HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTION PREVENTION
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Professor Philip Russo (Filmed June 2024)
Professor of Nursing
Director of Research, Nursing & Midwifery, Monash University &
Director of Nursing Research, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia
Professor Russo is Director of Research, Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia and Director of Nursing Research, Cabrini Health.
Professor Russo is an internationally regarded expert in healthcare associated infection prevention, and led the recently completed the Australian National Healthcare Associated Infection Point Prevalence Survey, the first in Australia for 34 years. He is also Past President of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), the peak body for Infection Prevention and Control professionals in the Australasian region.
Aside from his role at ACIPC, other leadership and engagement activities include; former Deputy Chair of the Infection Control Expert Group (COVID-19), a member of the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Steering Committee, the National Health and Medical Research Council Infection Control Guidelines Advisory Committee, and the Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Professor Russo is the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Early Career Fellowship and has attracted research funding from government, industry, philanthropic and academic sources. He has presented at both national and international conferences, authored over 100 peer reviewed articles and several book chapters.
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Public health and research into Ear, Nose and Throat conditions
Associate Professor Paul Paddle is an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon, head and neck surgeon with fellowship training in Laryngology – Voice, airway and Swallowing disorders. Working at Monash Health and Monash Children’s hospital, Paul has extensive experience managing a wide range of paediatric ENT conditions, from neonates to adolescents. He is also an active researcher in paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea and sleep disorders.
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Neonatal respiratory trials in sick & preterm newborn infants
Prof Brett J. Manley leads and collaborates on large national and international randomised clinical trials in neonatology. He previously collaborated on 4 randomised trials of nasal high-flow as non-invasive respiratory support for preterm and term infants, all of which were published in N Engl J Med. Recently he led the PLUSS trial of intratracheal budesonide for extremely preterm infants, that recruited in 21 NICUs across 4 countries, the results of which were published in JAMA. PLUSS was awarded the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance Trial of the Year in 2025. Another passion of his is mentoring and supervising early career researchers to undertake their own clinical trials.
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Superslayer taking on antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Dr Katharina Richter is a visionary leader in MedTech, acclaimed for innovation and gender diversity. With over 40 awards to her name, including MIT Innovator Under 35 Asia-Pacific, and Prime Minister’s Prize for New Innovator finalist, she has shattered barriers as an entrepreneur, scientist, and ‘superbug slayer.’ Katharina’s groundbreaking work in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria has resulted in 6 innovative treatments, 3 of which are patented, offering hope against deadly infections.
