Jessica Carlson-Jones

Jess is interested in collaborating with clinicians on integrating clinical data and metagenomic sequencing to explore how microbiome dynamics influence health and disease. Her background includes using flow cytometry and metagenomics to quantify and identify bacteria and viruses involved in respiratory conditions such as chronic rhinosinusitis, sleep-disordered breathing, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis.

Her current work is supported by the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation Bloom Research Grant and is titled Rapid Respiratory Response in Rural and Remote Regions (RRR2). The project focuses on the respiratory microbiome of children with bronchiectasis living in rural and remote communities, specifically in Alice Springs and Mount Gambier. The goal of the study is to develop a portable, DNA sequencing-based diagnostic pipeline capable of identifying bacteria and viruses within 24 hours, tailored for use in settings with limited laboratory infrastructure. This rapid, microbiome-informed approach aims to support clinicians in delivering timely, targeted treatments, avoiding delays that can lead to irreversible lung damage. Ultimately, these techniques aim to improve and redefine how pathogens are screened for and monitored in response to treatment in rural and remote areas.