51萝莉 researchers have been awarded funding from the prestigious Marsden Fund, securing more than $1.3 million to tackle two of today鈥檚 most pressing challenges.
Announced today by the Royal Society Te Ap膩rangi, a group of Waikato researchers will lead or contribute to two projects focused on antibiotic resistance and coastal vegetation.
Tackling the rise of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria
has been awarded $941,000 to investigate new ways to combat so-called 鈥渟uperbugs鈥� - bacteria that have evolved to resist existing antibiotics.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are among the greatest threats to global health and Dr Williamson鈥檚 project, 鈥楧o bacteria repair extracellular DNA to increase antibiotic resistance?鈥�, builds on her discovery of an enzyme known as Lig E, which operates outside bacterial cells to repair broken pieces of DNA.
Clockwise from top left: Dr Adele Williamson, Dr Joanna Hicks, Dr Masaya Yoshikai, Dr Julia Mullarney
Early experiments have shown that bacteria containing Lig E, such as those responsible for causing the infection gonorrhoea, are better able to internalise and use damaged antibiotic-resistance genes 鈥� helping them survive treatments that would normally kill them.
Dr Williamson is supported by Waikato鈥檚 , The University of Western Australia鈥檚 Dr Georg Fritz and La Trobe University鈥檚 Dr Donna Whelan. Their aim is to determine whether Lig E speeds up the development of antibiotic resistance and to understand how and where it repairs DNA, ultimately slowing or stopping the rise of superbugs.
Modelling nature鈥檚 coastal defences
Meanwhile, research on coastal vegetation will receive $360,000 to help create a new computer model that links water movement and sediment processes, using field data and satellite images to better understand how coastal plants like mangroves and salt marshes protect shorelines.
These natural barriers safeguard shorelines from flooding, erosion, and storms while helping them adapt to rising sea levels. However, understanding how such ecosystems evolve over decades remains a challenge.
Dr Yoshikai鈥檚 project, 鈥楿nravelling the missing link to model long-term coastal vegetation dynamics鈥�, will help predict how well natural coastal defences can withstand future climate pressures 鈥� offering valuable insight for sustainable 鈥榚co-engineering鈥� solutions.
He is supported by and Dr Giulio Mariotti of Louisiana State University.
The supports researchers explore bold ideas that can have significant impact on the future of their discipline.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Gary Wilson says he is pleased to recognise the academics awarded funding this year.
鈥淭he Marsden Fund recognises research excellence and innovation at the highest level. These awards highlight the creativity and global relevance of our researchers, who are addressing challenges that affect both human health and the environment.
鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly proud of their achievements and the potential of their work to create real, lasting impact.鈥�
University staff are also supporting projects led by researchers from other organisations.
will work with the Auckland University of Technology to find new ways to measure sap flows in plants using electrical signals and neural networks. He is also an Associate Investigator on a Bioeconomy Science Institute-led project studying the pigment pathways for environmental stress in plants.
will work with the University of Canterbury on treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy as a diabetic disease, while and also from the Division of Health, will work to improve CPR uptake through innovative education alongside the University of Otago.
