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Annual Report 2012 AIBN ANNUAL REPORT 2012 1 Vice-Chancellor’s message 63 International companies on board with 3 Director’s message bio jet fuel research 4 New board to raise AIBN’s 64 Functions showcase research and international profile industry collaborations 5 Leadership 65 Building links with industry 6 Our vision 66 AIBN start-up companies 7 2012 Highlights 67 International collaborations 8 Strategies aim to combat cell 68 International collaborations transformations 69 Computational modelling at the core 11 Research to keep aircraft flying of global networking 12 Tissue regeneration a step closer 70 Stem cell researchers benefit from 15 Microscopy helps art conservators global network preserve valuable artworks 71 AIBN gains Hendra funding 16 Key collaborations drive research 72 Leading academics gather at outcomes conference 18 Major successes in bioplastic research 73 International materials scientists share 21 Research and commercialisation push their research for needle-free vaccination 74 Engaging with international 23 Trojan horse approach targets researchers cancer cells 75 Facilities and research 24 Tenacious plastics become reality environment 27 Advancing understanding and 76 Infrastructure facilitates research exploitation of biological interactions 78 Enabling cutting-edge research with 28 Developing novel polymer protein expertise architectures for targeted applications 79 Funding secured for specialist facility 31 Nanomac has change of leadership 80 Microscopy and microanalysis 34 Trash to treasure 36 Personalising breast cancer treatment 81 Mentoring and career through nanotechnology development 38 Continuous green energy moves 82 Multiple disciplines boost closer to reality career aspirations 41 Fantom global collaboration 83 Building the basis for researching gene networks a successful career 42 Team targets smaller, smarter 84 Industry relevance a good grounding computer chips 85 Rapid progress towards saliva 44 Reprogramming a path to diagnostics understanding brain disease 86 Student becomes awarded researcher 46 Spice may hold clue to curing brain tumours 87 Engagement 48 Associate group leaders 88 Researchers take science into the community 52 State fellows to further infection research 90 Ambassador to make science accessible 53 ARC Fellowships 91 School engagement activities expand 54 Grant to develop innovative nanotechnologies for breast cancer 92 Student takes science to the classroom 55 Philanthropy advances AIBN research 56 Recognition for AIBN’s innovative 93 Student experience researchers 94 RHD report 58 Senior researchers depart 97 Graduates 2012 59 Commercialisation activities 98 Student association and industrial engagement 99 International students join 60 Developing next-generation smart summer intake medicines 100 Research higher degree students 61 Dow Chemical Company and AIBN 101 Grants join forces 107 Publications 62 Vaccine delivery at core of licensing 114 Patents granted in 2012 agreement 115 Seminar series 2012 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2012 Annual Report of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), an institute that helps drive UQ’s ambition to couple excellent research with effective industry and government partnerships. Since becoming UQ President and Vice- pharmaceuticals, among other sectors, For Australia to sharpen its competitive Chancellor in October 2012, I have enjoyed elevate the opportunities for AIBN edge and productivity, I maintain that we, opportunities to deepen my knowledge of researchers to have a global impact. as a nation, must intensify interactions AIBN. Its researchers show exciting capacity between universities and business. The institute’s Industrial Affiliates Program to develop scientific and engineering (IAP) is a standard-bearer for engagement AIBN is showing how it can be done, but frontiers, all the while being aware of the between UQ researchers and businesses, this is only possible because of strong practicalities of industry practice. large and small. While giving companies partnerships with businesses, funding AIBN is part of why UQ is globally access to the latest research, it helps AIBN agencies and philanthropists. respected as a top 100 university, and the to maintain the industrial relevance of its So, while congratulating AIBN’s leadership institute’s outcomes helped us secure the projects. and its team for their high-calibre work and highest ratings possible in five specialised The IAP has successfully seeded their enthusiasm for industry engagement, fields in the 2012 Excellence in Research collaborations that target domestic and I thank all our partners, without whom our for Australia evaluation. global challenges, bring research and mission and vision would not be sustained. By combining this high-quality research development income to Queensland and Together, you have helped enable success with links to the market, AIBN contributes Australia and add vibrancy to the state and stories such as those featured in this report. towards progress in the health, environment national innovation economies. I am confident that, in future, we will jointly and prosperity of people worldwide. Fine examples of this are the relationships celebrate the benefits these and other AIBN Its many contributions in 2012 included a with The Dow Chemical Company and projects are delivering to society. licensing deal between Merck and AIBN DSM Biologics, which are both industrial spin-off Vaxxas, and new funding from affiliates. Thanks in part to the goodwill built the National Breast Cancer Foundation through IAP, we now have the Dow Centre Professor Peter Høj for AIBN-led work on personalised breast for Sustainable Engineering Innovation at President and Vice-Chancellor cancer treatments. UQ, and DSM is establishing a Brisbane The University of Queensland base, attached to the new Translational Partnerships with some of the biggest Research Institute. names in aviation, manufacturing and 2012 AIBN ANNUAL REPORT 1 2 AIBN ANNUAL REPORT 2012 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE understanding nanoscale systems and ranging from Brisbane technology-intensive molecular reactions are complementary to companies to large multinationals. research conducted in other AIBN groups. AIBN has a philosophy of ensuring our AIBN researchers and higher high-quality research, as evidenced by 303 After six years as a Group Leader, degree research students have peer-reviewed journal articles in 2012, is Dr Krassen Dimitrov left to concentrate his had an outstanding year. This successfully translated into new products efforts on building the spin-off company report summarises many of the and processes. Digital Diagnostics, based on intellectual achievements and successes. property developed at AIBN. Australia ranks near the bottom of OECD While extensive, the report cannot tables in collaboration between business We were very pleased in October to include the full spectrum of activities and the public research sector. The IAP welcome UQ’s new Vice-Chancellor and that make AIBN such an exciting gives us a creative new model, and we President, Professor Peter Høj, and are research environment. know we have the right, highly motivated, delighted he has so rapidly engaged with people to ensure the institute’s talent and AIBN’s activities and style. ideas are successfully applied. In 2012, AIBN held the first International To help us achieve these goals we Conference on BioNano Innovation AIBN welcomed more than 7000 visitors particularly appreciate the advice and (ICBNI) at the Brisbane Convention and to the institute in 2012, including eminent wisdom of AIBN Board Chairman Euan Exhibition Centre, a three-day conference scientists such as Sir Gregory Winter, FRS, Murdoch and his fellow board members incorporating a symposium for early who developed the world’s first fully human Kathy Hirschfeld, Professor Chris Lowe, career researchers, organised by the AIBN monoclonal antibody. Such visitors provide Professor Max Lu, Dr Susan Pond and Student Association. vision and inspiration to people such as our Bob McCarthy. own Amanda Pearce, winner of UQ’s final ICBNI attracted more than 500 delegates Finally I would like to thank UQ’s senior of the Three Minute Thesis competition; and 74 invited speakers from nine management and particularly Professors and Associate Group Leader Dr Kris countries. The conference was judged an Peter Høj, Debbie Terry, and Max Lu for Thurecht, recipient of a Queensland Young outstanding success, and we accepted the the interest and support shown to the Tall Poppy Science Award. kind invitation from Chinese Academy of institute during the year, which has been Sciences President Professor Chunli Bai to During the year we welcomed Professor instrumental in achieving the outcomes host ICBNI 2013 in Beijing. Debra Bernhardt as a new Group Leader summarised in this report. and AIBN Centre for Theoretical and The Vice-Chancellor has commented on Computational Molecular Science director. AIBN’s Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) Debra’s skills in developing theoretical and the strong links between the institute Professor Peter Gray and computational approaches to and a wide range of innovative companies, AIBN Director 2012 AIBN ANNUAL REPORT 3 NEW BOARD TO RAISE AIBN’S internationaL PROFILE It reviews AIBN’s progress in research, internationalisation, commercialisation, The AIBN Board was established in governance and management. 2012 as an advisory body to assist The board is charged with advising on the Director, Professor Peter
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