Q&A with Dr. Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne: Deciphering a Bacteria’s Drug Resistance to Develop Better Treatments
December 4, 2024Dr. Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne of the University of Kentucky is studying how a bacteria called Stenotrophomonas maltophilia reacts to various antibiotic regimens.
Antibiotic-resistant infections continue to be an urgent public health threat, with more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths each year in the United States. One drug-resistant bacterium, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, is a growing concern in hospitals and communities, particularly for patients with weakened immune systems.
Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne, PharmD, MPH, an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, received a 2024 PhRMA Foundation Faculty Starter Grant in Translational Medicine for her research to develop better treatments for S. maltophilia by studying how it reacts to various antibiotic regimens.
By examining the bacterium’s response at the molecular level, Kunz Coyne hopes to better understand its resistance mechanisms, and ultimately, discover new ways to treat these infections and improve outcomes for vulnerable patients.
Watch this video to learn more about Kunz Coyne and her research.
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