Warren Rose, assistant professor (CHS) in the Pharmacy Practice Division, received funding from the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation to support significant advancement towards the animal free study of the pathogenesis of infectious diseases.

In collaboration with the Marshfield Clinic, the research involves the evaluation of an in vitro pharmacodynamic model as an alternative to animal models in assessing bacterial virulence and toxins in community associated MRSA. Previous work in this area has studied the effect of antibiotics on bacterial toxin release in animal models of infection that involve the study of the host response to invasive disease. This new approach will validate an in vitro pharmacodynamic hollow fiber model as an applicable method to evaluate these outcomes. Using this approach, the model can be used to determine treatment regimens that maximize antibiotic effectiveness while minimizing the production of potentially invasive toxins.