Kate Hammer

Dr. Kate Hammer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Western Australia's School of Biomedical Sciences. She holds dual responsibilities in teaching and research, coordinating undergraduate and postgraduate Microbiology units. Her research focuses on antimicrobial properties of natural products, particularly Australian honeys and tea-tree oil. She has led 24 grants including projects funded by CRC Honeybee Products, AgriFutures Australia, and Raine Medical Research Foundation.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from Murdoch University
• Postgraduate Diploma in Microbiology (UWA)
• PhD on tea-tree oil antifungal activity (UWA)

Research Interests: Investigates antibacterial/antifungal mechanisms of natural compounds, resistance development in microbes, and honey's medicinal properties. Current studies include WA honey's activity against yeasts and antioxidant profiles of clover honeys. Collaborates with experts in Pharmacy (Dr. Connie Locher) and Chemistry (Dr. Gavin Flemmatti).

Grants & Projects:

• "Bee Pain Free" clinical trial for honey's analgesic effects
• Coastal sandplain honey characterization
• Ngooka honey enterprise development

Labs/Teams: Involved in multidisciplinary teams studying honeybee products, antimicrobial resistance, and plant-microbe interactions through CRC and AgriFutures programs.