ithree institute Director Professor Ian Charles (L) with industry advisory chair Dr Jim Peacock
Directed by the internationally renowned Professor Ian Charles, the institute brings together an acclaimed team of researchers focused on addressing key challenges in the understanding and control of infectious diseases in humans and animals. Former Chief Scientist of Australia Dr Jim Peacock was announced to be chair of its scientific advisory board.
The institute's innovative team is developing a systems biology approach to give greater insight into basic biology and its application to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
According to institute Director Professor Ian Charles, the ithree institute is at the forefront of understanding the importance of the interplay of pathogens, in both human and animal hosts, and the environment – the so called One Health model.
"The Institute's inter-disciplinary approach to basic and translational research focuses on understanding 'infectious ecology' and will underpin the development of new solutions to the threat posed by infectious disease," Professor Charles said.
OMX miroscope image of a bone cell
Professor Charles moved to UTS from the UK where he was one of the founding members of the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at University College London (UCL). This was one of the UK’s first institutes that focused on translational medicine.
He said despite decades of groundbreaking research and development of new medicines infectious disease remained one of the most important global issues for animals and humans.
Welcoming the launch of the ithree institute, Dr Jim Peacock said the work of the institute would be vital as microbial resistance to drugs continued to be a key challenge in world health.
"It will be an honour to work with UTS as it invests in this important area of research as chair of the institute's scientific advisory board," he said.
UTS Chancellor Professor Vicki Sara said UTS had invested heavily in infectious disease research that included one of the most powerful microbial imaging facilities in the world. It allows scientists to study the sub-cellular structures of bacteria and parasites – and their interactions with host cells – at a resolution at least twice as sharp as other light microscopes.