Lay summary
Drug-resistant bacteria, or 'superbugs,' are a growing global health crisis responsible for millions of deaths. Our research aims to develop new antibiotics to fight these infections, which disproportionately affect New Zealand’s Māori and Pacific communities. We have already discovered promising antibiotic compounds that are non-toxic and work in new ways. In this project, we will use advanced chemistry and biological engineering to create and test hundreds of improved versions in the lab. The most effective of these will then be tested in mouse models of serious skin, lung, and blood infections. The anticipated health benefit is the development of new medicines effective against the most dangerous superbugs. Our goal is to identify several top candidates ready for the next stage of clinical development. This research represents excellent value, as a modest investment could help tackle a global crisis with huge costs, while potentially launching a New Zealand biotech company.