Annual Report
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ANNUAL REPORT 2010–2011 Copies of this Annual Report are available on QIMR’s website at www.qimr.edu.au/annualreport and at no cost by contacting QIMR on (07) 3362 0222, freecall 1800 993 000 or by emailing [email protected]. Queensland Institute of Medical Research 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland Australia 4006 T: +61 7 3362 0222 F: +61 7 3362 0102 W: www.qimr.edu.au QIMR is committed to providing accessible services to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. If you have difficulty in understanding the annual report, you can contact us on (07) 3362 0222 and we will arrange an interpreter to communicate the report to you. ISSN 1839 – 1877 © 2011 Queensland Institute of Medical Research ANNUAL REPORT 2010–2011 CONTENTS Letter of compliance 2 Our governance 22 Student awards 125 Research highlights 3 Our management 27 Patents 127 Awards and achievements 6 Our performance 32 Grants and funding 129 QIMR at a glance 8 Our research 48 QIMR Fellows 131 Message from our Patron 10 Supporting our research 70 Overseas travel 132 Chairman’s report 11 Financial statements 72 Scientific publications 133 Director’s report 12 Awards 111 Compliance checklist 154 Our organisation 14 Invited lectures 112 Acronyms 156 Our people 19 Graduated students 124 Page 1 LETTER OF COMPLIANCE 31 August 2011 The Hon Geoff Wilson MP Minister for Health Parliament House BRISBANE QLD 4000 Dear Minister I am pleased to present the Annual Report 2010–2011 for the Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. I certify that this Annual Report complies with: • the prescribed requirements of the Financial Accountability Act 2009 and the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2009; and • the detailed requirements set out in the Annual Report Requirements for Queensland Government Agencies. A checklist outlining annual reporting requirements can be found on the final pages of this Annual Report or accessed at our website: http://www.qimr.edu.au/annualreport Yours sincerely PROFESSOR JOHN HAY AC Chair QIMR Council 300 Herston Road, Herston Q 4006 Australia | QIMR Locked Bag 2000, Royal Brisbane Hospital Q 4029 T (617) 3362 0222 F (617) 3362 0111 W www.qimr.edu.au Page 2 QIMR Annual Report 2010–2011 2010-11 CANCER RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Identified small changes in a section of DNA associated with an increased breast cancer risk in women who carry the mutated BRCA1 gene. Found that using sunscreen every day can halve the risk of developing melanoma. Discovered that 75% of oesophageal cancers in Australia can be attributed to Found that for ovarian cancer patients, obesity, acid reflux and smoking. decreasing the time between symptom onset and diagnosis will not improve Identified several new genes that increase survival rates. the risks of melanoma, cancers of the breast, ovary, prostate and endometrium. Began Phase I clinical trials using a monoclonal antibody as a potential Identified a potential new cancer treatment cancer treatment for acute leukaemias, that reduces the size of cancerous tumours melanomas, brain tumours and by blocking the function of microRNA. lung cancers. Discovered that although Indigenous Influenced a major change in clinical Queenslanders are 21% less likely to practice with the acceptance nationally and be diagnosed with cancer than the total internationally that it is important to remove Queensland population, they are 36% more proximal serrated polyps from the colon. likely to die from cancer. Image source: National Cancer Institute , Dr Cecil Fox Page 3 2010-11 INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Found that applying clove oil is as effective at killing scabies mites as other Developed a computer system for existing treatments. tracking mosquito-borne disease such as Ross River fever and Barmah Forest Demonstrated the efficacy of novel proteins virus disease. for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Discovered new regions of the Identified new antimalarial compounds from Epstein-Barr virus that are targeted by plants and fungi. the immune response. Completed preclinical testing of a vaccine Established a system to test antimalarial for cytomegalovirus, which aims to prevent drugs in human volunteers infected with clinical complications in transplant patients malaria parasites. and newborn babies. Undertook a pilot study, releasing Obtained data to support a Wolbachia infected mosquitoes in Cairns to causal link between scabies and test the effectiveness against the spread of streptococcal infections. dengue fever. Page 4 QIMR Annual Report 2010–2011 2010-11 MENTAL HEALTH / COMPLEX DISORDERS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Published the world’s largest genome-wide association study for major depression which showed the disease is underpinned by many small genetic variants, and Discovered new genes for myopia (long or implicated a protein called galanin. short sightedness), optic nerve hypoplasia Developed a new diagnostic and (one of the leading causes of blindness in monitoring test for major depression children) and glaucoma risk. based on a combination of video and Discovered 30 new genes that control the imaging technology. age of sexual maturation in women and Developed a brain stress test for dementia identified several genetic links between using brain imaging and showed that it early puberty and body fat. could predict the functioning of patients for Located new genetic regions that increase up to two years. endometriosis risk and demonstrated Discovered that eating or drinking full-fat a stronger genetic contribution to more dairy may reduce the risk of cardiovascular- severe cases of the disease. related death. Demonstrated that liver fibrosis identified via Found 59 new DNA regions that influence liver biopsy, predicts the future development levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol and of clinically significant liver disease (portal triglycerides in the blood – key indicators of hypertension) in children with cystic fibrosis heart disease risk. (CF) and should be adopted clinically. Page 5 AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS QIMR was inducted into the Queensland Business Professor Don McManus (Head of the Molecular Leaders Hall of Fame. Parasitology Laboratory) received an honorary membership of the American Society of Tropical Professor Geoff Hill (Immunology Department Medicine and Hygiene, in recognition of outstanding Coordinator and Head of the Bone Marrow accomplishment by an individual not an American citizen Transplantation Laboratory) was awarded a prestigious who has made eminent contributions to some phase of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) tropical medicine and hygiene. Australia Fellowship. He also received a Senior Clinical Research Fellowship from the Queensland Government. Dr Patricia Valery (Indigenous Health Program) was awarded a NHMRC Excellence Award, the highest Professor Emma Whitelaw (Cell and Molecular Biology ranking Career Development Award in the category Department Coordinator and Head of the Epigenetics of population health. Laboratory) was elected as an Australian Academy of Science Fellow, and received both the Australia Dr Sarah Medland (Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory) and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental was awarded a 2010 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Biology President’s Medal and the International Union of Science Award. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Jubilee Medal. Professor Michael Breakspear and Dr Susan Professors Kum Kum Khanna (Head of the Signal Woods (Oncogenomics Laboratory) won 2011 Transduction Laboratory) and Georgia Chenevix-Trench Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) (Cancer Program Coordinator and Head of the Cancer Queensland Awards. Genetics Laboratory) were awarded a medical research program grant from the NHMRC. The grant worth $5.6 million over five years will be used to support research into the susceptibility and progression of breast cancer. Professor James McCarthy (Infectious Diseases Program Coordinator and Head of the Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory ) and Professor Michael Breakspear (Mental Health/Complex Disorders Program Coordinator and Head of the Systems Neuroscience Group) were awarded Health Research Fellowships from the Queensland Government for their work in malaria and mental health respectively. Page 6 QIMR Annual Report 2010–2011 Page 7 QIMR AT A GLANCE Business development agreements Patent portfolio 2010-2011 Research agreements Patent portfolio Research service Intellectual property agreements agreements Patent portfolio 2010-2011 Vaccine Patents Diagnostic Patents Clinical trial License Business development agreements New Treatment Patents Delivery Platform Patents agreements agreements Commercialisation Others Drug Target Patents agreements Research service Intellectual property Vaccine Patents Diagnostic Patents agreements agreements New Treatment Patents Delivery Platform Patents Clinical trial License agreements agreements Drug Target Patents Commercialisation Others agreements NHMRC grants awarded ($ millions) 20 15 10 5 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Grants Fellowships Page 8 QIMR Annual Report 2010–2011 Fundraising Fundraising revenue ($ millions) 10 8 6 4 2 0 2006-07 2007-08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 Donations & Gifts Event Revenue Sponsorships Bequests / Gifts in Kind Scientific publications 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Articles High Impacts (publications in journals with impact factors of 10 or more) Staff numbers 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Staff Students Page 9 MESSAGE FROM OUR PATRON QIMR Annual Report 2010-11 Patron’s Message