Whooping Cough Is Back, and We Need Better Solutions

Whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis, is often thought of as a disease of the past, but it is not. Cases are rising again in many parts of the world, and the consequences remain extremely serious. For infants, it can be life-threatening. For adolescents and adults, it can lead to prolonged illness and lasting complications that affect daily life.

To make matters more concerning, reports of antibiotic resistance are increasing globally, limiting treatment options and highlighting the urgent need for new approaches to manage both infection and its long-term effects.

In my lab (photo below), we focus on developing immunotherapies that not only help clear the infection, but also prevent the damage it leaves behind. Our goal is simple but deeply personal: to reduce the long-term impact of this disease and improve quality of life for those affected while providing new therapeutical options that can fight the ramping antibiotic resistance.

Behind every dataset, every experiment, and every discovery, there are people; patients, families, and communities; whose lives are touched by this disease.

If you’d like to learn more about these real stories, I encourage you to visit the link below.

https://www.ifa.org.au/whoopingcoughday/#stories