• About
  • Research Focus
  • Qualifications
  • Awards
  • Community Engagement
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German born and educated with research and work experience stints in New Zealand, Switzerland and Denmark, Katharina completed her PhD in 2017 at The University of Adelaide.


During her PhD research Kati worked on developing new ways to treat biofilms, a thin and usually resistant layer of bacteria that form on and coat various surfaces in the body. She aims to change the lives of those suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis. In July 2017 she was awarded a Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis excellence, for her PhD thesis titled “Towards novel antibiofilm strategies”.


To hear about her research watch Kati’s University of Adelaide’s 3MT presentation “Bug wars – battlefront biofilms” for which she received the People’s Choice Award.


Kati was recently awarded an NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Early Career Fellowship (#1163634) for 2019-2022. Her project is titled “Maximising the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments for infection control after surgery”. A brief project description:


Superbugs, or antibiotic-resistant bacteria, cause recurring infections after surgery and non-healing wounds as existing antibiotics fail to effectively kill them. I developed and patented a novel approach to fight superbugs by feeding bacteria poisonous food. This could re-sensitise resistant bacteria and boost antibiotic activity as a double-whammy against superbugs. I will advance my treatment to clinical applications for effective infection control after surgery.


 


Chronic rhinosinusitis (a persistent inflammation of the sinuses) is highly prevalent in the community and one of the most frequently reported health conditions in Australia.

The disease is frequently associated with bacterial biofilms which are clusters of bacteria embedded in a protective layer. This renders the bacteria highly resistant to antibiotics (“superbugs”) and increases the risk of recurrent infections. Currently surgery is often the only remedy and new therapies are urgently needed.

With a pharmaceutical background and expertise in drug delivery and drug targeting Kati’s research focus is on innovative strategies to combat recurring bacterial infections (in particular of the ear/nose/throat). The ultimate goal of Kati’s PhD is to develop novel, more effective treatments to fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs and to control biofilm infections, thereby, aiming to improve medical therapies and patients’ lives.

Moreover, Kati is using state-of-the-art microscopy techniques to get insights into the micro and nano world of disease-causing bacteria.

In addition to her work at the BHI, Kati collaborates with Prof Clive Prestidge (School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia) on the development of smart-medicine approaches.

Kati is available as a supervisor to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Qualifications

  • PhD University of Adelaide
  • MSc (Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences)
  • BPharm (Hons)

Professional Associations

  • The Australian Society for Microbiology
  • The Australian Society for Medical Research
  • European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
  • The American Society for Microbiology
  • American Rhinologic Society
  • German Pharmaceutical Society

Positions held

2010-2011: Research scientist, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

2011-2013: Community and emergency pharmacist in Germany and Switzerland

2013: Visiting scientist, The University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2013-2014: Research scientist, The Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia

2015: Visiting scientist, The Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2016: Visiting scientist, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Belgium

2014-2017: PhD Candidate, ENT Surgery, Basil Hetzel Institute & The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The University of Adelaide, Australia

2017-present: Research associate (casual), Adelaide Biofilm Test Facility, University of South Australia

2018-present: Early Career Research Fellow, The University of Adelaide

  • 2014 Winner best oral presentation, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Day, Woodville, Australia
  • 2015 Winner best lay description, TQEH Research Day, Woodville, Australia
  • 2015 Bertha Sudholz Research Scholarship for ENT research, by the Florey Medical Research Foundation, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2015 The Hospital Research Foundation travel support for a research visit at The Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 2015 DR Stranks Travel Fellowship and Research Abroad Scholarship 2016 for a research visit at Zeiss Microscopy, Germany
  • 2016 Trevor Prescott Memorial Scholarship, Freemasons Foundation
  • 2016 Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year Award finalist – Science and Technology Award
  • 2016 People’s Choice Award, University of Adelaide 3MT competition “Bug wars – battlefront biofilms
  • 2017 Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year Award finalist – Science and Technology Award
  • 2017 Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence, The University of Adelaide
  • 2017 Winner of Fresh Science SA (Best Early Career Researcher (ECR) Science Communicator), Science in Public

Community Engagement

Through The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) Kati has been:

  • an invited guest for a radio interview on Coast FM
  • featured in a ‘Researcher In Focus’ article published in THRF Newsletter
  • a supporter of fundraising events such as The Longest Table
  • an invited speaker for public presentations

In 2015 Kati was a Faculty of Health Sciences Finalist in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition. In 2016 she has been selected as one of two Faculty finalists to compete in the University of Adelaide wide final on Tuesday 13 September. And in 2017 she was the Winner of Fresh Science SA (Best early career researcher science communicator), a nation wide competition run by Science in Public.

She has previously assisted as a demonstrator with undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of South Australia.

Kati is the city-coordinator and team leader of the Pint of Science Festival in Adelaide, an annual festival which takes place around the world (60 cities in 12 countries) in May. The festival aims to bring current scientific research to a broad audience in the comfort and inclusive atmosphere of a pub! In 2016 all 3 nights were sold out in advance.

During 2015-2017 Kati has also volunteered at the BHI booth at Science Alive!, a 3-day hands-on science community event held in Adelaide each August that is attended by an estimated 25,000 people.

Science Alive! 2016
Science Alive! 2016
Speaking to U3A Flinders students in 2016
Speaking to U3A Flinders students in 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media

Kati’s research featured on the Channel 9 news and a story appeared in The Australian – Starving Bacteria to Kill Infections on Wednesday 2 December 2015.

In January 2016 an article about Kati’s research appeared in ENT Today (USA).

Kati is happy to speak to the media on the following topics:

  • antibiotic-resistant superbugs and biofilms
  • development of novel antibacterial treatments
  • chronic infections
  • drug delivery, drug targeting
  • nanomedicine
  • pharmacology

Kati Channel 9 news

Kati on Channel 9 news