معرفی
Jeremy Barr is an Associate Professor (Research) at Monash University's School of Biological Sciences and a key member of the Monash Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). He leads an independent laboratory focused on bacteriophage biology and has established himself as a significant contributor to phage therapy research.
Dr. Barr completed his PhD in microbiology at The University of Queensland in 2011 as part of the Advanced Water Management Center. He then conducted postdoctoral research under Prof. Forest Rohwer at San Diego State University, where he studied bacteriophage interactions with mucosal surfaces that provide non-host-derived immunity. He joined Monash University in 2016 to establish his independent laboratory in Bacteriophage Biology and became part of the Monash Centre to Impact AMR in 2020.
His research program centers on bacteriophage-virus interactions with bacterial hosts and eukaryotic cells, with particular focus on the Bacteriophage Adherence to Mucus (BAM) model. His lab investigates how phages control bacterial populations, prevent infection, and regulate the microbiome through tri-partite symbioses. They utilize cross-disciplinary techniques to explore fundamental bacteriophage biology with applications for combating antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Barr's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on translating phage biology into clinical applications, particularly for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. His work shows how phage resistance can paradoxically resensitize bacteria to antibiotics, providing new therapeutic approaches against pathogens like Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- Faculty Of Science Awards: Research Excellence by an Early Career Researcher (2021)
- Tall Poppy Award (2021)
- Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence by an Early Career Researchers (STEM) (2021)
Dr. Barr is actively involved in multiple research projects, including The Monash Phage Foundry to manufacture clinical-grade phage products, investigations into bacteriophage internalization by human cells, and research to improve the clinical translation of phage therapy. He is also part of the Aerosol Infection Research project (AIRBORNE) funded by the Medical Research Future Fund. As an active member of the community empowerment initiative, he helps raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance and has contributed to public understanding through numerous media appearances and public lectures.
His laboratory serves as an experimental biology hub utilizing cross-disciplinary approaches to investigate fundamental and mechanistic bacteriophage biology, with direct applications for addressing the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.
