Dr Wern Chai is a Lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of South Australia with a research background and expertise in drug discovery, drug development and antimicrobial resistance. He maintains his clinical practice as a community pharmacist. Additionally, he contributes his expertise to the Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotics as a Member of the Evaluation Network and the Australian Pharmacy Council as a Subject Matter Expert (Examination).
Dr Chai is an early career researcher and holds a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of South Australia. In the face of the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance, his research focuses on developing a new antimicrobial agent with a novel mechanism of action. His continuous dedication and commitment to teaching and research earned him recognition as a Rising Star in Pharmacy in 2021 (published in the Australian Journal of Pharmacy, and the Emerging Leader in Science in 2022 (by the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association).