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2000-Annual-Report.Pdf Directors’ report / 2 IMB seminars / 78 Highlights 2000 / 6 Collaborations / 81 Group profiles / 9 Financial / 82 Joint ventures / 72 Publications / 84 Graduate program / 75 Staff list / 90 IMBcom / 76 Contents Genomics & Bioinformatics 9 Genetics & Developmental17 Biology Cell Biology 33 Structural Biology49 Biological Chemistry57 IMB Associates68 2 3 imb/2000 Professors John Mattick and Peter Andrews, Co-Directors of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, talk with Peter McCutcheon Why is Queensland, which has Professor Andrews: The world’s most including industry. The IMB hosts traditionally relied on mining, rapidly growing economies are all the ARC Special Research Centre for agricultural and tourism industries, knowledge-based industries, and the Functional and Applied Genomics and developing an advanced research focus of those industries is increasingly is a core partner in the Cooperative centre for molecular bioscience? on biotechnology. In fact, recent Research Centre for the Discovery of advances in genetic engineering Genes for Common Human Diseases, as Professor Mattick: It is clear that we are techniques and the sequencing of the well as being the host (along with the in the midst of one of the greatest periods human genome have extended the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical of discovery in history – the genetic and applications of biotechnology from Research) of a major national research molecular basis of life and its diversity. common foodstuffs into most aspects of facility, the Australian Genome Research The genome projects are laying out the our lives, including medicine, energy and Facility. So we do have a good balanced genetic blueprints of different species, the environment. For me, the question is portfolio of research funding. from microorganisms to humans, and not why would you do it in Queensland, functional studies are leading us to it’s why wouldn’t you! In terms of whether we’ve got enough, no understand how these components work we don’t. Research funding in Australia together to produce complex outcomes. The Queensland Government has made remains low by international standards, And the flip-side of this is to understand a significant investment in the Institute. and our ability to attack big problems and disease. Sooner or later this knowledge Are there other funding arrangements create new opportunities is limited by the and its applications will transform all of in place for the IMB, and is it enough? relatively restricted resources available the biologically-based industries, which to us. Our funding is still well below occupy perhaps half the world economy, Professor Mattick: The Queensland that of comparable Institutes in other and lead to entirely new industries based Government has been generous to the parts of the world including Asia. We on understanding genetic programming IMB, and has vested a great deal of need more funds to mount strategic genomics projects, to build the computing infrastructure for bioinformatics, to “Queensland is a state with great dynamism and enable the next generation of structural analysis in cell biology, and to develop we are very fortunate to have a government that new chemical libraries, to mention a few. understands the importance of developing an Although we are doing the best we can, advanced, knowledge-based economy.” and will do well with what we have. My view, shared by many others, is that there is insufficient attention paid in our and biological chemistry. So this faith in us, which we will work hard society to investing in the future, which is clearly a fundamental knowledge to justify and repay. We have also is what research is. It’s a bit like a revolution that has huge potential and been fortunate to have raised funding home budget – you have to pay the will have huge ramifications. from the Federal Government through bills, buy the food, maintain the house. the Federation Fund, and from a private But the amount of money you can save Why Queensland ? – I think that donor, to construct the Institute. And and invest for the future determines your Queensland is emerging as the California we’re delighted to have the CSIRO now future prosperity and quality of life. of Australia. It not only has great joining us in the construction of the It’s the same for the nation as it is natural resources and primary industries Institute complex, a joint venture that will for a household. So I’d like to see but has great capacity to develop new create a very large and vibrant centre for more emphasis on this aspect of national high technology industries, and this is advanced research in molecular biology development, and an acknowledgment already underway. It is well positioned and biotechnology. that as much of our natural resources as in the Asia-Pacific region. Queensland is possible be invested on everyone’s behalf also a state with great dynamism and we The IMB also obtains substantial funding to create better futures, especially in the are very fortunate to have a government for its research projects and programs areas of education, R & D and strategic that understands the importance of from the Australian Research Council, the industry development. Other countries in developing an advanced, knowledge- National Health and Medical Research our region have been doing this for the based economy. Council, the Cooperative Research past 20 years, and the benefits are very Centres scheme, and many others, obvious. 2 3 The IMB depends on private as well as are genetically engineered insulin and Queensland’s is one of two state public funding. Although the Australian erythropoietin (EPO). The market for governments which has announced private sector doesn’t have a strong these products last year was roughly heavy investment in biotechnology, the track record on R & D investment, US$9 billion - greater than the entire other state of course is Victoria. How is there any sign of a change in will Victoria’s initiative affect the IMB? Australian grains crop. investment culture? The IMB is unusual in that it comprises Professor Mattick: We are very Professor Andrews: There’s a real breath both basic research facilities and spin- supportive of the Victorian initiative. of fresh air emerging in the Australian off companies. It has been described Victoria has traditionally been the venture capital community, and a lot of as a “pipeline” from genomics to strongest centre of biomedical research in them are looking to the IMB as a source pharmaceuticals. Why is it set up that this country. It is also now clear that of new investments. We’ve had three way? Brisbane has emerged as a major centre venture capital firms invest in spin-off in its own right, and will additionally companies from the IMB in the past Professor Mattick: Because we would become a major centre for advanced year, and we’re currently in negotiation like the IMB to fulfil two objectives. biological research and biotechnology. with several firms interested in IMB First and foremost, we want to earn This is important for Australia. We technology platforms that may form the a reputation as being a very fine have many partnerships with Victorian basis for further spin-offs in 2001. research institute, capable of winning research institutions in areas such as the Nobel prizes. New knowledge is New industries by definition can be unpredictable. The NASDAQ index dropped 35 percent in the US in 2000. Is biotechnology really becoming “New knowledge is not only important to a credible investment item for the understanding our world, it is also the basis for Australian business community? economic development, as the history of the Professor Mattick: I think it is. past two centuries shows.” You’ve got to see the stock exchange as partly a reflection of commercial and industrial reality, and partly a reflection of not only important to understanding Australian Genome Research Facility. So people making considered bets on future our world, it is also the basis for we see ourselves as friendly rivals but industrial development. In the short-term economic development, as the history of above all as partners. We are Australians the latter is unpredictable; in the longer the past two centuries shows. Secondly, first and we have to work together, we do term there is no doubt that, in relation therefore, we also want to fulfil our work together, to make the most of our to biotechnology, the direction is up, responsibility to those that invest in resources and research strengths. and the figures bear that out, although us, by earning a reputation as being market confidence waxes and wanes. I’ll well connected with industry, and having Although the IMB is large by Australian give you one example of the economic a very pro-active stance in terms of standards, it is modest by international standards, especially compared to value of this sector. Two pharmaceuticals taking our discoveries, technologies and developments in the United States. expertise into practical applications. This which are widely used in medicine Can the IMB be a serious player in in turn will feed back into support for – and interestingly there’s very little global science and biotechnology? public concern about these products – further research. Professor Andrews: The by-product of pharma industry mergers is a vast increase in the extent to which the industry outsources its R&D to research organisations and biotechnology companies. And that’s where we have a huge opportunity to be very serious players. One fascinating example is a molecule discovered by IMB researchers in the venom of a marine cone snail from the Great Barrier Reef which has been licensed to Australian pharmaceutical company Amrad for clinical trials as a pain therapeutic. This and several other lead molecules with novel pharmacological activities are currently progressing through the pipeline of an IMB spin-off company, Xenome Ltd.
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