Sexual health researchers nominated for Eureka Prize

L-R: Prof Kit Fairley, A/Prof Eric Chow, Prof Marcus Chen, Prof
Jane Hocking, Prof Deborah Williamson, Prof Catriona Bradshaw

Four Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences research projects across the ‘Research and Innovation’ and ‘Leadership’ categories have been named as finalists in the 2022 Australian Museum Eureka Prize, including members of Central Clinical School's Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC).

The Eureka Prizes honour excellence across the areas of research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science, and are presented annually in partnership with some of the country’s leading scientific institutions, government organisations, universities and corporations.

See all four Monash MNHS finalists shortlisted for the 2022 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes in the faculty story and MSHC detail below. 

Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research nomination is for the team including: Associate Professor Eric Chow (Monash Central Clinical School), Professor Christopher Fairley, Professor Catriona Bradshaw , Professor Marcus Chen, along with Professor Jane Hocking and Professor Deborah Williamson from The University of Melbourne.

Rapid rises in sexually transmitted infection (STI) and antibiotic resistance are a growing global concern. A research team at Monash University in collaboration with The University of Melbourne has explored new routes of transmission for gonorrhoea, and developed novel interventions and strategies to treat and improve the control of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis and Mycoplasma genitalium and to optimise antimicrobial stewardship. This includes (1) conducting the first clinical trial to compare the efficacy of azithromycin with doxycycline for rectal chlamydia to inform Australian and international treatment guidelines; (2) investigating new agents for resistant M. genitalium and developing a novel resistance-guided treatment strategy to improve cure of M. genitalium that changed international policy and practice; (3) using genomics to respond to sexually transmitted pathogens; and (4) identifying kissing as a risk factor for gonorrhoea transmission and investigating mouthwash as a potential intervention for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea.