Annual Report 2015 Scanning Electron Microscopy Samples Undergoing Preparation at the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility at AIBN
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AIBNAustralian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Annual Report 2015 Scanning electron microscopy samples undergoing preparation at the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis facility at AIBN. 2 - AIBN Annual Report 2015 AIBN Annual Report 2015 Vice-Chancellor and President’s Message 2 Discoveries and collaborations 28 MERS antibody building on Hendra virus work 30 Director’s Message 3 Cheaper, cleaner production of carbon fibre 31 AIBN Board 4 Getting biomarkers out of the skin Scientific Advisory Committee 5 with Micropatches 32 AIBN Research 6 High performance cluster boosts Alexandrov Group research capabilities 33 Synthetic biology drives diagnostic care 8 Self-assembled nanocapsules deliver results 34 Bernhardt Group Using theoretical and computational science Fast, cheap and easy to use for nanomaterials and fluids 9 tuberculosis screening 35 Cooper-White Group IAP removes barriers between academia Biomaterials development and discovery for and industry 36 regenerative medicine 10 AIBN Early-/Mid-Career Support Program 37 Gray Group Funding and recognition 38 Mammalian cell expression and bulk stem cell Australian Research Council funding 40 cultivation 11 National Health and Medical Research Council 41 Halley Group Biopolymers and starch for a Fellowships fuel research opportunities 42 cheaper, cleaner future 12 Awards highlight scientific excellence 43 Kendall Group Newly awarded research funding Gene and drug delivery and diagnostics commencing in 2015 44 through the skin 13 Facilities and infrastructure 46 Mahler Group Infrastructure facilitates research 48 Biologics for medical applications 14 Students and graduates 50 Martin Group Student difference 52 Advances make plastic truly fantastic 15 AIBN Student Association 53 Middelberg Group Self-assembling soft condensed Student highlights 54 materials science 16 Research Higher Degree students 56 Monteiro Group 2015 graduate list 58 Synthesis and application of complex polymer architectures 17 Milestone student develops career 64 Neilsen Group High achieving graduate takes on Systems biology to unlock biological US challenge 65 complexity 18 Engagement 66 Trau Group Scientific engagement expands AIBN’s reach 68 Point-of-care diagnostics to save lives 19 Community and school engagement activities 70 Wang Group AIBN Seminar Series 71 Development of solar conversion and storage Publications 72 materials for a greener future 20 Publications 74 Wells Group Contact AIBN 85 Big data shows big stem cell possibilities 21 Whittaker Group Innovative polymer chemistry for health and IT 22 Wolvetang Group Functional genomics drive regenerative medicine 23 Xu Group Nanoparticles to boost healthcare 24 Yu Group Applied functional materials 25 Cover image: A high density microfluidic array Associate Group Leaders 26 for rapid screening of cells under development in the Cooper-White laboratory. AIBN Annual Report 2015 - 1 VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENt’s MESSAGE With its proven record for propelling the leading four of them. The industry-supported Just as young, exciting researchers begin riding outcomes of excellent research from the grants are worth more than $1.7 million in total. the innovation escalator, so the seasoned laboratory to end-users, AIBN is primed to be a veterans make way for others at the top. At heavy-lifter for national innovation and global An exciting example of downstream potential the year’s end, Professor Peter Gray retired problem-solving. is exemplified by the Nanopatch, an original as Inaugural Director of AIBN, having built technology developed in the AIBN laboratory it into an institute of international standing, of Professor Mark Kendall. It is one of UQ’s respected by collaborators from leading global After more than a decade of hot innovation prospects. In 2015 Vaxxas, the institutions, as well as leaders in business, increasingly robust associations start-up that has grown around the invention, government and philanthropy. attracted $25 million in series B financing to with industry, 2015 saw the bring its total capital raising to $40 million. I look forward to working with Peter’s Institute and its partners The new funding will further the novel successor, Professor Alan Rowan, an vaccine delivery device‘s progress towards outstanding scientist and energetic leader continue to demonstrate the clinical trials. Vaxxas has previously forged a who has joined UQ from the Institute of benefits and exciting potential partnership with pharmaceutical giant Merck Molecules and Materials at Radboud University & Co. Nijmegen, a highly-regarded European centre of partnerships between strong for nanoscience research and training. With researchers and innovative This annual report highlights many other an impressive background in molecular notable 2015 developments. Among them are systems, Alan is ideally placed to lead AIBN to companies. Professor Lars Nielsen’s success in securing its next stage of excellence and impact, where an $8.6 million Laureate Research Grant from outstanding research and partnerships will The AIBN again showed that it has both raw the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Associate continue to create advantageous change. research power, and the capacity to translate Professor Zhi Ping “Gordon” Xu’s receipt of this into great outcomes for society. The raw $100,000 of philanthropic funding from China. power is reflected in some of The University In both cases, the funding supports work that Effective leaders need focussed of Queensland’s strongest scores in the strives to benefit cancer patients. Excellence in Research for Australia evaluation and energetic teams, and I am (published in December). AIBN contributed Crucially, AIBN staff do not only pursue their confident that is what Alan will to six fields where UQ gained the highest own research goals; they also impart their possible rating of ‘well above world standard’ find at AIBN. wisdom and experience to students. The – including one field, industrial biotechnology, resulting talent cycle is essential for national In closing, I would like to thank and where UQ is the outright national leader. and global productivity and prosperity. It was congratulate Peter and all AIBN staff, students, therefore very satisfying to see AIBN pass the partners and supporters for another strong Industry’s appreciation of the downstream milestone of 100 PhD conferrals in 2015. The year, which will be the springboard to a great potential of this research is evident in AIBN’s one hundredth graduate, Dr Nick Fletcher, is future. success in the vigorous contest for Australian highlighted in these pages. Research Council Linkage Project grants. AIBN Professor Peter Høj is involved in six new Linkage-funded projects, Vice-Chancellor and President 2 - AIBN Annual Report 2015 DIRECTOR’s MESSAGE We live in exciting times as our ability to look an exceptional career Professor John Drennan The support of the greater University of down to and manipulate at the atomic scale retires, leaving the Centre for Microscopy and Queensland also deserves our thanks. Since allows for tantalising prospects. New scientific Microanalysis as his AIBN legacy. Professor my arrival to this university I have been discoveries are made every day, and AIBN has Peter Halley’s dedication saw him promoted pleased to see the collaborative nature UQ proven to be one of the world leaders in turning to Head of School of Chemical Engineering at shares across its institutes, schools, centres these discoveries into applications for better UQ. Furthermore, Professor Ajayan Vinu took and faculties, which I intend to further health and sustainable solutions for energy, up a Professorship at the University of South explore. The leadership of Professor Peter manufacturing and more. Many technologies Australia. We wish them all well. Høj (Vice-Chancellor and President), together developed under AIBN’s roof play a significant with Professor Max Lu (Provost), Professor role in shaping our society and environment for These departures bring renewed opportunity; Robyn Ward (Vice-Chancellor (Research)) the better. for individuals to rise to the challenge of and Professor Anton Middelburg (Pro-Vice- scientific endeavour, and for new ideas to Chancellor (Research and International)) has In 2015 with the stepping down of Inaugural flourish. Coming to AIBN with my external been pivotal in the success of the university in Director Professor Peter Gray, AIBN saw the perspective from the Radboud University recent years, and fostering an environment in end of an era that started with its foundation Nijmegen, Netherlands, in my opinion the which AIBN has been able to thrive. in 2002. Institute’s greatest strengths are its dedication to applied research outcomes and the breadth I look forward to a future in which AIBN will and scope of the work undertaken. They are continue to turn ground breaking science I now have the honour to further a truly unique and remarkable combination. I into innovative applications, from advanced develop this Institute with its look forward to cultivating those strengths and materials and diagnostic tools, to cures for building upon them. important diseases and many more. proven reputation for research excellence, its world class Within the pages of this report you will find Close cooperation with medical facilities, and its talented cohort summaries of the work, achievements and success stories accomplished at AIBN during professionals and industries of more than 450 staff and 2015. Reading it myself, I am enthused by the will