UQ’s IMB is driven to using life science research for discovery, invention and application.
IMB’s combination of genomics, biostatistical, biological, pharmacological and chemical researchers means the Institute can take life science discoveries from the genome to drug design and application – for health, disease and for the sustainable solutions for our cities, fuels and foods.
Over the past five years, IMB has attracted nearly $250M in research funding, leveraging federal and state government funding sources to address life research across all sectors. Our research excellence and translational impact is underpinned by the quality of our internationally recognised researchers and state-of-the art facilities.
Research Impacts
For example, in 2016, the IMB:
- created the world’s first molecule bank, crowdsourcing antibiotic compounds from across the globe to find new antibiotics to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs
- opened the Ramaciotti Facility for Producing Pharmaceuticals in plants, potentially transforming plants into drug delivery vehicles of the future
- developed an app that allows clinicians to rapidly detect the presence of antibiotic resistant genes in bacteria to limit the spread of superbugs, and another to help sufferers and healthcare providers to monitor, manage and treat pain
- re-purposed glucose monitoring technology to develop a low cost portable test for Zika virus using a microchip plugged into a smartphone
- identified a treatment target for aggressive forms of breast cancer
- made a discovery that could lead to a new treatment for Parkinson’s disease, and has potential applications for many other disorders
- progressed the development of new drugs that target the underlying cause of diabetes
- identified four new classes of compounds that act against drug-resistant tuberculosis
- identified interactions between immune system pathways that could improve treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
- discovered a protein in spider venom that binds to and inhibits pain receptors, uncovering a promising future treatment for chronic pain
- used genomic sequencing technologies to diagnose unresolved genetic diseases
- used state-of-the-art genome editing to create models of disease
- established the Centre for Solar Biotechnology to optimise microalgae systems for the production of food, biofuels and bioproducts
Industry and Translational Impact
Industry and Translational Impact
IMB works closely with UniQuest , UQ’s in-house research commercialisation company, to translate research discoveries to meet industry, community and clinical needs.
It has generated more than 30 patent families currently under prosecution and has spun out 11 companies, with some of these listing on the NASDAQ and/or acquiring multi-millions of dollars in seed-funding to take discoveries to the clinic.
In 2016, Protagonist Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company founded on IMB research, was awarded the Australian Company of the Year at the AusBiotech and Johnson and Johnson’s Innovation Industry Excellence Awards. Protagonist is focused on developing oral drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
In 2016, Inflazome Ltd, a company based on discoveries out of IMB and Trinity College Dublin, received $22m investment co-led by two global life science investment firms Novartis Venture Fund and Fountain Healthcare Partners. Inflazome is developing treatments for inflammatory diseases such as asthma and Parkinson’s disease.
Training
The IMB has a strong commitment to research training and its alumni populate some of the most prestigious research institutes and companies worldwide. A major focus of our early career researcher (ECR) and student experience centres around employability and exposing ECR’s and students to a range of career options in academia, industry and beyond.
We encourage industries to work with us to support the development and employability of the next generation of our workforce.
About IMB Research
