Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2019 Vice-Chancellor’S Message
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Queensland Brain Institute Annual Report 2019 Vice-Chancellor’s message Front cover: Astrocytes, the most common neural cell type, grown on a dish. These cells were used to study glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain cancer in adults. By Zorana Lynton, Richards group, People's Choice Winner, 2019 Art in Neuroscience competition. Above: Jacaranda blooms in UQ's Great Court. The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) is a world-leading neuroscience research institute, located on our St Lucia campus. It is dedicated to unravelling the secrets of our brain, an immensely complex structure at the core of every activity we undertake as humans. QBI research has the potential to not only within the Medical Research Future translational research, it is important to unlock fundamental knowledge about who Fund to create a business case for the acknowledge that translation requires a we are and how our brain works, but also establishment of a new industry sector in foundation of knowledge from which to to stem the growing tide of brain diseases therapeutic ultrasound. The work is being draw. In recognition of the importance of that have such a devastating social and done in collaboration with partners from discovery research aimed at generating economic impact on our world. across Australia and New Zealand and was new knowledge, and to provide funding the only project in Queensland to receive certainty, QBI has established a Discovery 2019 saw some important steps forward in Research Endowment Fund. this mission. Stage One funding from the MRFF Frontier Health and Medical Research scheme. This fund, which will be officially One of the most exciting projects at launched in 2020, is an ambitious, QBI research has also provided the basis QBI, and one which elicits great interest long-term undertaking that recognises for a trial into the effect of exercise on from around the world, is the ultrasound the importance of pursuing avenues of technology from the laboratory of cognitive function in ageing adults. enquiry without immediate gain. The Professor Jürgen Götz, Director of QBI’s The trial aims to establish the level vision is to provide QBI researchers with Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia and intensity of exercise that improves the intellectual freedom to investigate the Research. Professor Götz and his team are cognitive function, and also to investigate brain and tackle projects where the benefit working on an ultrasound device that could the underlying mechanisms that enable may not be immediately apparent during more effectively deliver therapeutics to exercise to positively affect the brain. This the course of the standard grant cycle. the brain for the treatment of Alzheimer’s research, which is generously supported QBI is one of the forces behind UQ’s disease. The team has spent the past 12 by the Stafford Fox Foundation, has been continued position in the world’s top months working towards a first-in-human proceeding in partnership with UQ's 100 universities, providing high-quality trial of their device. School of Human Movement and Nutrition neuroscience research, driven through local Science. It is hoped that a full analysis of In addition to the potential for this and global collaborations with researchers, the data gathered will be available in 2020. technology to improve our healthcare industry, government and philanthropists. We are grateful to all of the members of and quality of life, the development our community who helped drive this Congratulations to Professor Sah and the of an effective device to treat brain research by participating in the trial. QBI team on their commitment and their diseases would also seed opportunities excellent results. I look forward to watching in the medical device industry and create The trials outlined above are excellent QBI continue to create positive change in jobs within manufacturing and with illustrations of projects that began through the years to come. service providers. In recognition of this curiosity-driven, fundamental research, technology’s potential, the Australian and are now being translated to improve Professor Peter Høj AC Government awarded $1 million in funding lives through better health. As competitive Vice-Chancellor and President from a fiercely competitive scheme funding continues to emphasise The University of Queensland QUEENSLAND BRAIN INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 1 Chairman’s Message 2019 has been an outstanding year for Professor Annemaree Carroll for taking the Foundation, whose continued generous QBI, with significant accomplishments time to provide us with an insight into their support has helped QBI to continue its across many areas. very interesting and ever-evolving work. important work. The past year was marked by the Thanks also to Professor Pankaj Sah for his QBI’s success in its field is a testament to introduction of QBI’s Discovery Research continued leadership of the Institute and the efforts of the entire team of scientists Endowment Fund which will focus on the reappointment as Director for the next five and support staff, whose passion and future sustainability of QBI. The greatest years. His guidance through this year’s UQ tireless commitment to the science that barrier to QBI’s future success is financial: 7-Year Review process also resulted in very underpins our success, helps ensure that without sustainable funding, the Institute positive results for the Institute, which is an we continue to be a world leader in the will find it increasingly difficult to retain outstanding achievement. area of neuroscience research. The progress high, performing staff and support critical of QBI’s dementia research, is just one Some highlights of the year included: research areas. The Endowment Fund has example of how QBI is leading the way been established and will continue to build • The establishment of the Human Brain through cutting-edge research. Professor over the coming years helping to support Studies Unit which will facilitate more Jürgen Götz and his team within QBI’s all scientists in the Institute who are efficient translation of science to clinical Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia concentrating on curiosity-driven research practice, and provide QBI with an Research are currently working towards in the hope of making the next big scientific accessible public face through its human the first stage of a clinical safety trial for discovery. research activities. their non-invasive ultrasound technology • Successful fundraising events including in tackling Alzheimer’s disease, while In yet another busy year for the Institute, the Hand Heart Pocket Alzheimer’s Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett, Founding I would like to extend a personal thank Gala and the Ross Maclean Race Day, Director of QBI, is leading the development you to my fellow board members for their which helped contribute to continued of a clinical trial for a potential treatment commitment and ongoing support of QBI. philanthropic growth. for motor neurone disease. The advice and guidance provided from the Board’s perspective has helped raise • A high level of grant success. The urgent need to find strategies to awareness of the work of QBI to a broader I am also grateful to all at QBI: our prevent, diagnose and treat dementia, and audience. A special thank you also goes researchers, and our support and technical many other brain-related diseases, is the to Provost, Professor Aidan Byrne and staff, for their passion and tireless focus of QBI’s researchers who are working Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Tim Dunne, commitment to the science that underpins hard towards achieving this goal. Based for their attendance at our Board meetings, our success, plus the Advancement team on our history of achievement and current which helps provide a better understanding for their wonderful support to QBI in all initiatives at QBI, and with strong ongoing of how the University functions and QBI’s areas. support from UQ and our external partners role in this process. and donors, we will capitalise on our many The Board would like to express its deep successes and face challenges as they arise. The addition of one of QBI’s researchers gratitude to the Government, foundations, I am looking forward to supporting QBI in presenting at each meeting has enabled corporates, industry partners and countless the exciting times ahead. the Board to gain a greater understanding individuals for generously supporting of the many and varied research activities QBI’s work over the past year. I would which take place at the Institute. I would like to especially mention the Clem Jones Jeff Maclean like to thank Professor Linda Richards, Foundation, Brazil Family Foundation Chairman Dr Steven Zuryn, Dr Susannah Tye and and the Stafford Fox Medical Research QBI Advisory Board 2 QUEENSLAND BRAIN INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Director’s Message Looking back on 2019, I’m proud to say in Australia, keeping up the momentum to We also built on our existing global we’ve gone from strength to strength, continue our life-changing work advancing partnerships, with exciting advances in our continuing to grow our reputation as treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and collaboration with the Southern University an institution of excellent neuroscience brain diseases more generally. of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in research that is delivering real impact in Shenzhen, China. Together with researchers Our grant success was complemented by understanding the brain. from UQ’s Faculty of Engineering, philanthropic funding from our generous Architecture and IT, we progressed a joint There’s no doubt that this is the result of the donors. This supports research that may SUSTech-UQ neural bioengineering Masters outstanding accomplishments made across not be funded through other national program, where students will be able to so many areas of QBI by the talented schemes, and accelerates discoveries for complete three years of an undergraduate researchers, teams and partnerships the benefit of the community.