The Staphylococcus Institute was created to foster education and research regarding this formidable foe several years ago. It has worked with the University of Hawaii in several departments, including the John A Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).

The Institute is involved in ongoing research funded by a variety of sources to investigate staphylococci in the environment, its relationship with seawater, topical antimicrobial therapy as an alternative to systemic therapy and a database which contains over 1000 strains of staphylococci that have been characterized in regard to their clones as well as genes and virulence factors that may relate to their pathogenesis as well as transmissibility.

The Summer Staphylococcus Institutes have also provided weekly afternoon “Staph Meetings” which have served as an interface for researchers, clinicians, and the public as well as the local media to discuss the problems we all face with staphylococci, especially with the evolution of the methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains.

The Summer Staphylococcus Institutes of 2006 and 2007 brought undergraduate and graduate students together from various institutions on the Mainland and Hawaii, especially with the Native Hawaiian program. The focus has been on introducing students to the laboratory and bench work as well as the epidemiology of this wily creature. The details of the work and seminars can be found through clicking on the Summer Staph Institute.

The leadership of the Staphylococcus Institute is provided by:

Alan D Tice, MD, FACP – Infectious Diseases specialist
     Infections Limited Hawai'i
     Departments of Internal Medicine, Public Health, and Tropical Medicine
     John A Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) 
     University of Hawaii

Steven Seifried, PhD – molecular biologist
     Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology 
     John A Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) 
     University of Hawaii

Matthew Bankowski, PhD – microbiologist
     Director, microbiology, Diagnostic Lab Services
     Department of Pathology 
     John A Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) 
     University of Hawaii

The Staphylococcus Institute is part of a 501c3 non-profit organization, also known as Access Care Today and the OPAT Outcomes Registry.

The Staphylococcus Institute would not be possible but for volunteers and the generous contributions of local and national foundations and organizations. We are very appreciative of their support and hope they will be an example to others to help in the development of additional research each summer and the distinction of being a center of excellence in research about staphylococci

Recent contributions and grantors include:

Hawaii Medical Group Foundation
Cubist Pharmaceuticals
Hawaii State Clean Water Department
Diagnostic Laboratory Services
Replidyne
Enturia
Pfizer Pharmaceutical

For more information about contributing to the Staphylococcus Institute, contact representatives of the Institute at:

Phone 808-373-3488 Fax 808-585-0206
Dr Tice is also available through the Physician’s Exchange at 808-524-2575