When Medicines Fail: Unpacking Antimicrobial Resistance

Imagine a future where a simple cut could turn deadly, or where routine surgeries and modern cancer treatments are suddenly riddled with life-threatening risks. This is not because of the disease itself, but because the medicines we trust to treat infections no longer work. This daunting scenario isn’t distant science fiction, it’s the fast-approaching reality of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health crisis that already affects millions yearly and threatens the foundation of modern healthcare.

In the latest episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked, host Lucy Lin sits down with Dr. Christine Carson, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Cytophenix, for a conversation about the rise of drug-resistant infections and the emerging technologies and entrepreneurial grit required to fight back.

What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites evolve to withstand the medications designed to kill them. As Dr. Carson explains, this means previously treatable infections become harder, or even impossible, to cure. The World Health Organisation now classifies AMR as one of the top threats to global health, already contributing to nearly five million deaths each year.

Why Is the Threat Growing?

The causes are complex, but a few key culprits stand out:

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics: Whether in healthcare or agriculture, every unnecessary or incorrect use of antibiotics gives microbes a new chance to outsmart our medicines.
Global spread: AMR doesn’t respect borders, it thrives in all countries, affecting people regardless of age or wealth.
Slow diagnostics and outdated tools: The longer it takes to identify an effective antibiotic, the greater the risk of complications or death for patients.

From the Lab to the Front Lines

Dr. Carson’s journey from curious researcher to entrepreneur highlights the critical need to translate scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions. At Cytophenix, her team has developed an AI-powered diagnostic tool that can pinpoint the right antibiotic to treat a dangerous infection in hours, not days, which is a game-changer given the crucial role that time plays in treating life-threatening diseases.

She reveals, “The only people who could make our test a reality were those of us who knew its potential. If we hadn’t pushed it out of the lab and into the marketplace, it might have stayed just an academic paper.”

Funding: The Missing Link

Developing new antibiotics or diagnostics is notoriously expensive, slow, and risky. As Christine discusses, traditional funding models often fail, as pharmaceutical companies see little financial incentive (since new antibiotics are often used as last-resort treatments, resulting in lower sales volumes in comparison to other drugs). She highlights creative solutions, such as government “subscription” models in the UK, where companies are paid a fixed annual fee for making new antibiotics available, regardless of their use, which could pave the way for a sustainable innovation pipeline.

Early and sustained funding from government grants and programs, such as the CSIRO ON Innovation Program, has played a pivotal role in helping scientist founders and others cross the “valley of death” between laboratory discovery and translating their big ideas to commercialise their research for real-world impact.

What Can You Do?

You don’t have to be a scientist to help slow AMR. Christine shares some simple actions:

Always finish your full course of prescribed antibiotics, and never demand them for viral infections like colds and flu.
Practice good hygiene, wash hands constantly and get vaccinated.
Support policies and companies that promote responsible use of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture.

Final Thoughts

Antimicrobial resistance is not just a problem for scientists or doctors, it’s a challenge that touches every aspect of our lives. But as Dr. Carson and her team show, science, technology, and bold entrepreneurship can rewrite the rules if we all play our part.

Want to dive deeper into the world of superbugs, breakthrough diagnostics, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship? Listen to the full episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked with Dr. Christine Carson and learn how together, we can help protect the future of medicine.

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We Thank Our Sponsor

The CSIRO ON Innovation Program proudly sponsored this episode. The ON Innovation Program has played a pivotal role in helping researchers like Christine and her team to bridge the gap between academic discovery and real-world impact. Through hands-on learning, expert mentorship, and a vibrant network, the ON Innovation Program empowers deep tech founders to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions that benefit society. We’re grateful for their commitment to fostering Australia’s next generation of science-driven entrepreneurs and for sponsoring this episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked. If your organisation is interested in collaborating with us or supporting the podcast, we’d love to hear from you, please reach out to explore partnership opportunities.

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Podcast: Antimicrobial Resistance