A Story of Resistance: How Bacteria Are Threatening Our Healthcare System

Our ability to successfully treat bacterial infections has been one of the greatest achievements in medical science. Indeed, our success at treating bacterial infections has led to it being an integral part of many routine and exceptional medical interventions alike. However, the unparalleled success of antibiotic therapy led to its ubiquitous use, facilitating the development of antibiotic resistance and casting doubt on the effectiveness of antibiotics in the future. This talk will offer a brief history of bacterial resistance, before examining current challenges, areas of inquiry, and considering how we can avoid a post-antibiotic world.

Andrew received an honours bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of the Fraser Valley. His BSc thesis received the Dr Richard Playle Award for Outstanding BSc Thesis in Aquatic Toxicology for work on how bacteria can be used to clean up toxic chemical spills. He is currently pursuing a PhD in biochemistry at UBC. His PhD thesis focuses on gaining a molecular understanding of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) antibiotic resistance mechanisms. He has received a number of awards and currently holds the Vanier Scholarship, Killam Scholarship and Four-Year Fellowship. In his free time, he likes to read widely and get outside to hike, sail, bicycle, and ski.