Waging war against potentially life threatening diseases affecting children throughout the world is the team at the Queensland Paediatric Infectious Disease Laboratory (QPID) fondly known as the bug detectives.

With more than 25 years of background experience in medical microbiology, Associate Professor Sloots leads a team of passionate researchers to unravel the mysteries of infectious diseases such as meningococcal and a vast array of other respiratory diseases.

“We’re very proud of our achievements,” said Associate Professor Sloots. “Over the last five years the QPID laboratory has developed national and international recognition for breakthroughs such the world-first identification of the W.U. virus which may have links to cancer, as well as our work involving the role of bacterial lung infections of children with cystic fibrosis.”

The world-first diagnostic test that reduced diagnosis of meningococcal disease from three days to less than one hour is another testament to what the QPID team is able to achieve.

“When a child can wake up in the middle of the night with a fever, and be dead by morning, very minute counts,’ said Associate Professor Sloots.

Thanks to the generosity of the community…people like you…the bug detectives can continue to make strides to help sick kids battling respiratory illnesses. With your help, the team will continue to develop faster diagnoses, better treatments and ultimately cures to work wonders for sick kids everywhere.