Two Burnet Institute researchers have received more than $5.87 million through the 2026 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants to improve women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health.
Head of Life Sciences discipline, Professor Gilda Tachedjian, was awarded $3.04 million for a five-year research program to optimise the vaginal microbiome and develop new ways to prevent bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted infections and poor birth outcomes.
Harmful or suboptimal vaginal bacteria can increase women’s risk of bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The research will investigate the protective properties of beneficial vaginal bacteria and lactic acid. It will support the development of antibiotic-sparing interventions that restore a healthy vaginal microbiome.
“We need to shift away from antibiotic treatments that can have nasty side effects and find alternative ways to restore the balance.”
Deputy Program Director of Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, Associate Professor Lindi Masson, was awarded $2.84 million to advance three affordable point-of-care tests for genital inflammation, bacterial vaginosis and pre-eclampsia.
The five-year international research program will support the development of diagnostics that can help health workers identify reproductive tract infections and pregnancy complications. The program will also connect women and girls with appropriate care.
“By developing low-cost tests that can be used at the point of care, we hope to give health workers the tools they need to diagnose and manage these conditions earlier.”
Congratulations to Professor Tachedjian and Associate Professor Masson on this recognition of their research and leadership.
