Meet Dr Glen Carter
Image: Dr Glen Carter
Tracking Down Superbugs: new research group to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest challenges facing modern healthcare, and Dr Glen Carter is working to develop new ways of prevention and treatment.
Dr Carter’s new Research Group is investigating how dangerous bacteria develop resistance to last-resort antibiotics, how beneficial gut microbes can prevent infection by multidrug-resistant pathogens and how these insights can be translated into new treatments, including novel antimicrobials and microbiome-based therapeutics.
Our goal is not only to understand why antimicrobial resistance occurs, but to use that knowledge to develop new ways of preventing and treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.
With a lifelong interest in science and nature Glen says the moment he realised that microbiology research was for him watching the 1995 movie “Outbreak”.
“After that I wanted to pursue the kind of work that Dustin Hoffman’s character did, tracking down and understanding deadly pathogens.”
A career highlight has been leading a multinational collaboration investigating resistance to last-resort antimicrobials in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), culminating in a publication in Nature after a demanding two-year review process.
Looking ahead, the team is focused on translating promising findings into practical strategies that can help clinicians tackle drug-resistant infections.
Outside the lab, Glen spends much of his time supporting his children, who compete nationally and internationally in ninja warrior competitions.
Research can be demanding, but my kids keep everything in perspective…it’s a great way to switch off and focus on something completely different.