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Cover artwork: Water Memory is by Brisbane artist Judy Watson and features in the new QIMR building 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 © Queensland Institute of Medical Research 2012 CONTENTS Letter of compliance ...................... 2 Our management ........................ 23 Research highlights ....................... 4 Our performance ......................... 29 Awards and achievements ............. 6 Our research achievements ......... 45 QIMR at a glance ........................... 8 Supporting our research .............. 69 Chairman’s report ........................ 10 Financial statements .................... 73 Director’s report ........................... 11 Supporting information .............. 115 Our organisation .......................... 13 Compliance checklist ................. 146 Our people .................................. 16 Acronyms .................................. 148 Our governance ........................... 17 LETTER OF COMPLIANCE 31 August 2012 The Honourable Lawrence Springborg MP Minister for Health Parliament House BRISBANE QLD 4000 Dear Minister I am pleased to present the Annual Report 2011–2012 and financial statements 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/page/About_us/Annual_Report/. Yours sincerely CHRISTOPHER COYNE Acting 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 2011–2012 QIMR is dedicated to translating discoveries into treatments, diagnostics and prevention strategies. Page 3 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Cancer Recruited more than 43,000 Queenslanders for the Completed the third year of a correlative laboratory QSkin study. study in a multi‑centre Phase II lymphoma trial. Developed clinic‑based risk prediction tools Developed an analytical method for the novel for Barrett’s oesophagus, a precursor to anti‑cancer drug EBC‑46, pending Phase I clinical oesophageal cancer. trial in humans. Completed Phase I clinical trial on adoptive Began the national Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and immunotherapy for stage IV nasopharyngeal Lifestyle study (OPAL) looking at how lifestyle factors carcinoma (in collaboration with University of may influence patient outcomes. Hong Kong). Found that overweight and obese women are at Developed a new T cell based therapy for the increased risk of some subtypes of ovarian cancer. treatment of glioblastoma. Generated the first stem cells from patients with Published the first analysis of 20‑year survival rates ataxia‑telangiectasia. for people diagnosed with thin melanomas measuring Discovered novel tissue based biomarkers less than 1mm in thickness. for lymphoma. Discovered that a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 Developed new diagnostic tools for the rapid genes can improve five‑year survival in ovarian and screening of genes involved in iron metabolism. breast cancer. Identified several new genes and gene mutations that increase the risks of melanoma, and cancers of the breast, ovary, prostate, and endometrium. Page 4QIMR Annual Report 2011–20122010–2011 Infectious Diseases Expanded clinical trials of new malaria drugs and Established a new collaboration with CSIRO to screen vaccines on humans. the CSIRO compound library of more than 20,000 substances, for antimalarial activity. Completed the first‑ever screening for anti‑transmission blocking agents for malaria. Completed a five‑year longitudinal study of schistosomiasis transmission in China. Collaborated on the successful north Queensland release of Wolbachia bacteria to reduce Conducted vaccine trials against a protein from the dengue transmission. schistosome parasite, showing moderate protection. Found that a soil‑based fungus kills dengue mosquitoes in semi‑field testing conditions. Mental Health / Complex Disorders Reported four novel risk genes for migraine Contributed to the world’s largest study of the human without aura. brain, which discovered genes that affect brain size may play a role in intelligence and memory function. Created a stress test that could have application in predicting the risk of developing dementia. Established a clinical trial to test the rheumatoid arthritis drug, tocilizumab, as a new treatment for Created a new model of human eye movement, asthma. to be translated as a tool for the diagnosis of psychotic disorders. Led significant advances in understanding genes and pathways contributing to risk of endometriosis. Discovered a brain imaging marker of genetic risk for bipolar disorder. Discovered that women with a history of endometriosis can have up to three times higher rates of ovarian cancer. Page 5 AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS QIMR’s new research facility was completed in time and under budget, with laboratories commencing their move into the new building in June 2012. The inaugural Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting QIMR was held with over 2,000 registered riders participating and raising $4.7 million for cancer research at the Institute. Professor Michael Breakspear (Mental Health and Complex Disorders Program Coordinator) won a 2011 Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Queensland Clinical Researcher Award. Professor Nick Hayward (Oncogenomics) was awarded a William Rudder Travelling Fellowship by the Cancer Council Queensland to promote cancer research in Queensland. Professor Barbara Leggett (Conjoint Gastroenterology) received a Distinguished Research Award from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia. Only one of these is awarded each year. Associate Professor Penny Webb was awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant of $1.7 million to conduct the world’s first comprehensive study of lifestyle factors that might improve survival for women with ovarian cancer. Dr Manuel Ferreira (Asthma Genetics) received the Ruth Stephens Gani Medal in Human Genetics from the Australian Academy of Sciences for his work on the genetics of asthma. Dr John Miles (Human Immunity) was awarded an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship. Thomas Partridge was awarded a Nuffield Department of Medicine Prize Studentship by University of Oxford. Dr Daniel Buchanan was a finalist in the Gastroenterological Society of Queensland’s 2012 Young Investigator Awards. Page 6QIMR Annual Report 2011–20122010–2011 QIMR’s new research facility was completed in time, with laboratories commencing their move into the new building in June 2012 Page 7 AT A GLANCE BusinessBusiness development development agreements agreements ResearchBusiness development agreements agreements Research service Intellectual property agreements agreements Clinical trial Research serviceLicense Intellectual property agreementsagreements agreements agreements Commercialisation Others agreementsClinical trial License Research service Intellectual propertyagreements agreements agreements agreements Commercialisation Others Clinical trial License agreements agreements agreements Commercialisation Others agreements Patent portfolio 2011-2012 Patent portfolio 2011-2012 Patent portfolio New treatment patents New treatment patents Vaccine patents Vaccine patents Diagnostic patents Drug target Diagnosticpatents patents Drug target patents Page 8QIMR Annual Report 2011–20122010–2011 20000 NHMRC grants 15000 awarded ($ millions) 10000 $MILLIONS 5000 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 YEAR Grants Fellowships 600 Scientific 500 publications 400 300 PUBLICATIONS 200 100 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 YEAR Articles High Impact (publications in journals with impact factors of 10 or more) 600 Staff numbers 500 400 300 STAFF 200 100 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 YEAR Staff Students Page 9 CHAIRMAN’s REPORT The last year has heralded a time of great change and growth Only a year on, these funds are making a big difference to for QIMR. Brisbane residents will notice a change to the lay our researchers. There are currently 27 projects underway, of the land at the Herston precinct, with QIMR’s new 15 floor, thanks to the Ride. These projects are looking at ways to state‑of‑the‑art facility now complete, with laboratories and better treat, diagnose and prevent up to 13 different types of staff beginning the move to their new premises in June 2012. cancers including, skin, melanoma, breast, ovarian, prostate, The new building forms a link between the Bancroft Centre colorectal, brain, blood and lymphoma. Medical research is and the Clive Berghofer Cancer Research Centre and will offer a lot of small