Doing Our Part

As we all know the novel Coronavirus has been wreaking havoc all across the world now for several months. Shutdowns, closures, cabin fever and social distancing has affected us all. And thankfully we seem to have dodged the worst of it here in Australia and in Perth. With schools reopening and other restrictions being slowly released we can have discussions not about flattening the curve but about getting everyone back to work. But, even though we are doing relatively better than other places we, at Murdoch, are still doing our part in the fight against the novel Coronavirus COVID-19.

The Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) based at Murdoch University, in conjunction with the South Metro Health Service, has joined the fight against COVID-19 by launching a major research project. I was lucky enough to get an interview with Nicola Whiley, scientist at the centre, about the pioneering work they are doing. Led by pioneer Professor Jeremy Nicholson, his team of outstanding scientists includes the likes of Professor Merrilee Needham, Professor Toby Richards, Dr Sze Bong and top doctors across the state. The importance of this research is so high that the ANPC is currently dedicating 100% of its resources to this project.

COVID-19 is now the main focus of Murdoch Uni’s $50 million-dollar Phenome Centre. This centre is now the most advanced facility in Australia and one of the most advanced facilities of this nature in the world. Here’s the sciency bit - These scientists are looking to improve the identification of disease stratification biomarkers of COVID-19 and assess the effectiveness of treatments as part of major clinical trials. The research aims to measure, for example, changes in the lipid profile and lipid mediators which are inflammation markers. Basically, by analysing the molecular, physical, and biochemical characteristics of bodily fluids the goal is that they will ultimately be able to predict variation in severity and the different responses to therapeutic intervention. This will allow doctors to detect and stratify patients by severity and risk in order to assess real time patient response to treatment, effectively individualising treatment. This research is not too much of a far cry from what these scientists normally research – genetics and the various environmental impacts on disease development – they are now applying their research skills and methods to a very new infectious disease.

Here are some other projects that our various scientists at Murdoch have already contributed to in the fight against the global Coronavirus pandemic

·      The development of a faster, more cost-effective test for COVID-19!

·      Setting up labs so that they can easily test 1000 patients a day!