Building the future of RNA from IMB roots
Tim Mercer’s story of discovery, translation, and the future of biotech in Queensland.
"I’ve seen IMB when it was a building site… and now, 25 years later, it’s fulfilling its vision."
Tim Mercer’s career spans continents and scientific frontiers, but its roots trace back to the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB). Today, as Director of the BASE facility at UQ, Tim leads Australia’s RNA manufacturing capability—a critical platform for next-generation medicines.
His journey began in an unexpected place: a London construction site during his backpacking years. “I was always reading papers to keep abreast of what was going on,” he recalls. One paper by Professor John Mattick on non-coding RNAs captured his imagination. “The human genome had just been published. It was this huge puzzle… a new frontier.” That curiosity led Tim to Brisbane and a PhD in Mattick’s lab. “We were trying to understand how RNA regulates the genome. I started in the wet lab but quickly moved into bioinformatics—where I couldn’t cause too much damage!”
His work helped identify tens of thousands of new non-coding RNA genes. “Finding a new class of genes was a fantastic outcome. It was very exciting.” For Tim, IMB was more than a research institute—it was a community. “We had a really cool lab. A generation of PhD students who all stay in touch. That network is one of the most powerful things I got out of my PhD.” IMB’s energy and ambition left a lasting impression. “It was the newest institute, drawing in people with a lot of energy. There was a vibe—an excitement about doing internationally competitive research.”
After his PhD, Tim followed Mattick to Sydney’s Garvan Institute, where he learned the clinical side of genomics.
“At IMB, I learned blue-sky science. At Garvan, I learned how to apply it.” A technique Tim helped develop at IMB—capture sequencing—became a diagnostic tool for cancer. “It’s now first-line diagnostics for fusion genes. That was a great example of research translating into impact.”
His career then took him to Seattle, working on genome editing technologies during the rise of CRISPR. “It was fascinating to see how what we were trying to achieve then has now become reality with FDA-approved gene therapies.” The pandemic brought Tim back to Brisbane, where he established BASE—Australia’s RNA manufacturing hub. “We started producing mRNA to support scientists nationally. The technology sells itself because it works so well.” Tim is bullish about the future: “We’re going to see early-stage research translate into new clinical medicines. IMB’s model of combining fundamental science with translation has catalysed Queensland’s biotech ecosystem.”
Reflecting on IMB’s legacy, Tim sees its influence everywhere. “IMB was a beacon—a signal of intent. It set the standard for internationally competitive research and helped build the ecosystem we have today.” As for the next 25 years? “The opportunities are only growing. IMB has the expertise and reputation to lead in drug development, biologics, and RNA technologies. And students now are more entrepreneurial than ever—IMB is perfectly positioned to nurture that.”