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2007-Annual-Report.Pdf ANNUAL REPORT 2007 IMB VISION STATEMENT CONTENTS Creativity, motivation and intellectual By understanding how and why humans and CHAIR’S MESSAGE 2 Division of Molecular Cell Biology AFFILIATE APPOINTMENTS 53 freedom are the vital components of animals develop the way they do, we will be John Hancock 32 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 4 IMBcom 54 scientifi c discovery and technological better equipped to understand the basis of Brad Marsh 33 process, and underpin the research our differences and how and why things go DEPUTY DIRECTOR (RESEARCH) REPORT 6 Alan Munn 34 POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH 55 philosophy of the Institute for Molecular wrong in disease states like cancer. Rob Parton 35 Bioscience. DEPUTY DIRECTOR (SYSTEMS Jennifer Stow 36 VISITING SPEAKERS 58 In time, our collaborative research will lead & ADMINISTRATION) REPORT 7 Matt Sweet 37 Our research mission is to understand to improved therapies and diagnostics, Michael Waters 38 COLLABORATIVE the information contained in our genes enhancing our ability to combat common ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 8 Alpha Yap 39 RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS 60 and proteins – the very foundation of our diseases and genetic disorders. IMB 2007 HIGHLIGHTS 9 Division of Chemical COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 64 existence and health. It will also give rise to new ideas, and Structural Biology IMB ADVISORY BOARD 14 IMB STAFF AND STUDENTS 65 technologies and knowledge-based industries Paul Alewood 40 to improve the health and quality of life of SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE 16 Robert Capon 41 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 76 future generations. David Craik 42 IMB RESEARCHERS 18 David Fairlie 43 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 79 Division of Genomics Ben Hankamer 44 and Computational Biology Glenn King 45 2007 PUBLICATIONS 82 Richard Lewis 46 Tim Bailey 20 Jennifer Martin 47 Sean Grimmond 21 Mark Smythe 48 John Mattick 22 Mark Ragan 23 Joint Appointments at the IMB Rohan Teasdale 24 Kevin Burrage 49 Division of Molecular Genetics Geoff Goodhill 50 and Development Alan Mark 51 Peter Koopman 25 Geoffrey McLachlan 52 Melissa Little 26 George E.O. Muscat 27 Andrew Perkins 28 Rick Sturm 29 Brandon Wainwright 30 Carol Wicking 31 Institute for Molecular Bioscience • Annual Report 2007 CONTENTS 1 CHAIR’S MESSAGE This is my last report as Chair of the Board of the Thanks must also be extended to Chuck Feeney. The establishment phase of the Institute is now Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), before my His generosity, through The Atlantic Philanthropies, over, and the IMB is building on its strong base and retirement as Vice-Chancellor of The University of enabled not only the construction of the IMB consolidating its world-class research reputation. Queensland (UQ) on December 31, 2007. building, but that of several other institutes at In this it will be ably guided by Professor Brandon UQ, including the Queensland Brain Institute, and Wainwright, the current IMB Director, who in When I arrived at UQ in 1996, there were no the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and his two years at the helm has already seen institutes; today, there are six: the IMB, the Nanotechnology as well as the refurbished James considerable success and is well placed to drive Australian Institute of Bioengineering and and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre housing the UQ art the research agenda of the Institute and ensure Nanotechnology, the Queensland Brain Institute, collection. World-class research requires world- the highest quality research output. Under the the Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology class infrastructure, and Chuck Feeney’s generosity auspices of the IMB Board, which will be chaired and Metabolic Medicine, the Sustainable Minerals has been a major driver behind the delivery of this from 2008 by my successor as Vice-Chancellor, Institute and the Institute for Social Science in Queensland. Professor Paul Greenfi eld, I am confi dent that Research. Professor Wainwright and the IMB will continue Professor John Mattick and Professor Peter The IMB was the fi rst of these to be established, to go from strength to strength. Andrews were the fi rst co-directors of the IMB. and there can be no doubt that it has been an They were the driving force behind merging UQ’s unqualifi ed success. An independent review in Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology and Drug Professor John Hay, AC 2005 of the fi rst fi ve years of operation concluded Design and Development Centre to establish the UQ 2007 Vice-Chancellor that the IMB had surpassed expectations in all key IMB. They are now applying their talent to other areas, with one commentator estimating that it challenges: Professor Mattick stepped down as was “one of the two leading research institutes Director to concentrate on his research after in Australia”. receiving a Federation Fellowship, while Professor Since this review, the IMB has continued to build on Peter Andrews is Queensland Chief Scientist. its research strengths, and in the pages that follow, I also acknowledge those who have contributed you will read of its achievements in 2007. The to the IMB in less visible, but no less meaningful success of the IMB is due to a collection of talented ways: the IMB Board and Scientifi c Advisory people, and I would like to acknowledge their Committee members, the staff, both research and contributions and my appreciation of their efforts. general staff, and the students. The IMB would not Peter Beattie and the Queensland State be the leading research institute it is today without Government have been instrumental in the the contributions each of these people have made. continued success of the IMB, providing not only $15 million towards the construction of the building, but also recurrent operational funding of $10 million per annum to 2014. Peter Beattie’s “Smart State” vision has transformed Queensland into a powerhouse of bio research, which shows every sign of continuing under the new Premier, Anna Bligh. 2 CHAIR’S MESSAGE Institute for Molecular Bioscience • Annual Report 2007 Institute for Molecular Bioscience • Annual Report 2007 CHAIR’S MESSAGE 3 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE The Institute for Molecular Bioscience celebrated Professor Peter Koopman was awarded an Professor Glenn King joined the IMB in December of the Australian Stem Cell Centre until 2011. Finally, I would like to record my thanks and another successful year in 2007, with a number ARC Federation Fellowship in May for his world- 2006 and had an outstanding year in 2007, Melissa’s work in renal disease and regeneration appreciation for the contributions of the outgoing of our scientists receiving prestigious awards and renowned work in the fi eld of developmental succeeding as chief investigator on four grant is well known and highly regarded and she was an Chairman of the IMB Board, Professor John Hay, an average 40 percent success rate over both biology. The ARC Federation Fellowship will applications and as co-investigator on a further obvious choice for this position with the Australian AC, who retired as Vice-Chancellor of The University major funding schemes (ARC and NHMRC); well allow him to concentrate on his research work two grants. Glenn’s work on environmentally Stem Cell Centre. The position is based in Brisbane of Queensland at the end of 2007. During his above the national average. I was very pleased and is richly deserved. Professor Koopman joins friendly insecticides has already received at the AIBN and Melissa continues to have a lab twelve-year tenure at UQ, Professor Hay drove the to acknowledge the calibre and contribution Professors John Mattick and David Fairlie as considerable attention both in Australia and presence at the IMB. establishment of four major research institutes of our Group Leaders to the Institute’s success current IMB Federation Fellows, with IMB joint overseas and his grant success last year will at the University, including the IMB, through the Activities during 2007 included our annual Dr at a special dinner held at Customs House in appointees Professors Kevin Burrage and Alan enable him to extend his research to include a brokering of a unique funding relationship between Toshiya Yamada Memorial Lecture, in honour of Brisbane in July 2007. Professor David Siddle, UQ’s Mark and affi liate Professor Bostjan Kobe also study of antimicrobial agents to treat antibiotic- the University, the Queensland State Government the late Dr Toshi Yamada; a Group Leader scientifi c Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and our guest holding this prestigious award. The Federation resistant strains of golden staph. and Atlantic Philanthropies. Both the building retreat in November; showcasing of the Institute speaker at the event, noted it is easy to overlook Fellowship announcement was followed shortly that the IMB occupies and the annual operational Professor Matt Cooper, who has been at Cambridge at the University Open Day; and attendance the personal and family sacrifi ces that go into thereafter by Professor Koopman winning the funding grant from the State Government are due for the last decade, was awarded one of only two at Bio2007 in Boston and at Ausbiotech 07 in producing world-class science and the dinner was GlaxoSmithKline Award for Research Excellence in no small part to the efforts of Professor Hay. It prestigious NHMRC Australia Fellowships, worth $4 Brisbane. Both Bio and Ausbiotech are principally one way of saying thank you to an exceptional at a ceremony held in Melbourne in June. Koops was fi tting, therefore, that on December 4, 2007 million. Matt is originally from Adelaide and will trade exhibitions and IMB is ably supported group of people who continue to produce is the second IMB researcher to receive this the IMB facility was named the John Hay Building use the award to return to Australia to take up a by IMBcom at both events, where commercial outstanding results on behalf of the IMB. prestigious award, with Professor Melissa Little – testament to a man who has left a lasting legacy Group Leader position at the IMB in 2009.
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