Annual Report 2010
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AIBN ANNUAL REPORT 2010 33 STUDENT EXPERIENCE 34 RHD report 36 Student profi le: Mirjana Dimitrijev Dwyer 37 Graduate profi le: Anthony Musumeci 38 2010/11 Summer internship 39 Occupational trainees 40 Research Higher Degree students 1 Vice-Chancellor’s message 41 SENIOR RESEARCHERS 2 Director’s message 42 Professor Peter Gray 4 Unique identity recognised in 43 Professor Kirill Alexandrov milestone review 44 Dr Bronwyn Battersby 6 AIBN benefi ts the economy 45 Associate Professor Idriss Blakey 7 RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS 46 Professor Julie Campbell 8 Integrated approach to improving 47 Professor Justin Cooper-White human health 48 Dr Annette Dexter 10 Latest in vaccine technology 49 Dr Krassen Dimitrov 12 Biologics research grows at AIBN 50 Professor John Drennan 14 Metabolic engineering through systems 51 Associate Professor Aijun Du and synthetic biology 52 Professor Peter Halley 16 Nano developments for diagnostic 53 Professor Mark Kendall advances 54 Professor Max Lu 18 Collaboration advances energy research 55 Associate Professor Stephen Mahler 20 Novel polymers and nanostructures for 56 Associate Professor Darren Martin new generation of products 57 Professor Anton Middelberg 22 Our vision 58 Professor Michael Monteiro 59 Professor Lars Nielsen 23 ENGAGEMENT 60 Dr Steven Reid 24 New Dow MOU 61 Professor Sean Smith 25 Biojet 62 Professor Matt Trau 26 Fabrication facilities open doors to 63 Associate Professor Christine Wells industry 64 Professor Andrew Whittaker 27 Continuing professional development 65 Associate Professor Ernst Wolvetang 28 Engaging through affi liates program 66 Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu 29 2010 HIGHLIGHTS 67 GRANTS 30 Fellowships 73 PUBLICATIONS 31 ARC achievement 32 Awards 79 AIBN SEMINARS 2010 VICE-CHANCELLOR’s MESSAGE AIBN offers proof that high-quality research generates excellent results for society, industry and the economy. In 2010 AIBN, in its eighth year, continued A third evaluation of AIBN, a seven-year to build on its record of conducting excellent review sanctioned by the UQ Senate and fundamental research and harnessing it to led by a global panel, including experts benefi t health, the environment and industry. from Harvard and University College London, commended the Queensland By early 2011 the national litmus test of Government, investors and UQ for “foresight universities’ research, the Excellence in in establishing AIBN with the remit to link Research for Australia (ERA) assessment, translation of research to commercial use”. had confi rmed AIBN as a national leader and a performer well above world standards The results from ERA, the Allen Group and in its fi elds. The University of Queensland’s the seven-year review can all be read as pinnacle ERA ratings in environmental vindicating the enabling investments by the biotechnology, industrial biotechnology and Queensland Government and The Atlantic nanotechnology owed signifi cant credit Philanthropies, as well as subsequent to AIBN. program and equipment funding from the Australian and Queensland governments. What ERA did not show – but this annual The results also endorse the commercial report does – is the value added to wisdom of Australian businesses and global high-quality discovery as it progressively corporations that network with AIBN. transmutes into products and services that industry and communities demand. With its focus on areas including human health, information and communications An assessment in 2010 by the Allen technology, energy, manufacturing and the Consulting Group clearly articulates environment, AIBN will increase its output the institute’s economic impact. Using of research that is high impact and very Queensland Government-approved relevant to communities and industry in methodology, the group found every Queensland, Australia and globally. additional dollar invested in AIBN during 2003-2009 would increase Queensland’s I commend Peter Gray and his economic output by $4.50 to $6.30, while colleagues for their sustained the national multiplier effect would be in the excellence. range of $2 to $2.90. The Allen Group report forecast that Professor Paul Greenfi eld AO AIBN would boost state and Australia- Vice-Chancellor wide consumption and investment, The University of Queensland and remarked on the “strong practical application opportunities in existing major Queensland industries”. It concluded that further state government investments would ensure the Queensland Government’s ongoing leadership in bioengineering and nanotechnology. 1 DIRECTOR’s MESSAGE 2 The year 2010 has turned out to A measure of the impact of AIBN research be a milestone one for AIBN in is demonstrated by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh highlighting two AIBN-linked many ways. projects at a press conference at the prestigious US BIO conference. One was During the year the institute was involved the announcement, with Boeing’s chief in three important reviews. We were the technology offi cer John Tracy and then fi rst UQ research institute to be reviewed by Amyris Biotechnology chief fi nancial offi cer UQ’s Academic Board, a formal process the Dr Kinkead Reiling, of government support university conducts every seven years on for the Queensland Sustainable Aviation all academic and research units; the Allen Fuel Initiative. This research consortium is Consulting Group conducted a review of led by Professor Lars Nielsen. AIBN’s economic contribution to Queensland The second, in association with DSM and Australia; and AIBN’s foundation group Biologics president Karen King, was leaders’ performance during the initial fi ve that DSM was establishing in Brisbane years was reviewed as per the terms of their a mammalian cell good manufacturing appointment contracts. practice production facility, which In this annual report we have summarised would draw on AIBN’s existing biologics the main fi ndings of these important reviews. expertise. During the same trip, the Premier In addition, we have used this opportunity announced support for Professor Anton to briefl y summarise some of the main Middelberg’s collaboration with Tianjin developments that have taken place since University, in China, and Professor Andrew Whittaker’s collaborative research project on the institute began research activities in spinal cord regeneration involving Ottawa mid-2005, and then started to expand Hospital and Monash University. activities in a major way in 2006 with the move into the new AIBN building. Since the In a move certain to continue AIBN’s move to the new building there has been success in international collaboration, the a rapid expansion in high-quality research institute welcomed new Group Leader and, pleasingly, many new multidisciplinary Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu, from projects that have been instigated and Fudan University, China. Professor Yu has grown successfully out of opportunities received several awards, including an ARC presented by the co-location of the range Future Fellowship. of expertise and disciplines in AIBN. Our Shanghai World Expo was a fi tting place numbers have grown from 56 people in the for UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) initial group leaders’ groups to a headcount and AIBN Group Leader Professor Max Lu of more than 400. to be recognised, during Queensland Week The growing successes of AIBN’s celebrations, with a Queensland Education researchers resulted in the institute’s income and Training International Queensland- exceeding $37 million in 2010, with the China Education and Training Award for majority of this raised from competitive Excellence. Within the awards, Professor Lu sources. It included funding from companies was named a joint winner in the Alumnus of for collaborative research programs, the Year (Research) category. support from the full spectrum of Australian In another 2010 achievement, the number research funding schemes, and support of research higher degree students enrolled from an expanding list of international through AIBN passed 100 and AIBN’s funding agencies and foundations. There Student Association further consolidated is a strong collaborative and international its position as a key factor in the institute’s fl avour to AIBN’s research. academic, cultural and social activities. We During 2010 we examined AIBN’s were delighted that Dr Ian Nisbet joined us international collaborations where there is during the year to run the Industrial Affi liates a contractual agreement in place between Program, bringing to AIBN his extensive the parties, such as a signed contract, experience in commercialising technology. a memorandum of understanding, a Finally I would like to thank Euan Murdoch, confi dential disclosure agreement or a who has so ably chaired our State material transfer agreement, and found Government review board, and our three 157 such collaborations. Vice-Chancellor senior colleagues and friends from UQ, Professor Paul Greenfi eld has already Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor commented that, in the recent Excellence Debbie Terry, Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Research for Australia exercise, AIBN’s (Research) Professor Max Lu and Vice- research fi elds were all judged to be Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfi eld for their performing at levels well above world advice and guidance throughout the year. standard. The 233 papers published in peer-reviewed journals during 2010 is further evidence of a sustained, high-quality Professor Peter Gray research output. AIBN Director 3 UNIQUE IDENTITY RECOGNISED IN MILESTONE REVIEW In its first seven years, AIBN has established a unique