He now has added clinical trials to his research portfolio and has recently conducted the world's largest trial on antibiotics for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing bacterial infections (the "MERINO trial"). His research focuses on the molecular and clinical epidemiology of infections with antibiotic resistant organisms, with the intent of translation of knowledge into optimal prevention and treatment of these infections.
He received his medical degree and PhD from The University of Queensland. He has been in the ISI Thomson Reuters Highly Cited List annually from 2015 to 2019. He is Australia's most cited Infectious Diseases Physician and is the country's highest cited researcher in the field of Microbiology. He is also a Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Australia's largest hospital and ranked in the top 100 hospitals of the world). Professor Paterson is Director at The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research.