, Anderson JL, Wightman F, Lewin SR
(2017), Curr Opin HIV AIDS, 12(1), 96-104
Living systematic reviews: 4. Living guideline recommendations
Akl EA, Meerpohl JJ, Elliott J, Kahale LA, Sch?nemann HJ; Living Systematic Review Network
(2017), J Clin Epidemiol, 91, 47-53
Latest news
PrEP intervention cuts new HIV infections in Victoria
The number of new HIV infections in Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) has almost halved in Victoria thanks to an Alfred Health study that provided thousands of Victorians with access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication.
PBS addition expands access to PrEP
As leaders in HIV medicine, Alfred Health welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to improve access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as a significant step forward in preventive public health.