Exploring the role of the gut microbiota and diet in COVID-19

Project Member(s): Hansbro, P.

Funding or Partner Organisation: The Rainbow Foundation Pty Limited (The Rainbow Foundation Pty Ltd)
The Rainbow Foundation Pty Limited (The Rainbow Foundation Pty Ltd)

Start year: 2020

Summary: Establish a high-containment COVID-19 lab that will enable us to identify the best treatments for COVID-19 in different groups of people. A major project in this would be to test the modification of microbiomes and diet to reduce the inflammation that so important in driving the severe disease in COVID-19. This is particularly important in those with existing chronic disease (COPD/emphysema, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and the aged who already have increased underlying inflammation. This project will make substantial contributions to establishing the only lab in NSW capable of infection COVID-19 research in vitro and in vivo, and to perform studies of using diet and microbiome modifiers (targeted antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics) as treatments.

FOR Codes: Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, Infectious Diseases, Clinical health

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.