AIBN Annual Report 2013

AIBN Annual Report 2013 Thank youAIBN Annual Report 2013

We thank our donors and benefactors for their continued generosity. AIBN’s research success has been enriched through ongoing philanthropic support and we remain grateful for the opportunities this provides.

Vice-Chancellor’s message ...... 1 Wells Group: Facilities & research Web portal gains traction ...... 21 environment ...... 47 Director’s message ...... 2 Whittaker Group: Infrastructure facilitates research ...... 48 Board marks first full year ...... 3 Collaborations tackle diagnosis Research agreement for protein Scientific Advisory Committee ...... 4 and fabrication ...... 22 experts ...... 50 Wolvetang Group: Research highlights 2013 ...... 5 Disease models test regenerative medicines ...... 23 Alexandrov Group: Mentoring & career development ...... 51 Expression system gives Yu Group: protein insights ...... 6 Breakthrough technologies patented . . . 24 Commercial relevance part of PhD studies ...... 52 Bernhardt Group: Appointments ...... 25 Insight into nanomaterials from PhD first step to building a Theory and Computation ...... 7 Associate Group Leaders ...... 26 research career ...... 53 Cooper-White Group: ARC Fellowships ...... 28 Bridge between research and industry . . 54 Researchers closer to clarifying Awards flow to AIBN ...... 29 stem cell clues ...... 8 Expertise and equipment aids career . . . 55 Funding ...... 30 Drennan Group: Graduate combines research Ceramic system stability explored ...... 9 and mentoring ...... 56 Gray Group: Commercialisation activities & Clinical trial closer for industry engagement ...... 31 Hendra virus therapy ...... 10 Engagement ...... 57 Suppressing anti-inflammatory drug Halley Group: side effects with nanomaterials ...... 32 Community engagement ...... 58 Polymer projects successfully TenasiTech nanoparticle additive School engagement ...... 59 finalised ...... 11 validated ...... 33 Sister city relationship builds Kendall Group: DSM scale-up facility opened ...... 34 knowledge ...... 60 Invention nears commercialisation . . . . . 12 Mahler Group: QSAFI completes significant work . . . . . 35 Cancer therapy in clinical trials ...... 13 Philanthropic initiative to support Student experience ...... 61 Martin Group: research ...... 36 RHD report ...... 62 Research converts Spinifex ...... 14 IAP links researchers with industry . . . . . 37 Graduates 2013 ...... 64 Middelberg Group: Internship brings industry relevance . . . . 38 Advancing understanding of Student association builds biological interactions ...... 15 stronger community ...... 68 Monteiro Group: International collaborations ...... 39 Summer intake engages future Drug delivery mechanism fights Consortium exchanges valuable researchers ...... 69 cancer ...... 16 information ...... 40 Research higher degree students ...... 70 Nielsen Group: Merck, Vaxxas collaboration ...... 41 Complex system design and analysis . . .17 Researchers’ bid for better batteries Trau Group: Grants & publications ...... 71 Grants advance rapid and reduced emissions ...... 42 Grants ...... 72 point-of-care diagnostics ...... 18 Point-of-care device gains momentum . . 43 Publications ...... 74 Vinu Group: Dow partnership develops ...... 44 Research generates international Patents granted in 2013 ...... 82 collaborations ...... 19 ICBNI promotes in-depth collaborations ...... 45 Thank you ...... 84 Wang Group: Collaboration builds better batteries . . . . 20 Queensland-China workshop ...... 46 Contact AIBN ...... 84 AIBN Annual Report 2013 1

Vice-Chancellor’s message

t is my pleasure to offer some – Developing a prototype for diagnosing thoughts for this 2013 report gastrointestinal diseases, in concert with of the Australian Institute the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute for Bioengineering and and the University of Washington Nanotechnology, because much – Compiling data about the economic can be said about AIBN’s focus on competitiveness of biofuels – a developing tangible, sustainable component of a project involving Boeing, outcomes for society, the Virgin Australia, Mackay Sugar, IOR environment and economies. Energy, James Cook University and various UQ research units. AIBN continues to pursue excellence in As part of its future-proofing endeavours, research and forge connections that help AIBN has nurtured a growing number of it deliver impacts for the benefit of state, research higher degree students in recent national and global communities. years, with a record 27 doctors of philosophy With support from funding agencies, and masters of philosophy conferred in 2013. industry, collaborators, philanthropists, These UQ/AIBN alumni are vital not only the AIBN board and its Scientific Advisory for national and international knowledge Committee, AIBN people are pushing the leadership, but also for their future frontiers of science with a clear eye on the contributions to the productivity and practical implications of their work. prosperity of communities and corporations. In a determined quest for solutions to I strongly encourage these graduates, as knotty and expensive problems, they well as students currently linked to AIBN, are also pooling resources and expertise to value themselves as assets not only to with colleagues within UQ. These include academia and research, but also to industry researchers in some of UQ’s newest and society. They have the knowledge multidisciplinary entities, such as the Dow to help catalyse beneficial changes in Centre for Sustainable Engineering, and the industries that have far-reaching impacts. Solar Biofuels Research Centre. I thank all AIBN staff and partners, including Positive AIBN case studies are too numerous philanthropists, who are instrumental to to detail here, but examples include: positive AIBN outcomes. Please maintain – Working with Merck towards using the your keen focus on innovating to benefit Nanopatch to administer vaccines without people and the environment, because you the need for needles, syringes and will help establish the settings for sustainable refrigeration prosperity for many generations to come. – Collaborating with a new Chinese enterprise, Leling Shengli New Energy, and UQ’s School of Chemical Professor Peter Høj Engineering, which aims for better hybrid Vice-Chancellor and President car batteries The University of Queensland 2 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Director’s message

The lifeblood of any vibrant research institute is its people and during 2013 our staff and students continued to excel in research excellence, impact and commercial vision.

degree, completing an honours program and developments occurred with two ‘Premier’ publishing a seminal paper as lead author. members of the initiative. In October 2013 At the mid-career level, Associate Group DSM Biologics’ $65 million scale-up facility Leader Dr Simon Corrie was awarded for the Good Manufacturing Practice the 2013 Queensland Young Tall Poppy (GMP) standard production of biologics Science Award in recognition of his scientific was officially opened. These protein-based excellence towards developing new devices human therapeutics are made using DNA for medical diagnostics. technology, and now make up seven of the top 10 selling human therapeutics worldwide. At the senior level, we congratulate Professor Anton Middelberg, AIBN Group The opening was particularly significant for Leader and Deputy Director, who was me, as my involvement dates back to 2001 appointed as UQ’s Pro Vice-Chancellor when the Federal Government conducted Research and International, and Professor the Pharmaceutical Action Agenda that found Justin Cooper-White, Group Leader and a Australia should develop a national contract member of the AIBN executive, who was manufacturing organisation facility capable appointed a CSIRO Office of the Chief of GMP production of biologics for Australian Executive Science Leader. researchers and other global users. AIBN’s involvement in the project started about 10 It is particularly pleasing that our people not years ago, and it was particularly pleasing only contribute to UQ by providing high quality the DSM Biologics CEO, who launched and research, achieving more than 300 scholarly drove the project, said the presence of the publications in 2013, but more than 25 of strong base in biologics capability at AIBN our researchers actively contribute to the played a key role in the company’s decision university’s undergraduate and postgraduate to invest in Brisbane. coursework teaching programs. This is a key role we play in training the next generation of The year saw AIBN host its annual young scientists. conference overseas for the first time. We were delighted to accept a kind invitation Towards the end of the year, we were from Professor Bai Chunli, a member of delighted when Dr Zoe Cahill joined AIBN in AIBN’s Scientific Advisory Committee and ince moving into our custom-designed the pivotal role of Deputy Director (Operations). $76 million building in 2006, AIBN now President of the Chinese Academy has grown to an institute of 450 staff The year saw the ongoing success of our of Sciences, to hold the conference in and students with an annual turnover researchers in attracting competitive and Beijing. The conference, opened by Frances of $35 million. The high quality of the industry funding at national and international Adamson, Australian Ambassador to institute’s research was confirmed by levels. In what was a challenging year in China, was an outstanding success. It was the latest national Excellence in Research in Australia with reductions in research funding followed by visits to the National Centre for Australia exercise, which saw AIBN research at both state and federal levels, AIBN enjoyed Nanoscience and Technology, in Beijing; a ranked at 5, the highest ranking possible at continued success in national competitive workshop at Fudan University, in Shanghai; ‘above world standard’, in the six categories grant schemes. and a joint conference with CSIRO and the covered by our research. AIBN researchers will lead two new Australian Shanghai Science and Technology Council. The Vice-Chancellor has already commended Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project International collaborations play a major the record number of graduates from our grants with co-investment from Vaxxas and part in AIBN’s research activities and in Leling Shengli New Energy, nine new ARC research higher degree student cohort of 125. 2013 we had 309 formal collaborations Discovery Project grants, two Discovery These graduates have taken up positions with with researchers, both corporate and public Early Career Research Awards, and two leading companies and academic groups sector, across 29 countries around the Future Fellowships. Four AIBN researchers in Australia and around the world. Many of world. The highest number of international will lead the Queensland node of a multistate the successes of our staff and students are collaborations was with groups in the USA collaborative ARC Centre of Excellence described in the pages of this report, and I will (103), followed by China (33) and the UK in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and single out only a few by way of example. (27). These collaborations take the form of Technology. industrial research contracts or collaborative At the more junior end of our researchers Of importance is the institute’s continuing research programs, often involving staff and we have James Biggs, from Associate growth in National Health and Medical student exchanges and ideally culminating in Professor Ernst Wolvetang’s group, who has Research Council (NHMRC) support, with joint publications. been offered the prestigious Herchel Smith 2013 being a landmark year in which three Fellowship grant to complete his PhD with An example of one such collaboration AIBN researchers attracted NHMRC Project the top stem cell group at Harvard Medical running throughout 2013 was in Professor Grants as lead investigators, and two Early School. James first started working in AIBN Lars Nielsen’s synthetic biology group Career Fellowships were awarded. as a first-year undergraduate summer where he arranged for Dr Daniel Klein- student with Ernst, and he continued AIBN’s Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) Marcushamer to spend alternating six- throughout his undergraduate science continued to deliver during 2013. Major month periods between AIBN and the Joint AIBN Annual Report 2013 3

Bio-Energy Institute at Berkeley in California. This collaborative research on the techno- economic evaluation of bio sustainable jet fuel production has been co-funded Board marks by the US Department of Energy and the Queensland Government. Another major development in 2013 was that, after more than nine years’ involvement first full year by AIBN, the $12 million Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation started activities at UQ. Professor Eric McFarland, from the University of California, was appointed the inaugural Director. he AIBN board marked its Mr Murdoch demonstrated his support We are grateful to all members of the AIBN first full year in 2013, assisting for AIBN’s Industrial Affiliates Program board for their assistance and counsel Director Professor Peter Gray when he chaired the program’s during a year that saw several major and members of the Executive in Showcase and Networking function developments at university and government matters relating to the institute’s in November and launched the levels. We were delighted when board governance, defined strategic AIBNcubator fund. member Professor Chris Lowe agreed to goals, progress against goals, and The AIBN board was established in lead our new Scientific Advisory Committee, funding levels required to support 2012, met for the first time in July 2012, membership of which is listed on page 4. AIBN’s ongoing operations and and quickly embraced its broad ambit, Fellow board members all contributed strategic initiatives. including providing advice on funding opportunities, commercialisation paths, on a wide range of topics. Susan Pond Chairman Euan Murdoch chaired a full- extension activities, and growth strategies helped with several government and day board meeting at AIBN in January, on strategic and operational levels. commercialisation matters; Kathy Hirschfeld leading discussions on many issues contributed in areas of governance and of key importance for the institute and The board reviews AIBN’s progress career planning; Bob McCarthy brought engaging in more detailed discussions in research, internationalisation, his considerable experience in government with several group leaders. commercialisation, governance and and corporate interactions; and Max Lu management. It is also charged with UQ Vice-Chancellor and President, provided invaluable advice on university and advising on matters such as raising Professor Peter Høj, joined the board government interactions. Chairman Euan AIBN’s international profile to maximise for lunch, enabling informal discussions Murdoch provided inspirational leadership benefits to Queensland and Australia on areas of common interest, including and contributed on many levels, including generally, and assisting to maintain research excellence and effective officially launching the AIBNcubator AIBN’s high visibility and reputation in industry and government partnerships. Technology Translation Fund at an IAP research, industry, government and networking event in November. The board meeting was followed by the public domains. annual retreat for AIBN group leaders, I would like to acknowledge UQ’s senior Members are high-calibre associate group leaders and section management for their interest and support representatives with broad ranging heads, with presentations and robust shown to AIBN during the year. Professors experience and expertise in the discussions to formulate institute Peter Høj (Vice-Chancellor), Debbie Terry university, industry, community and strategies for the challenging year (Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor), and Max government sectors. ahead. AIBN board members joined Lu (Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)) all the retreat for the afternoon of the first Mr Murdoch is the founder of Herron gave generously of their time during the day and contributed to discussions on Pharmaceuticals. His career has year and their ongoing commitment to the AIBN’s 10-year vision and the strategy included positions on the Queensland institute played a strong role in our continuing to be adopted in pursuing major new Biotechnology Advisory Council, the successes. We wish Professor Terry well in research collaborations. Reserve Bank of Australia, the Small her new role as Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Business Advisory Board, the Australian University, in Perth, WA, and congratulate The board subsequently met in August, Food and Grocery Council, the Professor Max Lu who takes over in the new where the main topics discussed Complementary Healthcare Council of role of UQ Provost in 2014. were the UQ Faculty Review being Australia, Harvest Fresh Cuts Pty Ltd and conducted during 2013; autonomy Sigma Pharmaceuticals. for large research institutes like AIBN; Professor Peter Gray and the board’s final approval for Board members are Kathy Hirschfeld, AIBN Director AIBNcubator, a philanthropic fund Professor Chris Lowe, Professor Max established to source proof-of-concept Lu, Bob McCarthy, Dr Susan Pond and seed funding. Professor Gray. 4 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Scientific Advisory Committee

IBN established the Scientific Professor Bai Chunli is a well-known Flinders University’s Professor Colin Advisory Committee (SAC) in 2013 chemist and leading scientist in nanoscience Raston is the South Australia Premier’s to advise the board and Director and President of the Chinese Academy of Professorial Research Fellow in Clean Professor Peter Gray on the Sciences. He has research interests in the Technology, with projects in clean technology institute’s future scientific fields of scanning tunnelling microscopy and and green chemistry, process intensification, directions and research strategies. molecular nanotechnology. nanotechnology and self-assembly. SAC’s members are recognised experts The University of Melbourne’s Professor Dr Anita Hill is chief of CSIRO Process in their fields and their diverse research Thomas W Healy AO has a list of honours Science and Engineering and is working interests reflect the breadth of scientific recognising a lifetime of contributions to to build Australia’s international standing in disciplines brought together at AIBN. colloids and interface science, mentoring the field of nanostructured materials and in Australasian science, and support for processes. SAC Chair Professor Chris Lowe creates philanthropic activities. a link to the AIBN board through his long- SAC’s responsibilities include identifying standing membership of that advisory body, CSIRO Fellow and Distinguished Research future strategic opportunities for fields of and bringing a wealth of knowledge in Fellow Professor Andrew Holmes research, collaboration and the institute’s healthcare biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, brings to SAC expertise in electroactive cross-disciplinary foci; and identifying unique biosensors and diagnostics, technology organic and polymeric materials, biological funding opportunities for AIBN activities. chemistry, and natural product synthesis development and commercialisation. The committee will assist in providing gained during a career at Cambridge, global visibility for AIBN activities; propose University College London’s Professor Barry University College London, Imperial College strategies for training and developing Buckland brings to SAC a background and the University of Melbourne. in industrial research and development, researchers and research students to academia and commercialisation in Professor Laura Poole-Warren combines build scientific capacity and capability in a biochemical engineering and bioprocessing. research in biomaterials and tissue multi-disciplinary and global environment; engineering with senior leadership positions and provide research strategy and goal Professor Martin Pera has more than 25 at the University of New South Wales, recommendations to the AIBN board. years of experience in human pluripotent government advisory bodies and university stem cell research, conducted at the Eli strategy and policy bodies. and Edythe Broad Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the Professor Martin Lavin has an international University of Southern California; Monash reputation for his work on genetic disorder University; the University of Melbourne, ataxia-telangiectasia. His work at UQ’s Florey Neuroscience and Mental Health Centre for Clinical Research also focuses on Institute; and the Walter and Eliza Hall genetics; neurodegenerative diseases; early Institute of Medical Research. detection of prostate cancer; and evaluation of snake venom proteins with therapeutic Research at the interface between organic, potential. supramolecular and macromolecular chemistry, liquid crystals, nanoscience Biochemical engineer Professor Harvey W and biology is the focus of Professor Blanch’s work at the University of California Virgil Perce’s work at the University of (Berkeley) brings to SAC insights into protein Pennsylvania. interactions, DNA electrophoresis and mammalian cell metabolism. AIBN Annual Report 2013 5

Research highlights 2013 6 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Expression system gives protein insights

IBN Professor Kirill Alexandrov The project has attracted a Prostate spectroscopy to quantitatively analyse has applied synthetic biology Cancer Foundation of Australia grant, protein dynamics and protein-protein principles to analyse and design enabling Professor Alexandrov’s group interactions. to translate work in synthetic biology into protein-based molecular Professor Alexandrov extended a diagnostics for prostate cancer. nano-machines in 2013 that collaboration with Perth biotechnology give insights into heart and muscle Professor Alexandrov’s research group company Phylogica LLC on the discovery diseases. focuses on synthetic biology and the study of pharmaceutical peptides with the of basic biology that underlies disease. support of an Australian Research Council Professor Alexandrov’s research group The aim is to construct life from standard (ARC) Linkage grant awarded in 2013. developed a novel cell-free protein parts by exploiting and manipulating expression system based on the single- biological systems. The collaboration aims to develop celled organism Leishmania tarentolae, technologies for identifying peptides A detailed understanding of cell surface converted to a high-throughput format in capable of binding to pharmacological organisation at the molecular level is 2013. targets. important for therapeutic strategies to Using the technology, researchers combat changes associated with cell Professor Alexandrov was an ARC Future have dramatically decreased the cost transformation in human diseases such as Fellow when he joined UQ in 2008 as a of deciphering the protein interaction cancer. joint appointment between AIBN and the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. networks encoded in human genomes. Professor Alexandrov is developing The technique gives insights into the treatments for cancer, blindness, He was a plenary, keynote or invited workings of proteins important in disease thrombosis and excessive bleeding using speaker at several international and progression in the heart and muscles. knowledge-based design of biological national conferences in 2013, including systems, taking advantage of new at Queenstown Research Week in New The technology is likely to be adopted by methods for rapid in vitro synthesis and Zealand, the Lorne Proteins Conference, researchers around the world after being engineering of proteins and protein-based the Australian Genomic Technologies published in new open-access scientific machines. Association conference, the ComBio journal eLife. The methods are vital in biotechnology, Meeting in Perth and the Cell Signalling Professor Alexandrov’s research group as production and analysis of proteins Symposium at the University of Melbourne. developed synthetic protein signal determines the expense and speed of the transduction and amplification cascades discovery and creation of new vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic methods. with potential for use in human diagnostics Alexandrov Group and cellular engineering, resulting in two Professor Alexandrov’s research group www.aibn.uq.edu.au/kirill-alexandrov patent applications. combines the technology with molecular AIBN Annual Report 2013 7

Insight into nanomaterials from Theory and Computation

IBN Professor Debra Bernhardt’s CO2 concentration and its impact on Professor Bernhardt is a Fellow of the Royal research group continued to the environment is motivating Professor Australian Chemical Institute and was an gain international recognition Bernhardt’s research group to discover new invited speaker in 2013 at Kavli Institute in the use of non-equilibrium materials and technologies for efficient CO2 of Theoretical Physics China’s program on statistical mechanics and capture and conversion. Group members small system non-equilibrium fluctuations thermodynamics in 2013, and to model how nanomaterials can be used to at the Chinese Academy of Science; and develop advanced nanomaterials capture and store CO2 using density functional at the Joint European Thermodynamics theory calculations. They collaborated with with applications in energy storage Conference in Italy. AIBN Professor Max Lu in 2013, publishing and conversion. results relating to charge-controlled switchable Two PhD students from China visited Professor Bernhardt’s group in 2013. Huize Professor Bernhardt is the director of CO2 capture on boron nitride nanomaterials in the new AIBN Centre for Theoretical and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Yu from Harbin Institute of Technology’s Computational Molecular Science, bringing Department of Materials Science and The group received funding from the together leading UQ researchers developing Engineering conducted research on Asian Office of Aerospace Research and catalysts to obtain hydrogen from metal and using theories and computational Development to investigate ways to build techniques for molecular science. hydrides. Meng Wang from China University stronger materials using metal matrix of Petrolium (East China) examined materials Professor Bernhardt and her group use composites. Researchers in the group have for CO2 capture. a range of theoretical and computational been examining the strength of interactions approaches to develop a fundamental between carbon and boron nitride Other visitors included Professor Shih-Jye understanding of the behaviour of matter nanotubes with aluminium and titanium to Sun from the National University of Kaohsiung and study new materials and fluids. ultimately develop a composite material that in Taiwan; and Professor Lamberto Rondoni is light yet strong. from the Polytecnico di Torino in Italy. Non-equilibrium statistical AIBN’s Dr Chenghua Sun received an mechanics and thermodynamics Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Her recent work has demonstrated how Fellowship in 2013 to develop high- Bernhardt Group performance material efficiently converting dissipation of a system remains important www.aibn.uq.edu.au/debra-bernhardt in highly non-equilibrium systems where solar energy to hydrogen – a clean fuel. the temperature and entropy become undefined. Investigating fundamental studies into how systems behave outside equilibrium will provide the know-how for understanding and developing improved devices, materials and fluids. Professor Bernhardt’s research group published work in Physical Review Letters in 2013, detailing how fluctuations in a nanosized region can be quantified which has implications for the design and performance of nanoscale devices.

Advanced materials Professor Bernhardt is applying theoretical and computational molecular science to a wide range of problems including transport in nanopores, fluctuation phenomena, and design of materials, gas separation, energy storage and conversion. The work exploits classical simulation methods and quantum mechanical calculations to advance nanomaterials for energy transport and conversion; CO2 capture; catalysis and fuel cells. Increasing concerns about the atmospheric 8 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Researchers closer to clarifying stem cell clues

unding for a new lab, research As one of only 13 OCE Science Leaders microtissues of only 100 to 200 cells each projects and collaborations appointed from around Australia, Professor that can be assembled into tissues suitable are taking Professor Justin Cooper-White will establish a new lab and for cartilage defect repair and combined with Cooper-White closer to clarifying the research program at CSIRO’s Division scaffolds to ensure functional tissue repair. microenvironmental cues that regulate of Materials Science and Engineering in In 2013, the lab began investigating whether stem cell behaviours and translating Melbourne. molecules called microRNAs play an important the insights into biomaterial scaffolds “The OCE Science Leader position will allow role in how stem cells respond to the and microdevices to direct stem cells me to work closely with CSIRO people who biomaterial systems being developed in the to turn into desired functional cells, have significant expertise in material synthesis, lab – and how that may determine their ability tissues and even organs. bio-surface engineering, and cell and matrix to generate bone, cartilage, muscle and fat. biology,” Professor Cooper-White said. The lab is also focused on developing The biomaterials and devices are used stimuli-responsive nanoparticles for delivering to generate multiple tissues and organs, Funding for large-scale collaborations is microRNAs and DNA targeting heart tissue including knee meniscus and articular important for speeding the discovery process regeneration after a heart attack. cartilage, intervertebral and cervical disc, and enabling faster translation of learning heart, bone and kidney. from the lab to real-world medical treatments. TEaM lab researchers published 24 papers in 2013 in high profile journals; discovered, Professor Justin Cooper-White’s Tissue Professor Cooper-White was successful patented and are hoping to commercialise a Engineering and Microfluidics (TEaM) in Australian Research Council (ARC) and new molecule that enhances chondrogenesis lab works at the interface of stem cell National Health and Medical Research in human mesenchymal stem cells; and biology, materials science, engineering and Council (NHMRC) grant rounds in 2013. cemented collaborations with international microfluidics to examine the basic signals An ARC grant will fund a research project peers. needed to repair and regenerate diseased or focusing on developing smart hydrogels that Professor Cooper-White was awarded a damaged tissues. determine how mecho-sensitive stem cells Visiting Professorial Fellowship at Politecnico Researchers need to generate cells that can are and use the cue to direct tissue genesis. di Milano, spending five months at the function appropriately to complete repairs. institute in 2013 conducting research, An NHMRC grant funds work on kidney establishing collaborations and teaching Different signals bombard stem cells when regeneration, in collaboration with Professor post-graduate courses in stem cell Melissa Little from UQ’s Institute for they are grown in vitro, so researchers dynamics and biomaterials and biomimetics. investigate how they react to each of the Molecular Bioscience and AIBN Associate signals to determine simple, effective ways to Professor Ernst Wolvetang, and on The TEaM lab hosted international PhD and ensure the cells form the correct tissue types. engineering osteochondral tissue to repair Masters students from world-renowned cartilage defects, resulting from sporting collaborators in Italy, the UK, Switzerland The TEaM lab secured new funding of injuries or conditions such as osteoarthritis. and India. about $3 million in 2013, including Professor Cooper-White’s five-year appointment as a In the work on osteochondral defect repair, Cooper-White Group CSIRO Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) stem cells derived from bone marrow will Science Leader. be used to produce cartilage and bone www.aibn.uq.edu.au/justin-cooper-white AIBN Annual Report 2013 9

Drennan Group Ceramic system www.aibn.uq.edu.au/john-drennan Professor Drennan’s research also involved collaborating with colleagues at the National Institute for Materials Science stability explored (NIMS) on ceramic materials based on cerium oxide. The research’s focus was on developing fuel cell materials for the next generation of efficient energy producing systems. esearch collaborations and and obtain elemental and crystallographic expertise in microscopy information simultaneously. Designed Professor Drennan published six papers and microanalysis have to examine a range of materials, the with his NIMS collaborators, including given AIBN Professor John instrument will benefit AIBN researchers in publication in Langmuir and the Journal of Drennan valuable insights into a multitude of fields. Materials Chemistry. bioengineering and nanotechnology In 2013, the Australian Synchrotron A 2013 paper in the Journal of Materials developments in 2013. highlighted papers from Professor Science, outlining the microstructural Drennan’s research group on metal changes in a candidate material subjected Professor Drennan’s collaborations have stearate formation as part of its annual to extreme temperatures, defined the involved diverse research fields, including assessment of significant works that have framework for future work on hypersonic the stability of various ceramic systems, resulted from using synchrotron radiation. vehicles. metal stearate formation using synchrotron radiation, and developing next-generation In 2013, PhD student Gillian Osmond Professor Drennan’s input helped provide fuel cell materials. worked with Professor Drennan’s group on detailed protocols on how to access a series of experiments on paint fragments materials for potential application. His appointments as Centre for Microscopy from significant Queensland artworks and Microanalysis director and AIBN Hypersonic vehicles are air-breathing and identified trends and elemental Affiliate Group Leader provide a synergy aircraft that will fly greater than five distributions key to art conservation in that enables insights into materials research times the speed of sound. UQ is a world paintings containing significant quantities and shapes the centre’s strategic direction. leader in hypersonic research and has of zinc oxide. a continuing program to develop the In conjunction with partners at the Professor Drennan’s collaboration with technology of hypersonic flight engines. Queensland University of Technology and the CSIRO Division of Materials continued Limitations are not in the engine’s design the University of the Sunshine Coast, the in 2013 and resulted in a paper outlining but the material it is made from. Frictional centre successfully obtained a significant the effect of reducing atmospheres on heating is estimated to result in components grant in 2013 to purchase a dual beam the stability of various ceramic systems, reaching temperatures of more than scanning electron microscope. building on his body of work detailing 3000oC. The materials work to develop The instrument will be installed in 2014 the control of microstructure of oxide protective coatings for hypersonic vehicles and enable users to observe samples, materials and the effect on physical is continuing and new grant applications for cut sections, expose selected surfaces properties. 2014 are in place with new collaborators. 10 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Gray Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/peter-gray Clinical trial closer for Hendra virus therapy

ajor developments were recorded in 2013 in research programs in the fields of stem cells and the production of biologics. AIBN Director and Group Leader Professor Peter Gray has headed research in the areas, with support from new funding, publication of important new research relating to scalable growth of human stem cells and moves towards a clinical trial of an anti-Hendra virus monoclonal antibody. Professor Gray has been involved in an on-going collaboration with fellow AIBN Group Leader Professor Michael Monteiro and Dr Zhongfan Jia to develop novel thermoresponsive polymers that enable the scalable growth of human stem cells with no need for enzymes and chemical inhibitors during sub-culturing. The collaboration, involving Dr Andrew Prowse, Xiaoli Chen, and Dr Trent Munro, has been an outstanding success and has developed novel, patented, thermoresponsive nanobridges that use a simple temperature drop to enable subculturing of the cells, without adding enzymes or chemicals. The first paper on the research was published in 2013 in the journal Biomacromolecules and the work is being presented by invitation at key international conferences. Professor Gray’s research in biologics received a boost in 2013, with visits from US collaborators on the anti-Hendra virus monoclonal antibody project, Professor Minister Dr John McVeigh and NSW position as Head of Cell Line Development Christopher Broder from the Uniformed Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkins at Amgen at Thousand Oaks in California. Services University of the Health Sciences announced the Hendra project would receive “Trent made a major contribution to and Dr Dimiter Dimitrov from the National $1.2 million to fund a clinical trial. building up the research activities at AIBN,” Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health. Professor Gray said. “It is pleasing to see The trial will be led by Dr Geoff Playford at Discussions during the visit and the success him taking the opportunity to work for one of the Princess Alexandra Hospital and use of the collaboration to date resulted in plans the top global biotech companies.” a human monoclonal antibody capable of to further expand joint activities involving neutralising Hendra virus, manufactured at Dr David Chin, who had built up and was additional antibodies. AIBN’s National Biologics Facility (NBF). leading the NBF, moved to a senior position Professor Gray’s research collaboration with at Biosceptre International Ltd, based The funds augment a previous $400,000 Dutch pharmaceutical manufacturer DSM in Sydney and Cambridge in the UK. At grant from the National Health and Medical Biologics had another milestone in 2013, Biosceptre, Dr Chin will work closely with Sir Research Council (NHMRC) for the trial. when Queensland Science Minister Ian Greg Winter, a pioneer in the development of Walker opened the new $65million Good Developing the process to make and monoclonal antibodies for clinical application. Manufacturing Practice ‘biologics plant of characterise the antibody has involved a The NBF is now co-managed by Dr Martina the future’ in Brisbane. concerted effort of 12 members of Professor Jones, with responsibility for antibody Gray’s research group. In October, Queensland Health Minister technology, and Dr Jeff Hou, who will oversee Lawrence Springborg, Queensland Agriculture During 2013, Dr Munro moved to a new cell line and bioprocess development. AIBN Annual Report 2013 11

Halley Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/peter-halley Polymer projects successfully finalised

wo polymer research projects Cooperative Research Centre “Dr Luckman and the team have continued were successfully finished in 2013, In 2013, Professor Halley continued to lead excellent work on the thin films packaging building on key relationships with research projects in sustainable polymers. project, producing a world first in the development of new ultrathin packaging film industry partners and resulting He has an active role in the Cooperative processes,” Professor Halley said. in publications and patents for Research Centre (CRC) for Polymers, with Professor Peter Halley’s research continued Federal Government funding until group. 2017 and links to more than 20 domestic and Starch-ionic liquid- nanocomposites The projects were funded with Australian international industry and research providers. Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project CRC research includes developing sustainable In another project, Professor Halley and grants and involved work on texture polymers for agriculture and AIBN Professor Dr Fengwei Xie used an ARC Discovery modified foods and developing biopolymers Lianzhou Wang’s work on polymer solar cells. grant to collaborate with Queen’s University from waste streams. Belfast, Warwick University and the Dr Laycock has taken over from Professor University of Alabama on starch-ionic liquid- They were part of a focus in Professor Peter Halley as project leader of the CRC’s nanocomposites. Halley’s research group on biofluid and agricultural films project, linking UQ In 2013, Professor Halley was a member of the biopolymer processing to develop materials with Integrated Packaging, Queensland organising committee for the Royal Australian and processes for sustainable product University of Technology, Monash University, Chemical Institute’s Australian Polymer development. Green Australia and CSIRO. Symposium; and a member of the European Professor Halley’s research develops high- “Our CRC polymers projects led by Dr Polymer Federation’s technical committee for value bioplastics for use in farming, food Laycock and Professor Wang are vital the European Polymer Congress in Pisa, Italy. packaging, solar cells and medical treatment. in developing new practical, sustainable Professor Halley has a three-year polymer systems for water, food and energy appointment as head of UQ’s School of Texture-modified foods applications,” Professor Halley said. Chemical Engineering, starting in 2014. “This is a great opportunity for key senior An ARC project with industry partners Starch films for packaging RSL Care and Two Short Giraffes involved researchers to lead exciting projects, researching novel cooking and processing Professor Halley’s research group continued manage stakeholder relationships and to methods to improve the safety and nutrition a project using ARC Linkage Project grow their own careers at UQ,” he said. of texture modified foods. funding, finishing in 2015, in collaboration Using his international expertise in bio-based with UQ start-up company Plantic The research developed specialised medical polymers and translational polymer research, Technologies. Dr Paul Luckman led work food for patients with dysphagia, resulting in Professor Halley also accepted a role as on thin starch films for packaging with difficulty in swallowing. Co-Director of UQ’s Queensland Centre researchers from UQ and the Queensland for Advanced Materials Processing and “The project developing new commercially Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation. Manufacturing. ready formulations and cooking processes, in combination with industry partners, as well as meeting fundamental research goals, was extremely rewarding for my research group,” Professor Halley said.

Biopolymers from waste streams In another ARC-funded research project, Dr Bronwyn Laycock headed development of biopolymers from waste streams, using novel methods for preparing polyphdroxyalanoate co-polymers and blends. The work was patented in 2013 and reported in literature, including the highest impact factor polymer journal, Progress in Polymer Science. “The project built on earlier UQ links with industry, including ex-UQ graduates assisting PhD students in industrial trials. It was an example of a successful industry-embedded research project,” Professor Halley said. 12 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Invention nears commercialisation

ork towards commercialising times smaller than required for a needle and the presence of infectious diseases such as an AIBN invention aimed at syringe. dengue fever and malaria. delivering vaccines without It has the potential to overcome needle-stick Work in Professor Kendall’s research group needles and syringes has been injuries and cross contamination. Because is also continuing on a planned field trial in augmented with pioneering vaccines are dry-coated to the Nanopatch, Papua New Guinea, using funding linked research into how naturally occurring it may not need refrigeration, potentially to a Rolex Award for Enterprise awarded mechanisms in the skin can enhance making transport much cheaper and easier, to Professor Kendall in 2012 to assess usability of the patch and applicator under a person’s immune response. particularly to developing nations. developing-country field conditions. Biomedical engineer and AIBN Group Leader Vaccines for various diseases including The field trial, and blank Nanopatch trials Professor Mark Kendall is collaborating influenza and human papillomavirus can with Translational Research Institute Chief in Brisbane using human volunteers, are potentially be dry-coated into the Nanopatch. precursors to potential clinical trials. Executive Officer and Director of Research Professor Ian Frazer and start-up company The ARC funding, announced in 2013, was In parallel activities, Vaxxas staff are working Vaxxas on the research, using almost one highlight in a successful year for Professor with US-based pharmaceutical giant Merck $600,000 in funding from an Australian Kendall’s AIBN research group and the second to establish the efficacy, quality and stability Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant. calendar year of operations for Vaxxas, of a Merck vaccine dry-coated to the established to advance the Nanopatch towards Nanopatch, as part of an agreement that The research will involve input from clinical testing and product development. includes Merck funding for a development immunologists, dermatologists, engineers program to explore use of the Nanopatch in Professor Kendall gained global exposure and vaccinologists and a combined three- conjunction with an important vaccine. for his work on the Nanopatch in 2013, year budget of more than $1 million to presenting a TED Global talk in Edinburgh, Vaxxas was founded with $15 million in build on Professor Kendall’s work on the Scotland and recording more than 600,000 capital investment in 2011, which was one Nanopatch, a device being developed to online views for the presentation’s video on the of Australia’s largest investments in a start- deliver dry-coated vaccine into the skin. up biotechnology company, and has grown TED Global website in the first three months. Thousands of small projections on the to a staff of 20. Chemical engineer Dr Simon Corrie expanded Nanopatch are designed to deliver a vaccine The Vaxxas board includes representation the Nanopatch’s capability with research into to abundant immune cells in the skin, whereas from co-investors OneVentures, Brandon disease detection, funded using an ARC traditional needle and syringe delivers to the Capital, HealthCare Ventures and UQ’s main Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. muscle, where there are few immune cells. commercialisation company UniQuest. Combining materials chemistry with molecular Research has demonstrated the Nanopatch biology, Dr Corrie will investigate the potential Kendall Group achieves protective immune responses in of using the Nanopatch’s microscopic needles small animal models with doses up to 100 to quickly detect biomarkers that point to www.aibn.uq.edu.au/mark-kendall AIBN Annual Report 2013 13

Mahler Group Cancer therapy www.aibn.uq.edu.au/stephen-mahler

in clinical trials accomplished in a simpler manufacturing process, while also enhancing EDV targeting efficiency to tumour cells. “With EnGeneIC, we are now investigating ollaboration between AIBN EnGeneIC has developed a novel drug other targets such as mesothelin, a Associate Professor Stephen delivery platform, the EnGeneIC Delivery cell surface protein found in several Mahler and Sydney bioscience Vehicle (EDV), capable of being loaded malignancies including mesothelioma, company EnGeneIC Ltd led to with high concentrations of various ovarian, lung and pancreatic cancer,” human clinical trials of a cancer cytotoxic drugs. Associate Professor Mahler said. therapy in 2013. EDVs are designed to be ingested, “We are using our knowledge in Associate Professor Mahler led a group break down and release the cytotoxins recombinant protein expression to of researchers aiming to develop new contained inside to kill the cancer cells. produce mesothelin, aid in our research biologic medicines in 2013, including “EDVs have proved to be functional,” and develop anti-mesothelin antibodies. nanoparticles that carry cytotoxic drugs Associate Professor Mahler said. “Future studies will look at human directly to cancer cells. “However, the antibody targeting system mesothelioma xenograft models to assess Targeting the nanoparticles’ delivery needs to be optimised for ease of tumour regression, using EDVs targeting manufacture and to progress through is accomplished through conjugation mesothelin.” the regulatory hurdles required in clinical of monoclonal antibody fragments to development of a novel therapeutic.” EnGeneIC began working with AIBN as a nanoparticles of various compositions, client of the institute’s National Biologics including polymers, proteins and lipids. Using antibody engineering techniques, Facility in 2008 and continued the Associate Professor Mahler’s research Antibody-conjugated nanoparticles collaboration with an Australian Research group has been working with AIBN are characterised by combinations of Council (ARC) Linkage Project grant. colleagues to develop single chain novel methodologies, including plasmon surface bispecific antibodies potentially capable of Associate Professor Mahler has made resonance and fluorescence-activated targeting EDVs to many different types of significant contributions to the fields of cell sorting to demonstrate binding to cancer cells. biopharmaceutical discovery, development targets; and in vitro and in vivo bioassays and delivery, including developing The antibody engineering techniques can to demonstrate function. technology for producing human antibody optimise properties such as stability and Collaborating with EnGenIC has enabled biopharmaceuticals. He was an invited binding affinity to cancer cells. development of enhanced targeting ability speaker to three international conferences for therapeutic drugs. The work enables EDV targeting to be in Singapore in 2013. 14 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Martin Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/darren-martin

Research converts Spinifex

IBN researchers under the Ms Amiralian made ‘nanopaper’ from the “Their preparation requires no aggressive leadership of Professor Darren cellulose with a toughness that is critical for chemical pre-treatment and uses the lowest Martin are at the core of an non-woven applications, such as filtration total mechanical energy of any known initiative that could grow to membranes and electronic spacers, where cellulose nanofibrils. It means Spinifex has include industry partners the formation of tears and defects can the potential to address the technological render the product useless. and Aboriginal communities in bottleneck that has so far limited the developing renewable materials Professor Martin said preliminary testing widespread translation of nanocellulose from an Australian native grass. has been conducted on the nanofibrillated technology.” cellulose, with plans to continue refining the Professor Martin’s AIBN research group has Professor Martin has well-developed process to enable scale up to industrially skills and expertise in nanomaterial turned Spinifex into a nanomaterial called relevant quantities. nanofibrillated cellulose with a high surface commercialisation as Chief Scientific area and exceptional mechanical properties. “When benchmarked against other leading Officer for TenasiTech, a start-up academic and commercially available company commercialising a polymer The material’s properties make it suitable for materials, Spinifex nanofibrils have the nanocomposites platform applied to large a wide range of applications, including as highest aspect ratio of any cellulose polyurethane and acrylic polymer markets components in air and water filters, battery nanofibrils to date,” he said. and applications. separators, metal replacements and wound dressings. “We are excited at the results so far and confident we can develop a truly scalable process to convert Spinifex as a renewable feedstock for a superior nanofibrillated cellulose,” Professor Martin said. “We can then think about building on the research to develop a multitude of applications for the material and investigate the infrastructure needed to source Spinifex in an efficient, sustainable and responsible manner.” In collaboration with research groups led by Professor Paul Memmott from UQ’s School of Architecture, Professor Susanne Schmidt from the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences and indigenous industry partner the Myuma Group, owned and managed by the Indjalandji-Dhidhanu traditional ownes of the Camooweal area, the project has secured almost $75,000 in funding. A UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund seed research grant enables Professor Martin’s research group to develop a process to make and scale up the material. It provides support for Professor Schmidt’s team to determine the best species of Spinifex to use; and enables Professor Memmott’s team to work with Aboriginal communities to source the grass and investigate harvesting methods. AIBN student Nasim Amiralian began the Spinifex conversion process as part of her PhD studies, creating ropey nanofibres that were thinner and longer than generally achieved in the industry. Spinifex enables the use of a process involving unrivalled mild chemical pre- treatments and minimal mechanical energy to make nanofibrillated cellulose with an extremely small diameter of three to four nanometres and a high aspect ratio. AIBN Annual Report 2013 15

Middelberg Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/anton-middelberg

Advancing understanding of biological interactions

esearch into controlling “We believe nanoemulsions can be and working in collaboration with Dr biological interactions and used to sequester poorly soluble drugs Philip Dormitzer from Swiss multinational understanding how to better and selectively deliver them to cancers, pharmaceutical company Novartis, Dr design bio-inspired systems, minimising off-target effects and significantly Connors and Dr Linda Lua assembled a virus- products and manufacturing increasing payloads reaching target cells.” like particle (VLP) with a rotavirus antigen. processes has been significantly The VLP has a rotavirus antigen of 19kDa, advanced in Professor Anton Biomimetic formation of rather than small peptides generally used in Middelberg’s lab in 2013. silica capsules industry, without disrupting the structure. The research is showing potential in targeted Professor Middelberg’s research group is Professor Middelberg said the VLP, a delivery of therapeutics; slow-release also developing emulsion-templated silica synthetic that mimics a virus but contains applications in drug delivery, vaccination and capsules for slow-release applications in no genetic material, was presented to insecticides; new-generation vaccine design; drug delivery, vaccination and insecticides, an antigen-detecting antibody and was and developing a vaccine platform capable of resulting in a patent application in 2013. recognised – confirming the rotavirus making doses much cheaper. antigen was “authentically presented”. Australian Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Chun-Xia “The computational modelling and simulation Zhao and PhD student David Wibowo are was able to predict the best design and has Self-assembled targeting leading the work on bio-forming of silica enabled large antigens to be introduced to an nanoemulsion around oil droplets for an environmentally established VLP platform,” he said. Professor Middelberg’s research group sustainable approach. “With such a successful Phase I result, we is at the forefront of moves to overcome Using E Coli to produce designed chemical challenges that limit the targeted have the opportunity to apply for a larger mineralising biosurfactants, the researchers Phase II grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates delivery of therapeutics such as cancer are able to stabilise the emulsion and form drugs, with a world-first self-assembled Foundation to test for immunogenicity in the a shell that encapsulates the oil core. The animal model.” targeting nanoemulsion. thickness of the shell accurately determines The nanoemulsion comprises the release of the encapsulated active pharmaceutical-grade oil droplets stabilised components. Synthetic biology by a surfactant made up of designer Professor Middelberg said the technology Synthetic biology is also being employed peptides, overcoming issues with poorly showed potential to out-perform existing in Professor Middelberg’s vaccine research and is demonstrating potential in developing soluble chemotherapeutics going off-target commercial termite eradication products. and delivering the payload to healthy cells a platform capable of rapid scale up and rather than tumours. “The delayed release of the insecticide gives making doses for less than 1 cent each. termites that ingest the capsules ample Using bacteria to create a designer viral Professor Middelberg and Dr Bijun Zeng are time to transfer it to others in the colony capsomere gives researchers under project co-inventors of the technology, developing the and improve area-wide control of termite nanoemulsion using an Australian Research leader Dr Nani Wibowo the potential to populations,” he said. Council Discovery grant and a Queensland develop vaccines quickly and cheaply for Government 2010 Smart Futures Premier’s use in animals and humans, addressing Fellowship for Professor Middelberg. Computational modelling global One Health concerns about diseases of a VLP spreading from one to the other. Dr Frank Sainsbury is further developing the technology, building on publication and Computational modelling, conducted under With the support of a Pathfinder proof-of- a coveted frontispiece in Small in 2013, the leadership of Dr Natalie Connors, has concept grant from UniQuest, the research providing proof of concept for the precise helped Professor Middelberg’s research is showing protective efficacy in vaccinating targeting that can be achieved. group design a new-generation vaccine to against influenza and will be broadened to target rotavirus. test for efficacy in other diseases. “The project will develop a platform for the delivery of cytotoxic chemotherapeutics to Using Grand Challenges Explorations funding cancer cells,” Professor Middelberg said. from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 16 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Drug delivery mechanism fights cancer

rofessor Michael Monteiro Professor Monteiro’s research group has The new drug delivery device has the continued research in engineering engineered polymer nanoparticles for a potential to treat cancer independently polymer nanoparticles in 2013 potent anti-cancer drug delivery mechanism. without further chemotherapy treatment. and published his work on a new drug Combining novel polymer architectures “siRNA has shown real promise in treating delivery mechanism against cancer. with small interfering RNA (siRNA) enables many types of cancers,” Professor Monteiro His work has established an international delivery of the self-assembled nanoparticles said. “The research has the potential to aid reputation in the field of ‘living’ radical and has the potential to kill cancerous cells in the treatment of infectious disease and found in tissues or organs. polymerisation to create complex polymer genetic disorders.” architectures. Polymers made by this In 2013, Professor Monteiro published his Professor Monteiro’s group has a patent technique have well-defined chain length work on developing a new polymer with the on the device and hopes to move towards and architecture. potential to act as a drug delivery device in clinical trials in four years. the journal Nature Communications. The technique’s advantage is the wide Another research field for the group is range of functional monomers that can be Researchers in his group developed the producing unique cyclic polymers for use in incorporated into making the architectures, polymer system using strategies inspired by high temperature vesicle formation to enable enabling the manufacture of materials for the influenza virus. The polymer is designed researchers to understand and mimic cell biomedical applications, coatings and to mimic the virus’s physical chemistry membranes of microorganisms found in hot electronic devices. mechanism of escape from the cell. springs. Professor Monteiro is now building The cationic polymer works by delivering designer polymers for various biomedical siRNA to a cancerous cell line and then The physical properties of cyclic polymers applications, including vaccines, drug stopping the cancer from developing. The are very different to every-day linear delivery and stem cells. polymer releases its payload at the optimal polymers used in most products. time for the best therapeutic effect, is less The polymers are also used for inducing With continued support from an Australian toxic to the cells and has not shown any Research Council Discovery Project grant, side effects. faster crystallisation in crystalline polymers. Professor Monteiro collaborated with AIBN colleague Professor Peter Gray to build a thermoresponsive complex polymer architecture for expansion and release of human embroyonic stem cells. Producing the type of cell source for investigating regenerative medicines and studying disease progression had been a significant challenge for researchers. The new development of this pioneering polymer and work from AIBN was published in 2013 in Biomacromolecules. In 2013, Professor Monteiro was an invited plenary speaker at a UNESCO event in South Africa; an invited lecturer and co-chair for the International Polymer Colloids Group meeting in Shanghai, China; and an invited speaker at the American Chemical Society conference in New Orleans in the US. Professor Monteiro was appointed an editor for European Polymer Journal in 2013 and invited to join the e Biomacromolecules editorial board.

Monteiro Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/michael-monteiro AIBN Annual Report 2013 17

Complex system design and analysis

rofessor Lars Nielsen leads the production (using Swiss cheese bacteria); competition and was the UQ 2013 systems and synthetic biology with Zoetis on animal vaccines against people’s choice and runner up. Team group and its development of Clostridium tetani (lockjaw bacterium); and leader Claudia Vickers won the UQ experimental and computational with LanzaTech on gas fermenting bacteria Foundation Research Excellence Award. capable of converting steel mill waste gas tools to analyse and design complex The blood stem cell team licensed into valuable chemicals. biological systems. two patents to the Centre for Applications are wide ranging, from The Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Commercialisation of Regenerative microbial production of sustainable aviation Initiative reached its first major milestone Medicine (CCRM) in Toronto following fuels and chemicalsto production of blood with the publication of a comprehensive demonstrations that AIBN protocols for cells for transfusion. Much of the research techno-economic analysis of the large scale production of neutrophils is conducted in close collaboration with production of jet fuel from algae, Pongamia and other blood cells for transfusion industry. or sugarcane. were compatible with CCRM’s stem cell expansion technology. Working closely with industry, the microbial The associated synthetic biology program, systems biology team, headed by Dr focusing on engineering limonene If a preclinical evaluation is successful, the Esteban Marcellin, has characterised non- production from sugar into microbes, cells produced will be used as infection model organisms to great depth. A large published several papers on novel prophylaxis in patients undergoing knowledge base has been developed for the engineering tools and a seminal paper on chemotherapy. In collaborative work, erythromycin producer, Saccharopolyspora monoterpene toxicity. red blood cells produced using the protocols were used to demonstrate erythraea, revealing complex, high-order The later demonstrated that monoterpenes that the malaria parasite, Plasmodium regulation during the switch from primary like limonene cause phase toxicity via cell falciparum, preferentially infects blood cell to secondary metabolism. The study wall damage rather than the previously progenitors. also revealed 300 new coding genes assumed membrane damage and greatly and 350 ncRNA that were missed during affects strategies adopted to develop conventional annotation. tolerant strains. Nielsen Group The team started several new industrial Team member Tim Brennan presented collaborations: with Dow on propionic acid his work at the three minute thesis www.aibn.uq.edu.au/lars-nielsen 18 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Group Leader Professor Matt Trau

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/matt-trau

esearch at the interface between chemistry, nanotechnology, biology and medicine is bringing AIBN scientists closer to developing diagnostics, understanding disease epigenetics, and moving towards specialised treatment methods. Group Leader Professor Matt Trau’s research group is leveraging Australian Research Council (ARC) funding and a National Breast Cancer Foundation (NFCF) grant to isolate and detect circulating tumour cells, reduce the onset of advanced breast cancer, and develop rapid point-of- care diagnostics. A collaboration with the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Washington has support from the US National Institutes of Health worth $5 million to develop a point-of-care diagnostic device for gastrointestinal disease. Grants advance Professor Trau said 2013 had been a productive year in cementing collaborations and ensuring research projects had funding to make progress towards translating new rapid point-of- discoveries and nanotechnology innovations into the clinic. Tunable nano-shearing care diagnostics Professor Trau and Dr Muhammad Shiddiky secured an ARC Discovery Project grant in 2013 to further understand and develop a new diagnostic technology, tunable ‘nano-shearing’, “The invading cancer cells typically account for labs, and insensitivity resulting in a high capable of detecting even low concentrations for a small number of all cells in blood, percentage of false negatives. of tumour cells in cancer patients. serum or platelets, making them difficult to The device uses a phenomenon discovered isolate and use for diagnosis. Epigenetic diagnosis in Professor Trau’s research group involving “Preliminary results suggest the tuneable Professor Trau’s work on early detection fluids being electronically driven within a control of the ‘nanoshearing’ phenomena of breast cancer involves clinical testing few nanometres of an electrode detector, in our microfluidic device can significantly of biomarkers and creating a technology filtering cells and molecules in blood, serum improve cell capture and specificity platform, with leadership of a multidisciplinary or platelets with much greater sensitivity and performance.” project using $5 million in NBCF funding. specificity than current circulating tumour Researchers in nanotechnology, epigenetics, cell detection technology. Rapid, multiplexed point-of-care oncology and pathology from around The Discovery Project funding builds on an diagnosis Australia are involved in a multi-faceted ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher approach to better understanding breast Award (DECRA) to Dr Shiddiky in Professor Dr Yuling Wang is using spectroscopy, cancer and improving outcomes for patients. Trau’s lab, resulting in a patent and 15 plasmonic nanoassembly and microfluidics The project involves collecting biopsy and publications about the highly innovative to develop a new-generation diagnostic serum samples to determine how cancerous microfluidic technology’s early development. technique with the support of an ARC DECRA, awarded in 2013. tumours respond to chemotherapy; The nanoshearing effect engenders nanoscaled understanding the disease’s epigenetics; fluid motion near solid surfaces that can be She will establish a detection platform and using nanoscaled epigenetic-based used to simultaneously attract specific cells to a for rapid, highly sensitive, point-of-care biosensors for predicting progression. receptor, capturing them for examination, while diagnostics capable of detecting biomarkers Professor Trau’s work draws on his washing away the wrong cells or molecules that point to the presence of tumours in breast experience as a cross-disciplinary responsible for false positives. cancer patients without requiring lab analysis. researcher in academia and industry, The nanoshearing mechanism is tunable, The project aims to develop surface- including positions as a Fulbright Research meaning electric forces can be altered enhanced Raman spectroscopy of Fellow at Princeton University in the US and to capture any number of proteins, cells active super-plasmonic anisotropic a research scientist at the Dow Chemical or DNA – each pointing to the potential nanoassemblies in a miniaturised flow- Company and ICI Pty Ltd. presence of different cancers in the body. through system for rapid and ultrasensitive He has been a visiting professor at two of the detection of multiple cancer biomarkers. “Progression of cancer is characterised by world’s largest cancer research centres – the the invasion of cancer cells from the primary In developing a platform designed for Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute at cancer site through the bloodstream and ultra-sensitivety, Dr Wang aims to overcome Harvard Medical School, in Boston; and the results in metastatic colonies in different current diagnostic disadvantages, including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, parts of the body,” Professor Trau said. slow, labour-intensive techniques, the need in Seattle. AIBN Annual Report 2013 19

Vinu Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/ajayan-vinu Research generates international collaborations

nternational collaborations and publications have resulted from Professor Ajayan Vinu’s research into the fabrication of nanoporous materials and their application, including for energy storage devices, in 2013. Professor Vinu is using solar energy to develop carbon-neutral liquid fuels, with members of his research group developing a novel, stable and clean hybrid energy storage and conversion device that continuously supplies energy using naturally abundant resources such as sunlight, water and CO2. The device is composed primarily of nanoporous semiconductors including carbon nitrides, phosphides, polymers and carbon based materials, ensuring it is stable and are cost-effective for converting CO2 into fuels such as methanol. The research group will integrate the technology with direct methanol fuel cells, solar cells, batteries and supercapacitors to develop an ultimate energy storage and conversion device for the continuous supply of energy for mobile and automobile applications. “This novel technology will not only reduce CO2 levels but also provide a source of clean energy,” Professor Vinu said. “Energy produced from the device will be used to reduce CO2 molecules in a continuous process.” With continued support from a $1 million Australian Research Council (ARC) project grant, his research group continued research in 2013 on synthesis of nanoporous carbon nitride materials with extremely high surface nanosensor for risk management in cancer led to a publication in the journal areas, large pore volumes and tunable pore patients. The Japanese team used materials Environmental Science and Technology. diameters. developed in Professor Vinu’s group to Professor Vinu is recognised as one of the make a device for selective sensing for The materials can be functionalised with top international researchers in the field of carcinogenic aromatic amines. The work semiconductor nanoparticles, and on nanoporous materials. nanostructured electrode materials for was published in the American Chemical He was awarded a Japan Society for the supercapacitors and fuel cells. Society’s journal Applied Materials and Interface. Promotion of Science senior invitation The group’s research was published in fellowship and elected a Fellow of the Royal Professor Vinu initiated a collaboration several papers in 2013 in journals including Society of Chemistry and a Foreign Fellow of with Professor Bharat Bhanudas Chemcatchem, Journal of Materials Maharashtra Academy of Sciences in 2013. Kale from the Centre for Materials for Chemistry and ChemPhysChem. Electronics Technology in India in 2013 to Professor Vinu was invited to be an Editor-in- Professor Vinu collaborated with Professor investigate the photocatalytic properties of Chief of Advanced Porous Materials and an Katsuhiko Ariga from the National Institute nanostructure materials developed at AIBN editorial board member of Scientific Reports, for Materials Science in Japan to design a for hydrogen production. The collaboration a journal of Nature Publishing Group. 20 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Wang Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/lianzhou-wang Collaboration builds better batteries

ederal Government funding and “Outcomes will include creating new therapeutic cargo from attack in the blood collaborating with international knowledge in the fields of functional stream, sustain the cargo’s release over time industry has advanced research materials and potentially valuable intellectual and increase cell uptake efficiency. projects in Professor Lianzhou property on new methods and processes Target antibodies will direct the nano- Wang’s labs to overcome re-blocking for making novel lithium-ion batteries,” vector to the injured vessel wall, where of blood vessels and develop better Professor Wang said. two important cells in the restenosis batteries for hybrid cars. The project addresses two significant process, vascular smooth muscle cells and Professor Wang’s research group secured issues: using clean energy and reducing endothelial cells, are targeted and their growth modified. Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage carbon emissions. Project funding to develop high-performance Dr Gu said the research would involve a electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries Anti-restenotic series of in vitro and in vivo testings of the by using nanostructured carbons to modify drug delivery system delivery system to determine its efficacy and the battery’s cathode. The group is supplying Dr Gu aims to overcome side effects and safety. the materials to Chinese collaborators from maximise the benefit of therapies targeting “The research presents a potential new Leling Shengli New Energy. restenosis, a re-blocking of blood vessels range of therapeutic agents that prevent Early career researcher Dr Sophia Gu following surgery to remove clots. patients from developing clots after surgery, received a Peter Doherty Biomedical Early Surgery frequently injures vessel walls, lower morbidity and mortality, and reduce Career Fellowship from the National Health causing restenosis at the site. Therapeutics the economic burden for health care and Medical Research Council to further and stents developed to prevent restenosis providers and government,” she said. work on a system for delivering medicines or often have side effects. The research is under the supervision genes to targeted sites where blood vessels of Professor Wang, a materials scientist Combining knowledge and techniques in have re-narrowed after angioplasty surgery. with an international reputation in nanotechnology, biomedicine and vascular characterisation and application of functional Both projects are part of a principal research biology, Dr Gu is working closely with nanomaterials for use in renewable energy focus in Professor Wang’s research group to supervisor Associate Professor Zhi Ping conversion and storage systems, including address major global challenges of securing (Gordon) Xu on a safe, inexpensive, efficient photocatalysts; rechargeable lithium clean, sustainable energy and water delivery system for therapeutics, genes or batteries; and new generation solar cells. supplies and advancing innovative, equitable peptides. Professor Wang is an ARC Future Fellow; health care. The delivery system will consist of a the recipient of an STA Fellowship of Japan nano-scaled vector, a target antibody and and an ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship; therapeutic cargoes, including drugs, genes High-performance and has attracted more than 12 ARC grants, and peptides. electrode materials two CSIRO Flagship Cluster project grants Dr Denisa Jurcakova, Professor Wang The nano-vector aims to shield the and major Queensland Government funding. and Professor Max Lu are heading research involving modifying cathodes with nanostructured carbons to increase their electrical conductivity and enhance their power and energy performance. The relationship between synthetic conditions, structure and electrochemical performance will be established to underpin innovative technologies in low carbon emission transportation and efficient energy storage systems for renewables. Using $480,000 in ARC funding, the research will be conducted in collaboration with UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering and involve an AIBN delegation visiting Leling Shengli’s scale-up facilities. “The project will lead to a new family of cathode materials for li-ion batteries with high energy and power densities,” Professor Wang said. AIBN Annual Report 2013 21

Wells Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/christine-wells Web portal gains traction

he portal Stemformatics.org One research collaboration involving AIBN, resource accessible without the need for gained international traction CSIRO, Monash University, UQ’s Institute direct collaborations being established. in 2013, becoming a widely- for Molecular Bioscience and the University “It enables a sharing of information with adopted resource for the stem of Melbourne, used the portal to identify the stem cell community as a whole cell community and resulting in unsafe human induced pluripotent stem and yet allows me the freedom to target collaborations and publications cell lines using a robust surrogate assay for collaborations with researchers who have for the research group of AIBN pluripotency and published results in the interests directly aligned with mine.” journal Stem Cells. Associate Professor Christine Wells. The portal strengthens the focus Associate Another group from Kyoto University The portal is a public and proprietary Professor Wells places on international collaborated directly with Associate database of experiments describing human collaboration, including those with Professor Professor Wells, sending two researchers and animal stem cells and how they John Quackenbush from the Dana Farber differentiate to become more mature cells, to AIBN to be trained in analysis, enabling Cancer Research Institute in Boston, US; tissues and organs. a deeper understanding of data gathered Professor Winston Hide from the Harvard relating to stem cell-drug interactions. School of Public Health; Dr Jessica Mar Associate Professor Wells and her from the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, With a joint appointment as reader at the research group worked with collaborative New York; Professor Albin Sandelin from University of Glasgow’s Institute of Infection, entity Stem Cells Australia to support the University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Immunity and Inflammation, Associate researchers using the portal for visualisation and Professor Michael Rehli from University Professor Wells has seen her Scottish of gene expression, gene set analysis and Hospital Regensburg, Germany. community-annotated stem cell gene lists. colleagues increasingly using Stemformatics to further their research. Associate Professor Wells has a senior Stemformatics grew from a portal with role in the genome consortium Functional about six users to more than 1200 visitors in A significant amount of traffic to the portal Annotation of the Mammalian genome 2013, including stem cell researchers from came from Canada in 2013, reflecting (FANTOM), with involvement since its Canada, the US and UK, Japan, Germany, the interest from collaborators involved inception at Riken Omics Sciences Centre in India and the Netherlands. in Project Grandiose, a multidisciplinary Yokohama, Japan in 1998. initiative aiming to understand how cells The portal’s ability to share and visualise reprogram or revert to their original cell type. She is on the editorial board of the open data derived from different laboratories access journals Plos Genetics; Genomics, in the stem cell research community – or Associate Professor Wells said biologists Proteomics & Bioinformatics; and Biology under different experimental conditions – around the world recognised Stemformatics Direct. She is also an editorial board was highlighted in a publication in Stem Cell as a beneficial enabling platform, easy to member of the journals Differentiation, Research in 2013. navigate without specialist training and a Genomics and Genomics Data. 22 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Collaborations tackle diagnosis and fabrication

ustralian Research Council (ARC) The platforms have the potential to electronic materials scientists from the Australian Professorial Fellow and significantly impact on diagnosis and Dow Chemical Company to develop new Group Leader Professor Andrew treatment of head and neck, breast, classes of highly sensitive polymers for Whittaker collaborated with ovarian and prostate cancers. faster, smaller, cheaper computer chips. industrial and international Diagnosis and drug delivery are the focus The collaboration has secured a grant of partners during 2013 to work of a project aiming to develop novel $360,000 to develop a novel, broadly- towards improving diagnosis and theranostic particles using a $370,000 based platform of materials that differs treatment of disease including ARC Discovery grant. from current technologies relying on cancer; and fabricating the next Associate Group Leader and ARC chemical amplification processes to generation of computer chips. Future Fellow Dr Kris Thurecht will use manufacture integrated circuits. Bringing together polymer chemistry, the funding to work with the University A greater understanding of the material’s nanotechnology, photolithography, of Nottingham’s Professor Cameron structure and effect on photolithographic biomaterials science and magnetic Alexander and the QIMR Berghofer performance is the focus of another ARC resonance, Professor Whittaker’s research Medical Research Institute’s Dr Glen Boyle grant involving Professor Whittaker, Dr group aims to develop innovative solutions to to investigate how the chemistry and Kevin Jack and Dr Hui Peng. major health and nanotechnology challenges. morphology of nanomaterials affect a cell’s ability to recognise the nanoparticles. Additional ARC Discovery funding of $420,000 will investigate how a resist’s Molecular imaging The collaboration will use a melanoma structure can vary depending on its Professor Whittaker was part of a model to determine how nanomaterials thickness; the effect of uneven distribution successful bid to secure $2 million in can be designed to interact in a specific of diluting agents; and the impact of Australian Cancer Research Foundation manner with cells and deliver a drug additives on composition and, ultimately, funding for a Molecular Oncology payload to diseased cells. performance. Translational Imaging Facility, dedicated to In a separate project, Professor Whittaker ARC Discovery funding has also been improving patient outcomes and enabling and Dr Thurecht will use $545,000 in provided to support ARC Future Fellow significant expansion of oncology research. funding to collaborate with prostate Associate Professor Idriss Blakey and Dr The facility will operate within the UQ cancer expert Professor Pamela Russell Jack in developing photoreactive block Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) at from Queensland University of Technology copolymers so sensitive that exposure to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on early detection technologies. light can generate patterns on the chips. research precinct and involve leadership The collaboration will use the National The smaller feature size and an ability roles from researchers at CSIRO, the Health and Medical Research Council to control their placement will result QIMR Berghofer Medical Research (NHMRC) project grant to investigate a in improved computing capacity and Institute, UQCCR and AIBN. highly-sensitive molecular imaging agent significant improvement in energy Professor Whittaker will work collaboratively developed in Professor Whittaker’s research efficiency. towards developing a hybrid imaging group for detecting prostate cancer. technology combining elements of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron Photolithography emission tomography (PET) to improve and ARC Linkage project funding in 2013 has Whittaker Group validate the present generation of oncology enabled polymer chemists in Professor screening platforms. Whittaker’s research group to work with www.aibn.uq.edu.au/andrew-whittaker AIBN Annual Report 2013 23

Wolvetang Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/ernst-wolvetang Disease models test regenerative medicines

esearchers working with Correcting or introducing disease mutations patient advocacy organisation BrAshAT on AIBN Associate Professor into the DNA from reprogrammed stem cells the rare disease ataxia-telangiectasia. combined with in-depth gene expression Ernst Wolvetang continued The group has produced the first hindbrain analysis reveals the complexity of gene investigating chromosome cells from iPSC that should enable 21 in 2013, building on their regulatory networks underlying human development and disease. unprecedented insights into the reasons for knowledge of Down syndrome and malfunctions in that form of the disease. Alzheimer’s disease. “The research is vital for a country with an ageing population, presenting a significant Other developments include a collaboration Associate Professor Wolvetang’s research economic and financial burden in the future,” with Professor Melissa Little from UQ’s involves reprogramming human cells Associate Professor Wolvetang said. Institute for Molecular Bioscience on novel to generate in vitro models of disease renal diseases; and with her colleague and animal cells for testing cell-based On a more fundamental level, the research Dr Ryan Taft on a new class of poorly group is unravelling the molecular basis of regenerative medicine approaches. understood leukodystrophies. cognition and memory using in vitro human He is leading the derivation of footprint-free stem cell-derived neurons and astrocytes, By leveraging the power of iPSC technology, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in and helped identify a long non-coding RNA genome editing and in vitro differentiation Australia, with a focus on neuronal, renal potentially involved in schizophrenia. strategies, the group aims to understand and cardiac diseases. “At a molecular level we still know very little the basis of disease. Such tools are set Researchers working with Associate about the sequence of events in neurons to enable development of new and better therapeutics and cell-based therapies to Professor Wolvetang at AIBN turn skin that ultimately lead to memory formation and treat a range of debilitating diseases. and blood cells from people with genetic cognition,” Associate Professor Wolvetang diseases into stem cells. said. “We are interested in recapitulating Associate Professor Wolvetang is a chief early brain developmental steps using investigator in the Australian Research The research gives unprecedented insight various bioengineering approaches.” Council’s special research initiative Stem Cells into the genetic and epigenetic basis of Associate Professor Wolvetang continues Australia; and the recipient of three NHMRC disease and enables drug screening, to work closely with Professor Martin Lavin project grants and a UQ Collaboration and particularly when combined with use of from UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research and Industry Engagement Fund grant. microfluidic devices. The aim is to identify gene regulatory network changes that underlie prevalent, rare and novel brain diseases and subsequently focus on bioinformatically predicted targets using stem cell-based assay platforms. Associate Professor Wolvetang’s research group works closely with genome biologists, tissue engineers and nanoparticle scientists. While investigating chromosome 21 genes, the researchers built on a finding that neurons derived from Down syndrome iPSCs showed changes similar to those found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The research attracted National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding and sparked a collaboration with Professor Hiroaki Kitano from the Systems Biology Institute in Tokyo, Japan. Associate Professor Wolvetang’s research group established clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats genome editing technology to interrogate the gene regulatory networks underlying Alzheimer’s disease pathology in Down syndrome, in collaboration with AIBN Associate Professor Christine Wells. 24 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Yu Group

www.aibn.uq.edu.au/michael-yu Breakthrough technologies patented

IBN research into functional 1990 and are now being investigated for from contaminated water to combat the materials synthesis and its sustainable transport and stationary energy global threat of water contamination and applications in drug and vaccine storage applications. eutrophication. delivery, battery materials Professor Yu and AIBN colleague Dr Researchers working with Professor Yu and water treatment made Liang Zhou have developed an advanced developed new strategies to prepare low- significant progresses in 2013, with technology to produce electrode materials cost, high-performance absorbents for two breakthrough technologies used in lithium-ion batteries at a low price, removing toxic cations and anions, through patented and published. with high capacity and rate performance, understanding the chemisorption mechanism Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu is and safety for emerging applications. at the nanoscale and the relationship between nanostructure and adsorption capacity. using his internationally recognised expertise The research resulted in the technology in materials science to head an AIBN research being patented in 2013 and published in the The functional nanomaterials developed had group making rapid progress in developing journal Chemical Communications. practical applications for removing phosphates new technologies using nanomaterials. and arsenic from contaminated water. “We use a simple, scalable spray-drying method to prepare both anode and cathode New nanomaterials for drug materials with finely controlled nanostructures Industrial collaboration delivery to address critical issues such as material Collaborations with industry were boosted Professor Yu received $450,000 in Australian pulverisation, electrode disintegration and in 2013, with Professor Yu’s research Research Council (ARC) funding in 2013 to capacity fading due to the large volume group forging links with FMC Corporation lead a project designing nanoparticles that variation during the lithiation and de-lithiation through a UQ Collaboration and Industry overcome poor stability, low efficacy and process,” Professor Yu said. Engagement Fund. unwanted toxicity associated with some “Our strategy could extend to the fabrication With Dr Neena Mitter from the Queensland medical delivery methods. of various functional nanomaterials with a Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, His research group developed a new family of broad spectrum of applications.” the group started a contracted research in silica-based nanoparticles for enhancing the Professor Yu’s research group engineered collaboration with Elanco to develop new solubility of hydrophobic drugs and targeted functional nanomaterials to remove toxins technologies for improved animal health. drug delivery of therapeutic molecules to cancer cells. The work was published in the journals Advanced Materials and Journal of the American Chemical Society in 2013. “There is a lack of safe and efficient carriers, developed from nanomaterials, that deliver genes or therapeutic drugs into cells,” Professor Yu said. “The delivery of various therapeutic molecules into cells is crucial in modern medicine. It is an ongoing challenge to develop non-viral carrier systems with good safety and high delivery efficiency. “We have been working on a new concept that can be applied to the generation of a new material platform for gene and pharmaceutical delivery.”

Nanomaterials for lithium-ion batteries and water treatment Professor Yu’s research into functional nanomaterials extends to clean energy and environmental protection, with projects in developing new generation lithium-ion batteries and toxin removal from water. Lithium-ion batteries have monopolised the market in power supplies for portable electronics since their commercialisation in AIBN Annual Report 2013 25 Appointments

Senior AIBN researchers Professor Max Lu Professor Anton Middelberg have been appointed to Professor Max UQ appointed prestigious positions in 2013, Lu’s outstanding internationally recognising their expertise, contribution to recognised scientific contribution, science was chemical engineer leadership and strengths in recognised in Professor Anton collaboration. 2013 with his Middelberg as Pro- appointment as Vice-Chancellor an Australian (Research and Academy of International), with Science Fellow. leadership in key aspects of the The appointment university-wide recognises significant contributions in research and internationalisation portfolio. materials science and chemical engineering, including new insights into the surface He will support the Deputy Vice-Chancellor chemistry and modifications of nanoporous (Research) in improving UQ’s research materials; molecular engineering of performance and have oversight and membranes; and efficient photocatalysis for policy direction of the university’s programs clean energy and water. of funding, training and professional development for early career researchers. Professor Lu was one of 20 Fellows elected to the academy, comprising Australia’s Professor Middelberg will be the designated leading research scientists. The academy person for research integrity under the recognises and supports research Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct excellence, advises government, sponsors of Research; will work with the Deputy scientific conferences, publishes scientific Vice-Chancellor (International) to develop books and journals, fosters international international strategy linked to research; and scientific relations and promotes science will advance UQ’s strategic partnerships in parts of Europe, Asia and South America. education and public awareness. He remains an AIBN Group Leader, Fellows are elected by academy members. overseeing team research in engineering, biosurfactants and bio-inspired nanomaterials.

Professor Justin Cooper-White Professor Peter Halley Assoc. Professor Christine Wells Chemical engineer Professor Peter Associate and regenerative Halley was Professor Christine medicine scientist appointed Head Wells holds a joint Professor Justin of UQ’s School appointment at Cooper-White of Chemical the University of was appointed Engineering Glasgow’s Institute a CSIRO Office in 2013, while of Infection, of the Chief remaining an AIBN Immunity and Executive (OCE) Group Leader. Inflammation, Science Leader. providing her He will oversee research with a The five-year the school’s broader clinical position will see Professor Cooper-White split provision of programs and leadership in and translation focus, particularly in the area his time between CSIRO and his roles at AIBN chemical engineering education, research of immune regulation. and UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering. and development; and expert consulting to support the process industries, especially The bioinformatics and collaboration know-how Through the appointment, he will continue in the disciplines of chemical, biological, Associate Professor Wells brings will be used to research to enhance, repair and ultimately environmental and metallurgical engineering, increase the capacity of Glasgow researchers replace damaged or diseased tissues integrated water management and energy working on diverse projects, including parasitic including bone, cartilage and heart muscle. studies. The school has a staff of 35 infections in Africa; acute tissue damage from The position provides high-performing academics, including 17 professors. coronary blockages and cerebral stroke; and researchers with the resources and freedom chronic inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Halley will continue collaborating to deliver outstanding scientific impacts to with the emerging leaders in his AIBN research Her AIBN research group will benefit from CSIRO and the Australian community. group, such as Dr Bronwyn Laycock, Dr Paul stronger clinical linkages and specialist “The OCE Science Leader position will allow Luckman and Dr David Xie, working on bio- knowledge in immune cell biology me to work closely with CSIRO people with based sustainable polymers and materials. developed in Glasgow. significant expertise in material synthesis, His school appointment is for 2014 to 2016. “We are working towards building new models bio-surface engineering, and cell and matrix of collaboration and data integration that will biology,” Professor Cooper-White said. benefit the international community working to solve the clinical problems associated with chronic infection or chronic inflammatory diseases,” Associate Professor Wells said. 26 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Associate Group Leaders

Associate Professor Dr Simon Corrie Dr Annette Dexter Idriss Blakey ARC Discovery Early ARC Future Fellow and ARC Future Fellow and Career Research Award Associate Group Leader Fellow and Associate Associate Group Leader Research: Design and Group Leader Research: Rational design, bioproduction of helical peptides synthesis and self assembly Research: Design, fabrication as functional surfactants and of functional polymers and testing of microprojection responsive gelling agents for and nanomaterials for array technology for rapid, cell growth and drug delivery; nanofabrication, sensors and multiplexed biomarker detection specific ion effects in the control biomedical imaging agents. via skin application. of selfassembling systems. Associate Professor Idriss Dr Simon Corrie is a recipient of Dr Annette Dexter is a founder Blakey is an Australian the ARC’s prestigious Discovery and ongoing consultant to Research Council (ARC) Future Early Career Researcher Award AIBN’s first start-up company, Fellow (2010-2014), lead (2013-2016). Pepfactants Pty Ltd. chief investigator on an ARC He has developed several At the TechConnect Summit in Discovery project and a chief molecular technologies with Boston in 2006, Pepfactants investigator on an ARC Linkage applications in diagnostics, received an Emerging project in partnership with the publishing the work in Royal Technology Award. The Dow Chemical Company. Society of Chemistry and company won the Queensland His contributions to polymer American Chemical Society Government’s Best Technology science and nanotechnology journals and presenting it at Award and the UQ Business have been published by leading international conferences. He School Enterprize Competition publishers including Wiley, the regularly reviews journal articles in the same year. for a range of publications and American Chemical Society Dr Dexter is sole or joint inventor reviews ARC fellowship and and the Royal Society of on three patents comprising grant applications. Chemistry. Associate Professor the key intellectual property of Blakey is a regular reviewer After completing his PhD in Pepfactants. She has presented and adjudicative reviewer for physical chemistry, Dr Corrie data at two national meetings of more than 20 journals and for received an American Australian the American Chemical Society, granting bodies including the Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2007 the seventh World Congress of ARC, the Wellcome Trust, the to work in Professor Nancy Chemical Engineering and the US Department of Energy and Kiviat’s HPV Research Laboratory annual meeting of the American the Australian Synchrotron. at the University of Washington Institute of Chemical Engineers. in Seattle, gaining experience He has been lead chief Reports in Australasian Science, in developing clinically-relevant investigator on three other New Scientist, Materials Today diagnostic technologies. Dr ARC Discovery grants and and The Economist have Corrie returned to Queensland chief investigator on three highlighted Dr Dexter’s work and as a lead chief investigator on other ARC Linkage projects a video of rapid-phase emulsion an ARC Discovery project and grants in partnership with Intel separation has been receiving Smart Futures Fellowship to join Corporation and Sematech, hits on YouTube. a consortium of leading Professor Mark Kendall’s research semiconductor companies. group at AIBN, developing novel diagnostics technologies based Associate Professor Blakey has on micropatches applied to the been a recipient of a Queensland skin. Government Fellowship, working with Sematech on developing advanced polymers for use in computer chip manufacture. He has one fully granted patent and two patents at the PCT stage. AIBN Annual Report 2013 27

AIBN recognises the work of early and mid-career researchers through the appointment of Associate Group Leaders. They are senior members of the AIBN research community and are fundamental to the institute’s ongoing success and long-term viability. Associate Group Leaders’ activities may develop to a level where they can be considered for promotion to AIBN Group Leader.

Dr Trent Munro Dr Muhammad Shiddiky Dr Kristofer Thurecht Associate Professor Queensland Government ARC DECRA Fellow and ARC Future Fellow and Zhi Ping (Gordon) Xu Fellow and Associate Associate Group Leader Associate Group Leader ARC Future Fellow and Group Leader Research: Microfluidic Research: Design and synthesis Associate Group Leader Research: Production devices and electrochemical of architectural polymers applied Research: Clay nanomaterials of complex therapeutic nanobiosensors for detecting to molecular imaging and drug for drug delivery and vaccines. recombinant proteins known as and diagnosing cancer and delivery in nanomedicine. Associate Professor Zhi Ping biologics or biopharmaceuticals other diseases. Dr Kristofer Thurecht is an ARC (Gordon) Xu is an ARC Future and engineered scaffolds for Dr Muhammad Shiddiky Future Fellow with appointments Fellow (2013-2016). Since stem cells. is an ARC DECRA Fellow. at AIBN and UQ’s Centre for 2004, he has received several Dr Trent Munro is a Queensland Before joining AIBN, he was a Advanced Imaging. fellowships and awards, Government Fellow. He has given postdoctoral research fellow Dr Thurecht has been recognised including an ARC Australian presentations at many national in the School of Chemistry at for scientific excellence with Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005- and international conferences. He Monash University. He has a 2012 Queensland Young 2007), an ARC Australian won UQ’s Trailblazer competition published regularly in high- Tall Poppy Science Award Research Fellowship (2008- in 2011 and was awarded the impact and high-ranking journals and a 2010 UQ Foundation 2012) and the UQ Foundation’s Sanofi-Aventis Vision Award for in chemistry, miniaturised Research Excellence Award for Research Excellence Award Better Health at the national final. systems and electrochemical his work in developing polymer (2009). Dr Munro obtained his PhD in biosensors, including JACS, ‘theranostics’. Since obtaining Associate Professor Xu and protein biochemistry from UQ in Analytical Chemistry, Lab on his PhD in 2005, he has received his colleagues have received 2001. a Chip, Scientific Reports, four competitive national and funding from the ARC and Chemistry: a European Journal, He completed postdoctoral international fellowships, including the NHMRC totalling more Langmuir and Chemical studies at the Department of an Australian Postdoctoral than $6.5 million. Associate Communications. Dr Shiddiky Cell Biology, Harvard Medical Research Fellowship in 2008; and Professor Xu is an ARC and a has maintained an average School; and the Wellcome simultaneous awards of a British NHMRC referee. citation count for his referred Trust and Cancer Research Ramsay Centenary Fellowship publications of more than 20 per UK Gurdon Institute, at the and an 1851 Research Fellow in publication. In 2014, Dr Shiddiky University of Cambridge. Dr the UK in 2007. received an ARC Discovery grant Munro returned to Australia in as joint chief investigator with He has contributed scientific 2006 to take up a position at AIBN Group Leader Professor and review articles to leading AIBN, where he is an Associate Matt Trau. He is the recipient of a journals in his field, including Group Leader and a founding 2010 UQ Postdoctoral Research invited articles in the Emerging member of the National Fellowship and 2011 UQ ECR Young Investigator issue of Biologics Facility. Award. Chemical Communications Dr Munro has published widely and a Young Talent article in Dr Shiddiky is co-editor of two in the fields of mammalian cell Macromolecular Chemistry and edited books published by therapeutics and stem cell Physics. Dr Thurecht has been Nova Science Publishers, US; bioengineering. chief investigator on grants from and lead author of three book various funding bodies, including In 2013, Dr Munro accepted chapters and a major review ARC Discovery grants; ARC a position at Amgen in the article. His contributions in Linkage Grants, with international US. Amgen is a leader in the research field have been pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly; biotechnology and is involved acknowledged with invitations a National Health and Medical in the discovery, development, to present at eight national and Research Council (NHMRC) manufacturing and delivery of international conferences and grant; funding from the Prostate innovative human therapeutics. be joint guest editor for a special Cancer Foundation of Australia issue of the international journal and the National Breast Cancer Sensors. Dr Shiddiky is a regular Foundation; and he is chief reviewer for more than 15 top- investigator within the newly ranking journals in the fields of established ARC Centre of chemistry, miniaturised systems Excellence in Convergent Bio- and electrochemical biosensors nano Science and Technology. and for granting bodies including He is co-inventor on two patents. the ARC. He has two patents at the PCT stage. 28 AIBN Annual Report 2013 ARC Fellowships

Four AIBN researchers received Australian Research Council (ARC) fellowships in 2013 to further their work in polymer synthesis for regenerative medicine, vaccination, diagnostics and developing clean fuels.

Dr Zhongfan Jia Dr Chenghua Sun Dr Frank Sainsbury Dr Yuling Wang Dr Zhongfan Jia received a Dr Chenghua Sun was Biomolecular engineer Dr Frank Dr Yuling Wang will use Future Fellowship to develop awarded a Future Fellowship Sainsbury received a Discovery her DECRA to establish a a method for sculpting to investigate the potential of Early Career Research Award detection platform for rapid, three-dimensional polymer red titanium and solar energy to (DECRA) to develop a nano- highly-sensitive, point-of- nanostructured scaffolds that produce hydrogen from water container capable of delivering care diagnostics capable of control the growth of stem cells for use as a clean fuel source. vaccines to specific immune detecting biomarkers that point for use in regenerative medicine. cells and stimulate a broadly to the presence of tumours in Using computational science protective response against breast cancer patients. The scaffolds are designed approaches, the research aims infectious diseases such as to form reversible gels and to develop high-performance The research will use influenza. through surface chemical photocatalysts for hydrogen spectroscopy, plasmonic functionality provide extracellular production and gain a greater Dr Sainsbury aims to engineer nanoassembly and microfluidics microenvironment cues to understanding of central issues virus-like particles particles, to develop a new-generation encourage cell growth and in solar energy, such as charge forming them as spherical shells diagnostic technique that will maintain pluripotency. recombination, transport and made from structural virus give breast cancer patients a transfer. proteins with an interior cavity diagnosis without the need for Dr Jia’s research will involve that can carry immunogenic lab analysis. creating three-dimensional Dr Sun said the materials antigens to specific immune cells. scaffolds that interact with cells had the potential to improve “Current diagnostic techniques in a controlled way and generate the performance of solar He said the particles had are labour-intensive, slow and fundamental knowledge energy and make it a viable, the potential to simplify can be insensitive with a high for cellular interactions with sustainable energy alternative to manufacturing, leading to percentage of false negative scaffolds on two- and three- coal, oil and gas. rapid production at lower cost, results,” Dr Wang said. dimensional environments. and make new-generation “The powerful capacities offered “A simple, sensitive diagnostics vaccines more readily available The method will have the by computational modelling will test, with multiplexing capability, around the world, including in potential to generate large lead to more efficient materials bypassing the need for intensive developing countries. quantities of a patient’s own development,” he said. laboratory processing, would stem cells and ultimately be “Due to the continued threat result in faster diagnosis in used to generate individualised of emerging and re-emerging timecritical situations and tissues and organs on demand diseases, there is a need significant savings in costs.” with no rejection issues. for more effective vaccine Future Fellowship funding aims strategies,” he said. to address opportunity gaps “A prominent example of for mid-career researchers and infectious disease for which academics, many of whom new vaccine paradigms are would otherwise be lost to required is influenza. Despite the international competitors. The development of new vaccines DECRA scheme aims to provide for this pathogen, every year more focused support and influenza kills 250,000 to 500,000 create more opportunities for people during annual seasonal early career researchers. epidemics with the potential for this number to rise to millions in pandemic instances.” AIBN Annual Report 2013 29 Awards flow to AIBN

AIBN staff with expertise in areas as wide-ranging as industry-research partnerships, materials chemistry, systems and synthetic biology, and protein expression have been recognised with awards in 2013.

AIBN Adjunct Professor and board molecular biology to create an affordable, member Robert McCarthy AM widely available diagnostic device to test was recognised for service to public blood faster, without a need for needles administration in Queensland, particularly and syringes. in economic development, agriculture and The Australian Institute of Policy and natural resource management, with an AM Science created the Tall Poppy Campaign in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. to recognise and celebrate Australian While Director-General of the Department intellectual and scientific excellence and of State Development and Innovation, encourage younger Australians to follow in Mr McCarthy laid the groundwork for the footsteps of the nation’s outstanding diversifying Queensland’s economy and achievers. developing new industries based on Dr Claudia Vickers won a UQ Foundation science and innovation. Research Excellence Award for her work Since he retired from the department, Mr applying synthetic biology to develop a McCarthy has continued the work at AIBN, bio-production process for limonene, a with a key role in progressing research chemical found in lemons and other citrus efforts in biofuel technology and securing fruits that can be used to make clean, funding for industry-research partnerships. renewable jet fuel. Mr McCarthy was instrumental in the The award recognises demonstrated Dr Hui Peng Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel excellence and promise of future success Initiative expanding beyond AIBN to in research, and the leadership potential of include major international companies individual researchers in fields where there such as Boeing, GE and Virgin Australia. is evidence of strategic importance and UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) significance. and AIBN Group Leader Professor Max Dr Vickers will use the funds to continue Lu was among only six Queensland work in modifying baker’s yeast to Greats, named at a Queensland Week produce the synthetic limonene in ceremony in 2013, in recognition of his Professor Lars Nielsen’s AIBN lab, as part significant contributions to society. of a project converting sucrose to useful The fellowship assists eligible women Professor Lu is known for his work on bioproducts. to re-establish their academic research nanoparticles and nanoporous materials Dr Hui Peng’s work to improve medical careers after a career break or interruption. for clean energy and environmental implants and combat infection, conducted The Protein Expression Facility technologies. in AIBN Professor Andrew Whittaker’s (PEF) team based at AIBN received UQ Vice-Chancellor and President, lab, was given a boost in 2013, with a UQ the UQ Chancellor’s Award for Team Professor Peter Høj, congratulated Postdoctoral Fellowship for Women. Excellence, as part of the university’s Professor Lu, saying he projected Dr Peng will use more than $300,000 in acknowledgement of the exceptional work Queensland innovation on to the funding to design polymer coatings for of professional staff. world stage and attracted international biomedical devices, potentially including PEF team members Cindy Chang, Bradley investment to the state’s research and artificial hips or knees; screws and plates; Ryan, Christopher Munro and Emilyn Tan development. pacemakers; cochlear implants; and drug received the award from UQ Chancellor Chemical engineer Dr Simon Corrie was delivery devices such as stents; to control John Story and Vice-Chancellor Professor recognised for scientific excellence with their interactions with the body’s cells. Peter Høj in February. a 2013 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Biomedical devices are designed to The awardees were selected on criteria Science Award. support, repair or protect the human body. including quality service; process The award recognised Dr Corrie’s work in They can sometimes cause unfavourable improvement and innovation; and Professor Mark Kendall’s AIBN lab, aiming responses in the body, including infection, knowledge transfer and community to combine materials chemistry with inflammation and rejection. connection. 30 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Funding

AIBN researchers have been successful in securing funding in 2013 from government, a research fundraising body and philanthropic organisations. In a highly competitive environment, the funding successes were a measure of AIBN’s research excellence, industry focus and a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment.

Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence Dr Sophia Gu and Dr Amirali Popat received Peter Doherty Biomedical Early AIBN researchers are leading projects that The Queensland node of the Centre of Career Fellowships from the NHMRC to Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science attracted nine Australian Research Council further work in targeted medical delivery and Technology will be established at AIBN, (ARC) Discovery Project (DP) grants totalling and overcoming side effects of drug using a share of $26 million in ARC funding more than $5.7 million. dependence among bowel disease and to enable integrated, multi-disciplinary colon cancer patients. Professor Debra Bernhardt will lead research to be conducted for seven years. work on two DP grants totalling $810,000, including investigations of heat flow in AIBN Professor Mark Kendall will be Queensland and NSW lithium ion batteries which resulted in aircraft node director and oversee research projects governments that bring science disciplines together to being grounded; and the properties of understand living systems, such as the The Queensland and NSW governments nonequilibrium steady states. human body, with nanoscale precision. allocated $1.2 million in 2013 for a clinical Professor Michael Yu will use $450,000 trial of a human monoclonal antibody, Researchers involved include AIBN’s to lead research in designing safe, efficient manufactured at AIBN using a production Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr process developed at the institute, capable nanoparticles for targeted delivery in gene Thurecht and Dr Simon Corrie; and of neutralising Hendra virus. therapy, cancer treatment and bio-imaging. Professor Rob Parton from UQ’s Institute The trial aims to prove the safety of the Professor Michael Monteiro will design for Molecular Bioscience. only known effective treatment for humans polymer nanoparticles that interact with, exposed to Hendra virus using an antibody or mimic, biological systems using new National Health and Medical developed through a long-standing synthetic approaches to introduce function Research Council association between Australian researchers with predictable behaviour using $420,000. Researchers will share more than $2.3 and the US laboratories of Professor Professor Lars Nielsen and Dr Claudia million in National Health and Medical Christopher Broder at the Uniformed Vickers have secured $376,000 to Research Council (NHMRC) funding to Services University of the Health Sciences understand biochemistry inside microbial cells advance medical initiatives. and Dr Dimiter Dimitrov of the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health. so they can engineer the cells to produce Associate Professor Ernst Wolvetang industrially useful biochemicals, including will lead a project with AIBN colleague biofuels, pharmaceuticals and rubbers. National Breast Cancer Associate Professor Christine Wells, Foundation Dr Kris Thurecht will lead a $370,000 using $756,000 to investigate gene networks Dr Thurecht will lead research involving research collaboration aiming to manipulate that cause Alzheimer’s disease in Down multimodal imaging, aptamer targeting and nanomaterial properties to develop better syndrome patients. therapy combined with gene therapy to diagnostic, treatment and monitoring Using genome editing technology, the target triple negative breast cancer, using capabilities for patients. researchers will study induced pluripotent $99,943 from the National Breast Cancer stem cells with an additional chromosome 21, Professor Justin Cooper-White and Dr Foundation’s Novel Concept Award. characteristic of people with Down syndrome, Jess Frith will work with collaborators on to determine if editing the chromosome can Triple negative breast cancer refers to forms a $365,000 project aiming to drive adult halt Alzheimer’s onset. of the disease that do not express the genes stem cells, called mesenchymal cells, to for estrogen, progesterone or growth factor regenerate damaged or diseased tissue Associate Professor Wells secured receptors targeted using chemotherapies, using smart biomaterials. $586,000 in funding as lead investigator forcing clinicians to combine therapies. to determine the role of the C-type lectin Associate Professor Idriss Blakey aims Mincle protein in cardiovascular disease. to use light to control the nanostructure of JEM Foundation Working with colleagues from UQ and a new generation of materials used in high- Private philanthropic organisation the JEM Monash University, she aims to protect heart performance computer chips, hard drives, Foundation continued to fund research at and brain tissues damaged during a stroke AIBN in 2013, with a focus on amniotic batteries and membranes, with $360,000 in or heart attack by blocking Mincle to prevent membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells funding. its damaging influence. and their ability to be steered to turn into Professor Matt Trau and Dr Muhammad Professor Cooper-White will lead research different tissue types. Shiddiky will share $330,000 to develop to engineer an osteochondral tissue to Work in the lab of Associate Professor a new diagnostic technology capable repair cartilage defects using $423,000. of detecting even low concentrations of Wells has resulted in the journal Stem tumour cells in cancer patients. He will lead a team including UQ and Cells Translational Medicine accepting a Queensland University of Technology review paper for publication, detailing a high Two AIBN researchers received ARC researchers aiming to assist the body to incidence of contaminating maternal cell Discovery Early Career Research Awards repair cartilage defects resulting from sporting overgrowth in human placental mesenchymal and two were awarded Future Fellowships. injuries or conditions such as osteoarthritis. stem and stromal cell cultures. AIBN Annual Report 2013 31

Commercialisation activities & industry engagement 32 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Suppressing anti- inflammatory drug side effects with nanomaterials

IBN researchers are working UQ’s main commercialisation company 30 million daily users worldwide and with specialty company Oxford UniQuest was instrumental in establishing annual sales of $12 billion – despite the Pharmascience Group to the collaboration and negotiated a licence gastrointestinal side effects. agreement with Oxford Pharmascience, develop pharmaceuticals that Oxford Pharmascience is developing a giving it access to the technology. reduce gastric irritation. range of safer NSAIDs with much lower AIBN researchers continue to work with gastric irritation, starting with 400mg Dr Sophia Gu, Professor Max Lu and Oxford Pharmascience in commercialising ibuprofen. Associate Professor Zhiping (Gordon) Xu the LDH technology. have developed a process to manufacture The company develops advanced yet high quality layered double hydroxide (LDH), Oxford Pharmascience Chief Executive Officer practical pharmaceutical technologies to a synthetic clay nanomaterial that breaks Marcelo Bravo said proof of concept had been enable reformulation that adds value to off- down in the stomach without obvious side established in an animal model and a program patent and soon-to-be off-patent drugs. to develop the technology was well advanced. effects. It does not manufacture or sell its own The active component of pharmaceuticals In pre-clinical studies, the technology pharmaceutical products but instead seeks such as ibuprofen is inserted between LDH demonstrated not only improved taste but, to licence its technologies to a network of layers so its bitter taste cannot be detected surprisingly, reduced another key drawback partners, mainly leading pharmaceutical in the mouth, but is released in the stomach of some therapeutics, common gastric side companies with prescription and over-the- for uptake into the body. effects including irritation, ulceration and counter branded portfolios. bleeding compared to the same effective Oxford Pharmascience is involved in a trial dose of ibuprofen. of super generics, specifically an advanced formulation of ibuprofen, and the company Ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs is scaling up manufacture as part of its known as non steroidal anti-inflammatory ongoing development. drugs (NSAIDs), which has more than AIBN Annual Report 2013 33 TenasiTech nanoparticle additive validated

hemical companies, original multiple fields and demonstrating that the Support from the Queensland Government equipment manufacturers, additive was easy to handle using existing and venture fund Uniseed, totalling $1.4 systems houses and suppliers manufacturing processes and equipment. million, enabled TenasiTech to take a representing all tiers of the The additive consistently and cost- leap forward in 2012 and seek to secure materials supply chain have effectively produced acrylic and a slice of the multi-billion dollar global been involved in 2013 in successfully polyurethane polymers with the improved polyurethane and acrylic markets, with validating a nanoparticle additive properties, even when the process other target polymer classes under developed at AIBN to improve plastic was scaled up to industrially-relevant development. properties and performance. quantities. Professor Martin said the additive was The additive produced numerous “The technology is so well validated at essentially synthetic plates of one thermoplastic polymers with greater multiple levels, we believe it is more a nanometre thick with a special surface strength, durability and scratch and matter of how many products it will be chemistry, enabling easy uptake and tear resistance, providing avenues for used for, rather than if the technology mixing into plastic. The efficiency of the application in high-performance sporting will make it into consumer products,” additives meant they made up only about goods, car parts, plexiglass, rubber seals, Professor Martin said. one per cent, or less, of the resulting industrial and engineering components, plastic’s weight. His research group at AIBN, including and materials for energy conversion. Dr Grant Edwards, Dr Celine Chaleat, “Our additive is actually in the material, not Validation opens the way for AIBN start-up Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai and just on the surface. It can handle all sorts company TenasiTech to commercialise the Nunna Pardhasaradhi, has been working of secondary manufacturing and forming additive and start generating revenue to on additives for both poly(methyl processes – and it is cheaper than using grow the business into a self-sustaining methacrylates) (PMMA) and thermoplastic coatings,” he said. and profitable enterprise. polyurethane (TPU) products. “You just drop in our nanoparticle additive AIBN Group Leader and Professor In 2011, Professor Martin secured co- and it doubles the scratch resistance and TenasiTech chief scientific officer development partnerships with three or improves dimensional stability or Darren Martin played a major role in the companies and the additives began being durability. Nobody has to invent a new validation, working with industry leaders in used in commercial trials. machine to process the material.” 34 AIBN Annual Report 2013

DSM scale-up facility opened

utch pharmaceutical DSM indicated one of the critical factors in to the Australian biotechnology industry and manufacturer DSM Biologics its decision to invest in Queensland was the will be a key contributor to the entire Asia- opened a high-tech contract research facilities and expertise available at Pacific region”. AIBN. manufacturing facility in AIBN Director Professor Peter Gray said Brisbane in 2013, taking a DSM Biologics will operate the scale- working in collaboration with DSM was major step in establishing a fully up facility, owned by the Queensland exciting, given the company had a global integrated biotechnology industry in Government entity Biopharmaceuticals reputation for biologics production. Queensland. Australia (BPA), and produce clinical and “Having DSM operating a scale-up facility in commercial grade biologics for global The $65 million facility will be used to Brisbane means Queensland research can be markets. develop next-generation smart medicines, taken from the lab, through manufacturing, to using mammalian cells to produce biologics DSM Biologics President Manja Bouman the market,” Professor Gray said. and therapeutics. said the facility was “an important addition “Researchers want their work to make a difference to the lives of people outside the lab. Working on biologics at AIBN is about providing improvements in human health.” The opening cements a collaboration between DSM, AIBN and the Queensland Government announced in 2012 and focusing on biologics, medicines based on natural proteins made using DNA technology. Biologics offer new treatment options for a range of diseases, including cancer and auto- immune disorders, and may be used where medical conditions have no other treatments. They offer the only known potential treatment for Hendra virus infection. The collaboration makes it possible for development and potential large-scale commercial production of the experimental Hendra virus antibody, among other therapeutics, in Queensland. Australia has a vibrant biotechnology industry, but previously had no custom mammalian-based biopharmaceutical manufacturing operation. The Queensland Government formed BPA, which has partnered with DSM to bring the new facility and operation to Brisbane. The Hon. Ian Walker, Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (cutting the ribbon) and Dr Lukas Utiger, President and CEO of DSM Pharmaceutical Products AIBN Annual Report 2013 35

QSAFI completes significant work

IBN researchers completed The results from Dr Daniel Klein- PhD student Tim Brennan developed significant work on the viability Marcuschamer showed that using current strategies to ensure the yeast remained of aviation biofuels in 2013, proven technologies, the biofuels would be healthy and productive during biosynthesis as part of a project involving economically competitive with crude oil at a of the engineered form of limonene in the academia and industry price per barrel of $301 (sugarcane), $374 fermentation process. partners, with government support. (Pongamia seeds) and $1,343 (microalgae). “My work has explored molecular The unique study involved AIBN, UQ’s More importantly, the research mechanisms of the interaction of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the demonstrated which parts of each process synthetic limonene and the yeast that Queensland Alliance for Agriculture were most expensive and would most produced it,” Mr Brennan said. and Food Innovation and the Centre of benefit from future research. The World Economic Forum found air Excellence for Integrative Legume Research; Experimental research in Professor Lars transport consumed 10 per cent of global James Cook University; and leading Nielsen’s AIBN lab focused on converting transportation energy in 2010 and that was companies Boeing, Virgin Australia, Mackay sucrose to useful biofuel components using projected to increase to 13 per cent by 2030. Sugar Ltd and IOR Energy. systems and synthetic biology. Unlike ground transport, where electric or As part of the Queensland Sustainable The target component chemical is limonene, hydrogen cars may provide an alternative, Aviation Fuel Initiative, the collaborators aviation depends on liquid fuels with high published their results in the international a natural product found in the peel of citrus energy content. The aviation industry journal Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining fruits. Limonene has the potential to be an therefore has a strong desire for fuels that and presented them at the Boeing-hosted important component of sustainable aviation have the required properties, and are cost Aero Environment Summit in Sydney. fuel because of its chemical properties. effective and sustainable. AIBN researchers examined the engineering Extracting limonene from citrus peel at Success in making biofuels viable would and associated financial viability of biofuel the amounts required to make fuels is not allow Australian agricultural industries to production. The work involved detailed feasible, so Dr Claudia Vickers is modifying diversify their product portfolios, with the techno-economic modelling of the processes baker’s yeast to produce it. The approach to convert three feedstocks – sucrose from has greater potential for large-scale potential for new manufacturing plants in sugar cane; microalgae; and oily seeds production, even though present yields are rural areas such as north Queensland. from a tree called Pongamia – to produce a not yet high enough to be commercially The research results are on a Wiki page at minimum selling price for aviation biofuel. viable. qsafi.aibn.uq.edu.au 36 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Philanthropic initiative to support research

IBN launched a philanthropic outcomes meeting commercial and social “By nurturing these projects within the initiative in 2013 to support needs, Professor Gray said. AIBN, with funding from AIBNcubator, we will increase the prospect for investment translating academic research “Funding will encourage researchers to focus into commercial outcomes. from angel investors, venture capitalists and their time on an almost investment-ready commercial partners.” The AIBN Technology Translation project and not spread themselves too thinly Fund (AIBNcubator) aims to raise funds across a range of projects,” he said. An investment committee, comprising through philanthropic donations to help experienced investment and commercialisation “We will not only create the next generation overcome a shortage of pre-seed and experts, will assess research projects seed funding in Australia, acknowledged of entrepreneurs through the training and proposed for AIBNcubator funding. development associated with AIBNcubator, to contribute to a lack of commercial The committee includes AIBN Deputy outcomes from discovery research. we will also enhance our ability to attract the best and brightest national and international Director (Commercialisation) Dr Ian Nisbet, CM Capital’s Dr Carrie Hillyard, UniQuest’s The vision is to create a seed funding pool researchers and students.” for selected projects to finance the gap Dr Dean Moss, Uniseed’s Dr Peter Devine, between academic research and early Professor Gray said AIBNcubator would not the Medical Research Commercialisation product development and provide training solve a nationwide funding problem, but was Fund’s Dr Chris Nave, UQ Business School’s and experience to scientists and students in the institute’s way of taking proactive action. Dr Tim Kastelle, Oncolin’s Dr Jim Aylward a low-risk, supportive environment. and Jim Kalokerinos. “Everyone recognises there is a gap. AIBN Director Professor Peter Gray said Existing granting bodies fund research to a Projects considered for inclusion in the the fund would help take selected projects point where a potential commercial outcome AIBNcubator portfolio will be assessed on to an “investment-ready” stage and can be envisaged. At that point, researchers criteria including commercial opportunity, support researchers in developing skills in have limited options for further grants and the quality of the science, capacity for entrepreneurship and product development. this creates a gap for research projects that leveraging other funding sources and the inventor’s track record and commitment. Both outcomes were critical for translating are not ready for seed investment or other Australia’s investment in research into forms of commercialisation. www.aibn.uq.edu.au/AIBNcubator AIBN Annual Report 2013 37 IAP links researchers with industry

IBN’s Industrial Affiliates Dr Aylward described the challenges of synthesis, and self-assembly of functional Program (IAP) continued to bring moving from a long-standing career at polymers and nanomaterials in developing researchers and industry partners CSIRO to becoming an entrepreneur trying to new-generation sensors and biomedical together in 2013, through formal develop and commercialise his own invention, imaging agents. a novel treatment for solar keratosis, also membership, service provision AIBN board chairman Euan Murdoch and networking events. known as sunspots, a condition that commonly precedes skin cancer. chaired the event and launched the The program enables industry partners to AIBNcubator Technology Translation Fund build awareness of – and gain access to During the process, Dr Aylward founded that aims to raise up to $2 million through – AIBN’s research and expertise; and the Peplin Ltd. The company and its product, now philanthropic donations to provide proof-of- known as Picato®, was ultimately acquired institute to improve the industrial relevance concept funding for AIBN projects. by Leo Pharmaceuticals, which retains a of its research programs through direct manufacturing presence in Queensland. engagement with IAP members. Membership AIBN Deputy Director Dr Ian Nisbet said the Networking events attracted a strong April dinner heard one of the great success IAP has been operating for a little more than contingent of senior members of AIBN stories of the Australian biotech industry three years and has more than 20 member staff and guests representing executive and engagement with people such as Dr companies, ranging from large multinationals management from major companies, Aylward was important to the institute’s to small domestic start-up companies. IAP government departments and academia. activities directed towards translating provides a project-independent basis for research into products. interaction between AIBN and industry, with the ultimate identification of collaborative Networking events On November 14, AIBN researchers detailed projects one of the program’s critical success Biotech entrepreneur Dr Jim Aylward was their projects as part of IAP’s Showcase and factors. guest speaker at an April 13 Thought Leaders’ Networking function. AIBN Director Professor Peter Gray said IAP dinner, entertaining and inspiring an audience Professor Mark Kendall spoke about the that included Her Excellency Penelope product development and commercialisation activities reflected the institute’s commitment Wensley AC, Governor of Queensland, and of the vaccine delivery device Nanopatch, with to promoting and developing the growth of her husband Stuart McCosker. much of the activity now under the umbrella of innovative industries; and ensuring research does not remain at the laboratory bench, The dinner at Customs House, Brisbane, spin-out biotechnology company Vaxxas. but is translated into positive outcomes. was the fifth in a successful series aiming to Associate Professor Ernst Wolvetang bring the well-considered thoughts of guest detailed his research group’s work in “AIBN’s focus is on developing enduring speakers to an event involving question- using reprogrammed human skin cells to relationships with Australian and and-answer sessions and significant understand development, at the genetic international industry, underpinning a vibrant discussion among diners. level, of diseases such as Alzheimer’s innovation economy in Queensland and Australia,” he said. The diners also included Queensland Chief disease and Down syndrome. Scientist Geoff Garret AC, former Queensland Associate Professor Idriss Blakey told the “IAP allows companies to make the most of Chief Scientist Peter Andrews AC, and DSM audience of about 70 people about the the facilities and capabilities AIBN has available chief executive officer Scott Lorimer. potential for his research in rational design, to support their growth and innovation.” 38 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Internship brings industry relevance

n internship has given AIBN “It was also helpful that AIBN has research graduate Huey Wen Ooi an groups in different disciplines that allow an opportunity to combine credible exchange of knowledge and experience.” research techniques with Professor Whittaker supported Dr Ooi industrial relevance following during her studies with travel to national and submission of her PhD thesis in 2013. international conferences and an opportunity Dr Ooi spent five months working with staff to visit renowned biomaterials scientist at Anteo Diagnostics and learning about Professor Kristi Anseth at the University of product development and commercialisation Colorado in the US. as part of the Australian Mathematical “Through the conferences, I was exposed to Sciences Institute intern program. the latest ongoing research. Visiting Professor With support from AIBN supervisor Professor Anseth’s lab was a great experience and an Andrew Whittaker, she approached Anteo and opportunity for learning and networking.” secured a placement involving immunological Dr Ooi received assistance from AIBN studies to determine performance of the Deputy Director (Commercialisation) Dr Ian company’s ‘molecular glues’. Nisbet during the internship’s application Anteo Diagnostics develops and process, ensuring a smooth transition to the commercialises proprietary surface coatings industrial research environment at Anteo. for use in the diagnostics and biotech “I would like to be involved in research that industries, including Mix&Go, described as has affiliation with industry. I like to see my a ‘molecular glue’ to immobilise delicate research turned into products that are useful biological molecules such as antibodies to to consumers. Being in Anteo has certainly synthetic surfaces. helped to reinforce my interest. “Anteo provided me the opportunity to “Many scientists at Anteo were experienced work in a commercial environment and gain in research as well as commercialisation. exposure to general commercial activities, I was fortunate to work closely with a few such as intellectual property, product senior scientists who were always generous development and meeting compliance with their knowledge, experience and obligations,” Dr Ooi said. opinions. “I was part of a small group comprising all “I have certainly learnt a lot about the levels of the organisation, enabling me to drive behind research in the industry and observe the general issues many Australian how different it is compared to academia. companies in the biotechnology industry I also learnt how to perform different face.” immunological experiments and the required The placement added to the skills Dr Ooi product performance to meet current gained during her PhD at AIBN, where she market needs. designed and prepared precisely-structured “The internship has been an invaluable thermo-responsive hydrogels for potential experience that will certainly benefit me in use in pharmaceutical drug delivery. my research career.” “During my PhD, I was trained to solve Dr Ooi will soon start a postdoctoral problems and think critically. The skills fellowship at the Karlsruhe Institute of definitely were useful during my internship Technology in Germany with internationally- at Anteo – and I expect they will be in my renowned scientist Professor Christopher entire career. Barner-Kowollik. AIBN Annual Report 2013 39

International collaborations 40 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Consortium exchanges valuable information

of Professor Michael Rehli, where researchers focus on mononuclear phagocyte biology and epigenetics of cell differentiation. Associate Professor Wells said: “Participation in the consortium demands a great deal of commitment in terms of time, intellectual input and resources to validate the major findings pertinent to our own particular research areas. “The demands are weighed against the excitement and privilege of working with a wonderful international community of scientists – and to experience the breadth of ambition in terms of scale and resources offered by Riken in Japan,” she said. “The work I have undertaken as part of FANTOM has benefited my own research enormously. The work has shaped my philosophy of how the genome is regulated and encouraged me to tackle big-picture questions when considering my own contributions to large or small collaborations.” Associate Professor Wells continued to collaborate with scientists from Canada; South Korea; the Netherlands; the IBN Associate Professor Christine biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics and Australian National University, in Canberra; Wells continued exchanging stem cell biology in Japan, Germany, Sydney’s Victor Chang Institute; and AIBN valuable information with Denmark and the US. as part of Project Grandiose. collaborators from the Functional Professor John Quackenbush from Annotation of the Mammalian Boston’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute The researchers are working together to Genome (FANTOM) consortium in and Harvard University visited AIBN in understand how cells reprogram or revert 2013, including hosting research July and Professor Albin Sandelin from to their original cell type. leaders from the US and Denmark. the University of Copenhagen was at the Associate Professor Wells brings a institute in October. Associate Professor Wells contributes depth of understanding of bioinformatics findings from her research group’s work Involvement in FANTOM also opened capacity to a joint appointment at the into the networks of genes that drive stem doors for Associate Professor Wells, University of Glasgow’s Institute of cell differentiation and immune activation enabling her to visit the Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, – and can access FANTOM’s network of Regenerative Medicine at the University of announced in 2013. specialist researchers, tools and protocols. Edinburgh; the University of Copenhagen; The appointment enables her to establish and the University Hospital Regensburg in Exchanges between her AIBN research a clinical focus and translational linkages Germany in 2013. group and members of the FANTOM for her AIBN research into immune community in 2013 strengthened key PhD student Edward Huang subsequently regulation and cellular differentiation and collaborations with leaders in genome spent time in the Regensburg lab activation. AIBN Annual Report 2013 41

collaboration involving US- based pharmaceutical giant Merck and Australian spin-out biotechnology company Vaxxas continues to move Professor Mark Kendall’s vaccine delivery device the Nanopatch through product development and towards commercialisation. Vaxxas staff work in parallel with Merck’s experienced vaccine development scientists Merck, Vaxxas to establish efficacy, quality and stability of a Merck vaccine dry-coated to the Nanopatch, a silicon wafer with thousands of small projections designed to target collaboration abundant immune cells in the skin. Vaxxas is supplying the dry-coated patches and working with Merck on studies, with Professor Kendall overseeing the work models that demonstrated the Nanopatch Professor Kendall said the Merck as Vaxxas founder, director and chief more efficiently protects against influenza partnership provided external validation technology officer, as well as the Nanopatch virus when compared to doses administered of the technology under development by inventor and an AIBN Group Leader. using a traditional needle and syringe. Vaxxas and the research conducted at his The agreement includes Merck funding for a Professor Kendall designed the Nanopatch for AIBN lab with the support of competitive development program to explore using the thermostability and ease of use and is working research grants from the Australian and Nanopatch in conjunction with an important closely with his AIBN research group to realise Queensland governments. vaccine. the potential for the delivery devices to be He co-founded Vaxxas in 2011 with a $15 It gives Merck an option to exclusively transported without needing refrigeration and million investment from Australian and licence the Nanopatch for use with the delivery by non-specialist personnel. US investors to advance the Nanopatch vaccine and potentially two others, with Eliminating the need for what is known payments flowing to Vaxxas. towards commercialisation. as “the cold chain” and administration by Outside the Merck program, Vaxxas is higher cost health care professionals would UQ’s main commercialisation company, moving the Nanopatch toward clinical lower vaccination costs and enable wider, UniQuest, led the Nanopatch technology studies, building on research in small animal faster distribution in developing countries. before Vaxxas was created. 42 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Researchers bid for better batteries and reduced emissions

ollaboration with industry Funding will enable the researchers “The research will create new knowledge in China has enabled AIBN to design new cathode materials and in the field of functional materials and new researchers to leverage a supply them to Leling Shengli for a trial to methods and processes for making high- competitive funding grant and determine suitability for scale-up to industrial performance Lithium-ion batteries. further their work in developing quantities. “It will lead to a new family of low-cost cathode better batteries for hybrid cars, Two postdoctoral research fellows and two materials for Li-ion batteries, important for aimed at enhancing performance PhD students will work exclusively on the energy storage systems, particularly for the and reducing emissions. project. hybrid transportation industry.” Dr Denisa Jurcakova, Professor Lianzhou The funding also allows for exchanges, with Professor Wang said collaboration with Wang and Professor Max Lu are heading Leling Shengli sending a delegation to AIBN, industry was the most effective way to research involving AIBN, UQ’s School including the company’s chief executive ensure the reseachers’ expertise in functional of Chemical Engineering and Chinese officer Yuancheng Zhang and manager Jun nanomaterials was coupled with Leling collaborators from Leling Shengli New Lei, to discuss details of the project. Shengli’s experience in industrial scale-up. Energy. In return, the researchers will visit Leling “The cathode materials we are developing The research has a focus on developing Shengli in mid 2014 to see the company’s show promise for use in high-capacity high performance electrode materials scale-up facilities. batteries, but it is important they can be for Lithium-ion batteries, by using produced at a low cost around the world to nanostructured carbons to modify the Professor Wang said the project addressed ensure the technology has the best chance battery’s cathode, through which an electric important issues, including the need to move of being adopted. to clean energy and reduce carbon emissions. current flows. “Leling Shengli will play a role in the scale- The project has received $480,000 in “Effective storage is crucial for use of up trial of the new cathode materials and Australian Research Council Linkage Project renewable energies, since zero emission will work with other battery companies to funding, with $300,000 in additional support vehicles need high-capacity batteries,” he try large-scale production, if that becomes from industry. said. applicable, in the coming three years.” AIBN Annual Report 2013 43 Point-of-care device gains momentum

evelopment of a point-of- The project involves UW providing biological Entamoeba histolytica, endemic in care diagnostic device for materials, samples of disease targets and developing countries such as Bangladesh. gastrointestinal disease is the first prototype of a new protein binding E histolytica enters people’s digestive gaining momentum as part of molecule that was further developed in systems when they consume contaminated a collaboration between AIBN, Professor Trau’s AIBN lab. food or water, causing gastrointestinal issues the Seattle Biomedical Research During the project, Professor Trau’s research such as amoebic colitis, acute dysentery or Institute and the University of group developed an entirely new class chronic diarrhoea. About 100,000 people die Washington (UW). of inexpensive to manufacture protein annually from E histolytica. capture molecules as a replacement for “E histolytica is treatable, but first an A prototype of the device has been monoclonal antibodies, which are currently developed, findings published in accurate diagnosis is required,” Professor used for disease detection. The new class Trau said. “Ensuring our device is Chemical Communications in 2013, of nano-scaled antibody molecules contain inexpensive and close to point of care will and a provisional patent lodged. A a 50 nanometer cellular wall fragment that be of great benefit in developing countries, follow-up publication in Biosensors and is incorporated into an engineered protein. which lack the money and infrastructure to Bioelectronics later in the year expanded The new class of protein capture molecules, analyse remote samples in laboratories. on the device’s portability. called nano-scFvs, has been patented jointly by UW and UQ. “We believe a device such as ours will one The collaboration has the support of a US day allow clinicians to detect E histolytica National Institutes of Health grant worth $5 To demonstrate the protein binders’ viability, infection – and other infectious diseases – in million, with AIBN Professor Matt Trau and several molecules were engineered to some of the most remote and impoverished UW Professor Gerard Cangelosi listed as capture biomarkers in a patient’s blood regions on earth.” lead investigators. sample that point to the presence of Professor Trau said AIBN’s expertise gastrointestinal disease. The nano-scFv Other groups involved include the in nanobiotechnology, particularly molecules were coated on a portable device Programs for Assessment of Technology surface chemistry and diagnostic device to allow for quick analysis, without samples in Health Research Institute, in Seattle; the development, complemented UW’s insights needing to be sent to a lab. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease into tackling infectious diseases and ICDDR’s Research (ICDDR), in Bangladesh; and the Professor Trau said the diagnostic knowledge of gastrointestinal disease and University of Virginia, in the US. device targeted the waterborn pathogen treatments in developing countries. 44 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Professor Eric McFarland, Celestien Warnaar, Dr Robert Speight, Professor Lars Nielsen, Barry Ball Dow partnership develops

partnership between AIBN and Contact was established with Brisbane In 2011, Professor Nielsen and Professor the Dow Chemical Company Airport Corporation, resulting in a letter Paul Lant developed a plan for a Dow Chair moved into a new phase in of intent to collaborate on sustainable linked to the centre. technologies and practices. 2013, with the appointment Agreement was reached soon after to of a director and staff to In a collaboration with the Dow Materials establish the UQ-Dow Alliance and a the Dow Centre for Sustainable Institute at the University of California, Santa subsequent strategic partnership was Engineering Innovation and Barbara, Professor McFarland brought unveiled in April 2012, bringing together development of research projects together researchers from UQ, industry cutting-edge research expertise in energy, representatives and academics to brainstorm and collaborations. water and sustainability with world-class future sustainability issues. There are plans to science and engineering education and The centre will deliver a research program hold a similar workshop in 2015. in industrial sustainability and sustainable resulting in the centre’s establishment. AIBN Professor Lars Nielsen was appointed living, providing solutions to important Mr Ball and Dr Speight were instrumental engineering-related issues facing society the centre’s deputy director; Celestien Warnaar made centre manager; and Barry in developing the centre’s business plan in the 21st century, using a generous $10 Ball and Dr Robert Speight seconded for in 2012 and leaders from the three UQ million donation from Dow. maintaining relationships with industry, collaborators provided input in the centre’s The new centre involves collaboration government and academia. terms of reference. between UQ’s School of Chemical The centre will focus on identifying Professor Gray; School of Chemical Engineering, AIBN and the Global Change innovative and cost-effective research Engineering Head and AIBN Group Leader Institute (GCI), with the headquarters to be needed to achieve long-term sustainability Professor Peter Halley; and GCI Director based at UQ’s Hawken Building and some and engage with academia, industrial Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg were researchers at a centre node at AIBN. partners and the community while appointed as members of the centre’s Professor Eric McFarland was appointed leveraging the significant capabilities at UQ. board, joining UQ Vice-Chancellor and the Dow Chair of Chemical Engineering and The centre’s establishment cements a President Professor Peter Høj; then UQ centre director in July and began developing relationship with Dow dating from 2007, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Max Lu; relationships with colleagues at UQ, when AIBN Director Professor Peter Gray Dow Australia & New Zealand managing around Australia and in the US, resulting in signed the first research collaboration director Craig Arnold; and Dow appointed collaborations on new projects. agreement with the company. representative Noel Williams. AIBN Annual Report 2013 45

ICBNI promotes in-depth collaborations

he International Conference on a full day program with oral presentations Hubei University’s Professor Zushun Xu BioNano Innovation (ICBNI) 2013, and posters. The symposium began with the hosted AIBN Professor Andrew Whittaker held in Beijing in September, signing of a memorandum of understanding for a seminar as part of the World Famous provided an ideal platform to between the two institutions. Scientists Lecturing in Hubei project. promote in-depth scientific Also in Shanghai, AIBN researchers The exchange will continue with Professor collaborations between China and participated in a multi-day symposium, Xu scheduled to visit AIBN in 2014 and Australia. networking events and high-level meetings one of his students using an Endeavour involving AIBN, UQ, CSIRO, the Science Research Fellowship to work in Professor The conference featured 36 invited speakers and Technology Commission of Shanghai Whittaker’s research group on novel imaging from China, Australia and France presenting Municipality, and the Shanghai Association agents. complementary research expertise in parallel for Science and Technology. symposia, reflecting the themes Bio, Nano Following on from the activities, AIBN The success of engagement fostered by and Polymers. researchers will investigate various ICBNI and associated bilateral talks and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) opportunities for future collaboration, such workshops has led to several researchers President Bai Chunli hosted the conference, as hosting Chinese students at the institute from CAS confirming their intention to following his plenary address at ICBNI in and pursuing formal links through funding participate in the NanoBio Australia 2014 Brisbane in 2012 when an invitation was applications. conference in Brisbane. extended to host the 2013 conference in Beijing. Then CSIRO Group Executive Dr Calum Drummond and CAS Professor Lei Jang were high-level invited plenary speakers. Chinese conference speakers represented CAS, Fudan University, the China University of Petroleum, Peking University, Donghua University, Soochow University, Wuhan University, Tsinghua University, and the Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry. Australian speakers represented AIBN, CSIRO, the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, and the University of South Australia. The conference committee included AIBN Professors Chengzhong (Michael) Yu, Matt Trau, Lars Nielsen, Andrew Whittaker, Anton Middelberg and Debra Bernhardt, and Petrina Gilmore. A series of workshops and joint symposia in Beijing and Shanghai after the conference enabled researchers to explore areas of overlap in which complementary synergies pointed to potential collaborations. A National Center for Nanoscience and Technology workshop attracted researchers Professor Peter Gray, Director, AIBN; Her Excellency Ms Frances Adamson, Australian Ambassador to from Queensland and China with shared the People’s Republic of China; Professor Chunli Bai, President, Chinese Academy of Sciences; interests in microfluidics, novel antibiotics, Cathryn Hlavka, Minister Counsellor (Education and Research), Australian Embassy; and Mr Jinghua Cao, nano delivery methods and imaging agents. Deputy Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences The Shanghai joint symposium, organised by Fudan University and AIBN, adopted the theme Frontiers in BioNano Innovation, with 46 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Queensland-China workshop

IBN hosted experts in health to infectious diseases through engagement and medical research from with China. top Chinese institutions Dr Hui Wang from the Shanghai Institute for for a workshop in 2013, Biological Sciences at the Chinese Academy strengthening professional of Sciences described the discovery of a networks and providing an novel cancer preventative and therapeutic important exchange of information. agents from traditional Chinese medicine. The Queensland-China Workshop on Human Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Health and Medical Research on October Professor Zee Upton’s research at the 29 featured speakers from the Chinese Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, into clinical, technological and social Tibet University and DTRM Biopharma. innovation for life-long health was presented. AIBN Group Leader and materials science Closing the workshop was a presentation expert Professor Chengzhong (Michael) from Fudan University and Tibet University Yu was a workshop session chair and Professor Yang Zhong dealing with the AIBN Director Professor Peter Gray genetic diversity of medicinal plants on the presented research on biologics as human Tibetan Plateau. therapeutics and described opportunities for collaboration in the field between China and The workshop was part of a series of events Australia. bringing together senior representatives from Queensland’s research and business Professor Yang Ye from the Shanghai sector with representatives of the Chinese Institute of Materia Medica at the Chinese Government, industry and research Academy of Sciences delivered an address institutes. detailing the identification of bioactive compounds responsible for the therapeutic The events were designed to improve benefits derived from traditional herbal business and collaboration opportunities in medicine. areas such as human health and medical research; agricultural biotechnology, including DTRM Biopharma president and chief food research and safety; and energy. executive officer Dr Wei He spoke about small molecule drug innovation and A Queensland Government initiative, the development, while Griffith University’s events were planned in partnership with UQ, Dr Chris Davis detailed potential solutions QUT and Griffith University.

Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu AIBN Annual Report 2013 47

Facilities & research environment 48 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Infrastructure facilitates research

Cutting edge research is progressing at AIBN in part because of support infrastructure based at the institute, with expertise in nanofabrication, metabolomics, biologics, protein expression, stem cells, microscopy and microanalysis.

Nanofabrication With support from the Federal Government’s Ongoing alliances and contract servicing renewed National Collaborative Research for commercial partners illustrate the The Australian National Fabrication Facility, Infrastructure Scheme and interim body importance of NBF’s quality management Queensland node (ANFF-Q) continued to Collaborative Research Infrastructure system to meet the requirements of achieve in 2013, with success in securing Scheme, ANFF-Q aims to continue its regulatory agencies, such as Australia’s new facilities, $2.3 million in funding, and sustained growth. Therapeutic Goods Administration. further industrial engagement. The funding will enable maintaining and NBF continued to be represented at ANFF-Q increased its capabilities with an upgrading equipment, staff training and domestic and international gatherings extra cleanroom, a state-of-the-art atomic capacity building to ensure ANFF-Q is at the with involvement at the 2013 meeting force microscope, a silicon carbide epitaxial cutting edge of nanofabrication. of the European Society for Animal reactor for silicon carbide electronics, a Cell Technology, in Lille, France; and Nanoscribe Photonic Professional GT for engagement in the Asia Pacific region at three-dimensional nanoprinting and an Biologics Cell Culture Engineering World Asia 2013, in e-beam evaporator. The National Biologics Facility (NBF) Singapore; and the International Conference Dr Elliot Cheng was appointed as a housed at AIBN has continued to work with on BioNano Innovation, in Beijing, China. professional officer in 2013, bringing with him academia and industry to expand activities Staff also participated in the Nano and a wealth of experience in scanning electron in 2013. Advanced Materials and Technology microscopy and e-beam lithography. NBF brings research and the workshop and the Shanghai Joint- Support was provided to researchers biopharmaceutical industry together, Symposium on Frontiers in BioNano from universities around Australia needing enabling scientists to translate their Innovation in China. polymer and glass substrate patterning for discoveries into solutions for Australia, NBF is part of the BioProcessing Network, drug delivery and cell culture, and fabrication through a comprehensive platform service bringing together Australia’s industry leaders of nanoelectronics, micro-electronic ranging from drug discovery to clinical grade from organisations such as CSL, Hospira, mechanical systems and biomicrofluidic protein manufacturing. DSM and CSIRO for an annual symposium. device platforms. In 2013, the facility added a suite of new ANFF-Q also supported researchers equipment; collaborated with biomedical developing new medical devices, sensors Supporting translational researchers working to treat graft versus research and photonics through its vast array of tools host disease; manufactured clinical grade and professional training and assistance. material for a clinical trial of a Hendra virus In a collaboration supported by UQ, the Staff initiated coffee tours and twilight tours antibody; and worked with industry on cell Queensland Government, Therapeutics to encourage industry to visit the facility. line development. Innovation Australia and TransBio, NBF They launched ANFF-Q’s epitaxial reactor – is assisting in developing a monoclonal NBF expanded its capabilities by antibody to treat graft versus host disease. the only tool of its kind – in June, attracting developing new antibody discovery libraries an enthusiastic and varied audience. using Pathfinder funding from research Starting as a collaboration with the Mater Medical Research Institute, the project ANFF-Q hosted an industry seminar, entitled commercialisation company UniQuest. involved NBF staff isolating a monoclonal Disruptive Innovation, at the Queensland The libraries form the foundation for antibody targeting the human protein CD83 Museum in March with more than 60 mAbLAb, a dedicated laboratory for phage using the facility’s dedicated phage display attendees from government, industry and display and antibody engineering focusing laboratory. A collaboration between AIBN academia. on developing new antibodies for targeted and TransBio is continuing to work towards The continued engagement and broadening disease treatment. developing the monoclonal antibody. of capabilities played a significant role The facility continued collaborations with In another collaboration, Biosceptre in increasing ANFF-Q’s commitment to institutions, including Queensland Health, International continues to demonstrate industry in 2013. Industry clients increased UQ, the University of NSW, the Mater Medical support and trust in NBF as one of its from 10 to 22. Research Institute, the Royal Adelaide longest collaborating partners. NBF has ANFF-Q increased client numbers from Hospital, the QIMR Berghofer Medical played a significant part in Biosceptre’s 213 to 255 and usage hours expanded Research Institute, the Baker IDI Heart and research and development, through substantially in 2013, concurrent with the Diabetes Institute and CSIRO, enriching producing and characterising lead extra capabilities and services offered. innovation and translational research. antibodies. NBF continues its support of AIBN Annual Report 2013 49

Biosceptre as it gains momentum into the Mark Hodson, and analysts Dr Manuel avocados for Queensland Alliance for clinic to test its novel cancer target, known Plan and Panagiotis Chrysanthopoulos to Agriculture and Food Innovation research; as nf-P2X7. conduct metabolomics analyses on various and metabolic consequences of equine sample types. laminitis for the School of Veterinary Science. Clinical support capabilities MA-Q projects in 2013 covered a spectrum MA-Q was involved in supervising four NBF’s full capacities were tested in 2013, of metabolomics applications. AIBN projects PhD projects at UQ’s School of Chemistry when scientists and engineers manufactured included analysis to assess the production and Molecular Biosciences; the Pharmacy clinical grade material for a world-first clinical of industrial chemicals, bioplastics from Australia Centre of Excellence at the School study to prove the safety of the only known sugarcane, biopesticides from insect of Pharmacy; and the School of Veterinary effective treatment for humans exposed to cell viruses and biofuels from yeast Science, hosting two of the students within the deadly Hendra virus. fermentations. Analysis of biofuel production the analytical facility during 2013. The landmark study combines US expertise is an integral part of the Queensland In the wider research community, MA-Q from Professor Christopher Broder, at the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative’s work provided metabolomic analysis for Uniformed Services University of the Health to produce advanced aviation biofuel from wheat and sugarcane research groups Sciences, and Dr Dimiter Dimitrov, from the sugarcane. Yeast engineering and analysis at CSIRO; Queensland University of National Cancer Institute at the National is performed in partnership with the US Technology researchers working on banana Institutes of Health; and Queensland biotech company Amyris. biofortification and Chlamydia metabolism; knowledge from Princess Alexandra and diabetes research at the Garvan Institute MA-Q made progress in 2013 in applying Hospital clinician Dr Geoffrey Playford. in Sydney. profiling to fermentation time-course measurements, using high resolution Dr Louise Conwell, from the Royal Children’s Metabolomics mass spectrometry equipment, acquired Hospital, in Brisbane, continued collaborating with MA-Q in 2013 on research into juvenile Metabolomics Australia, Queensland with Federal and Queensland government funding, for open metabolomic analysis. diabetes, while industrial partners, such as node (MA-Q) continued to supply key the Dow Chemical Company, Pfizer, Zoetis metabolomics and analytical support in Collaborations within UQ involved measuring and LanzaTech, took advantage of node 2013 for projects requiring the discovery, anaesthetic levels in Drosophila for the facilities through collaborations with Professor identification and quantification of Queensland Brain Institute; analysing central Nielsen’s research group. endogenous and exogenous metabolites. carbon and nucleotide concentrations in Users accessed the expertise of node leader plasma and brain tissue for the School of Professor Lars Nielsen, node manager Dr Biomedical Sciences; and measuring auxin in 50 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Research agreement for protein experts

he Protein Expression Facility than 200 projects for more than 40 groups, staff to foster international networking (PEF) based at AIBN has entered such as global biopharmaceutical company opportunities and meet the aims of raising into a research agreement with CSL; Bioproton Pty Ltd; and the Department the international profile and providing Sentinext Therapeutics to develop of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. opportunities for scientific collaboration. a bioprocess for the Enterovirus AIBN Associate Professors Christine Wells 71 vaccine against hand, foot and Stem cell facility’s importance and Ernst Wolvetang continued to provide mouth disease. acknowledged scientific oversight as StemCore’s senior scientists in 2013, enabling the facility to The agreement with the Malaysian Acknowledgement in journal articles in remain at the forefront of cutting edge stem biotechnology company came as epidemics 2013 has highlighted the significance of cell research in Australia. of the disease were reported in Asia. Hong StemCore’s services to the progression of Kong and Japan experienced more than stem cell research in Australia. a three-fold increase in cases in 2013 StemCore’s provision of expert staff, support CMM compared to 2012. services, training and technology platforms Purpose-built laboratories within AIBN’s Sentinext chief scientific officer Dr Jane was acknowledged in papers in Stem Cells building enable researchers to access Cardosa and vice president of finance Translational Medicine, Stem Cells and microscopy and microanalysis services. Michelle Gan visited PEF in 2013 to initiate Biotechnology Journal. The Centre for Microscopy and development of insect-cell-based virus-like StemCore manager Victoria Turner said Microanalysis (CMM) promotes, supports particle vaccines for enteroviruses. They her team, based at AIBN, successfully and initiates research and teaching in welcomed PEF director Dr Linda Lua to their supported vital stem cell research through microscopy and microanalysis, and facility in Penang later in the year. providing specialist stem cell products develops the disciplines themselves. It was a highlight in a successful year and services to scientists in the field. Its capabilities increased in 2013, resulting for PEF, with a prestigious UQ award, The facility has been working with more from an ARC LIEF grant, with live molecular an international conference poster win, than 25 independent research groups imaging now available to researchers using expansion of the team, and installation of encompassing more than 60 scientists. new equipment to increase capabilities. super resolution microscopy, photon and StemCore offers cell line characterisation spinning disk confocal microscopy. A unique facility in Australia, PEF and stem cell culture support services, enables cutting edge research through enabling researchers to focus on cutting CMM secured other LIEF grants totalling comprehensive services in recombinant edge science by freeing them of labour- more than $2.7 million to install an protein production, including molecular intensive, time-consuming activities. advanced X-ray facility for surface and in- situ materials characterisation, and a dual cloning, microbial expression, animal cell StemCore services equip scientists to culture and protein purification. column-focused ion beam and scanning increase the pace and standard of their electron microscope. A successful Australian Research Council research into a multitude of diseases, (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment including schizophrenia, Down syndrome Staff under the supervision of AIBN Affiliate and Facilities (LIEF) grant enabled installation and Ataxia telangiectasia. Group Leader and CMM manager Professor John Drennan made significant contributions of bioreactors for up to 25L production, for Ms Turner said the StemCore team worked both microbial and animal cell cultures. to other funding applications regarded as closely with AIBN researchers in 2013, but strategically important. PEF was recognised for quality service, also grew its customer base to incorporate process improvement and innovation, the first international clients, establishing The equipment and staff expertise enabled knowledge transfer, and community potential future collaborations and expanding AIBN Group Leader Professor Mark Kendall connection when staff members won the the company’s international profile. to use scanning electron microscopy UQ Chancellor’s Award for Team Excellence. capabilities to develop the vaccine delivery Presenting at the Sino-Australian device the Nanopatch as part of a push to The team grew during 2013, with three new Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy advance the technology towards clinical members enabling PEF to complete more Forum in Lanzhou, China, enabled StemCore testing and product development. CMM support of researchers in the physical sciences and materials included providing cryoelectron microscopy services to AIBN Group Leader Professor Matt Trau’s work on nanomaterials. Support services are also extended to industry, encompassing a combination of small-to-medium enterprises and major organisations, including Rio Tinto, G James Glass, and Australian clinical-phase biotechnology company Lipotek. Start-up company TenasiTech, founded by AIBN Professor Darren Martin, uses CMM for electron microscopy of its polymer nanocomposite materials for quality control and raw material characterisation. AIBN Annual Report 2013 51

Mentoring & career development 52 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Commercial relevance part of PhD studies

“I worked with Professor Cooper- White during the final year of my undergraduate degree. This was the first time I had done any research and it fortified an interest in undertaking a PhD in tissue engineering. “When I was offered a chance to commence a PhD in a new, state-of-the- art institute, I felt very fortunate. Professor Cooper-White was extremely supportive and challenged me to perform to the best of my ability.” Dr Cameron’s PhD had a focus on understanding the effect of biomaterial properties on stem cell behaviour. “The skills I use in my new position at RCSI were all initially developed during my PhD. AIBN provides an abundance of cutting-edge equipment that enabled me to develop a broad range of technical skills. “The interdisciplinary backgrounds and depth of expertise that the researchers at AIBN have meant I was able to learn about topics from a wide variety of fields. “The research produced at AIBN is globally recognised as being of a high s well as gaining research Dr Cameron is part of the RCSI’s tissue standard and there are numerous researchers who are held in high esteem capabilities at AIBN, Dr Andrew engineering research group, headed by by the international scientific community. Cameron credits the institute with Professor Fergal O’Brien. The research is This recognition can accelerate a young skilling him in determining a developing clinical therapies and moving researcher in future employment.” research project’s potential and the technology towards commercialisation focusing on commercial relevance. through start-up company SurgaColl Dr Cameron conducted research Technologies. in Professor Cooper-White’s tissue Since his PhD was awarded in July engineering and microfluidics group at 2012, Dr Cameron has been appointed The company enables Dr Cameron to see AIBN in collaboration with UQ’s Institute a postdoctoral researcher at the Royal the link between his tissue engineering for Molecular Bioscience and financial College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), research and commercialisation enabling him to pursue his interest in pathways. His research at RCSI focuses support from the Cooperative Research technology innovation and follow a on developing a collagen-based, tissue- Centre for Polymers. commercialisation career path. engineered scaffold for ocular regeneration. “At AIBN I was involved with teaching, Dr Cameron completed a Graduate “The close collaboration the RCSI group which kept me up-to-date. I enjoyed the Certificate in Research Commercialisation has with numerous clinicians also provides challenge of trying to convey information at the end of his PhD studies, working valuable feedback that can be used in and transfer knowledge, which are closely with members of AIBN’s Innovation the development of these therapies,” Dr important skills. and Commercial Development team as Cameron said. “I am interested in helping “I travelled to Japan for an international part of a course internship. to facilitate the translation of research into conference during my time at AIBN applications that have a societal impact.” The internship involved Dr Cameron and that encouraged me to apply for developing a business plan for an AIBN Dr Cameron started his PhD studies in international opportunities after my PhD. research project and helped him determine February 2007, with AIBN Professor Justin I am delighted to have started my new the commercial potential of the research. Cooper-White as his supervisor. position in Dublin.” AIBN Annual Report 2013 53

PhD first step to building a research career

upport at AIBN during her PhD studies has helped Dr Dipti Vijayan take the first steps towards building a research career aimed at advancing knowledge in disease prevention and treatment. Dr Vijayan received valuable intellectual and technical insights during studies under the supervision of AIBN Associate Professor Christine Wells. The studies had a focus on how immune cells expressing Mincle, a lectin that helps recruit white blood cells to a fungal infection, respond to an opportunistic fungus called Candida albicans. After graduating in 2013, Dr Vijayan secured a position at the highly-regarded Garvan Institute in Sydney as a research officer, investigating the role of a particular cytokine, a substance secreted by immune cells, believed to be linked to the development of autoimmune diseases such as lupus and cancer. “I really hope that one day my contribution to medical research could provide significant progress in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care,” she said. Dr Vijayan was first author on a 2012 paper said. “I would like to be able to hone skills in The work involves using techniques such in Immunology and Cell Biology that was those areas to further my research career. as flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, singled out for an editorial highlight, further tissue immunofluorescence and enzyme- “I envisage my research at the Garvan emphasising the skills she developed during linked immunosorbent assays and draws on will provide mechanisms that further our her PhD studies. technical skills gained at AIBN. understanding of lupus. Understanding the At AIBN, she worked closely with Associate Dr Vijayan said students at AIBN received fundamental immunological processes and Professor Christine Wells, a supervisor who technical and analytical skills, exposure to a their dysfunction is important for better and range of scientific disciplines and competence strategically positioned her research on the effective therapeutics.” in communication, presentation and creativity international stage and instilled a strong collaborative ethic in her students. Dr Vijayan said the research was both required of early career researchers. important and intriguing. “I consider myself extremely fortunate Dr Vijayan also gained valuable insights “There are several deadly diseases such to have been associated with a into the work of Professor Lars Nielsen, as lupus, HIV and cancer that we still know multidisciplinary institute that pushed a leader in developing experimental and very little about. me to think the ‘big picture’ involves an computational tools to analyse and design amalgamation of disciplines. complex biological systems. “It is only when you know how diseases “I am thankful to AIBN for giving me “I saw how they progressed their are caused that you can work out ways opportunities to improve my presentation research projects, leveraged funding, built to prevent them. The constant search for and communication skills. I believe the skills collaborative networks around the world answers to these problems is what I find are extremely important to a scientist.” and advanced the field of knowledge,” she extremely challenging and motivating.” 54 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Bridge between research and industry

Dr Prowse worked on embryonic stem cell expansion, methodologies and procedures at AIBN as part of Professor Peter Gray’s research group. “We focused on the parameters for improving embryonic stem cell expansion – the extracellular matrix, media and oxygen control, smart surfaces and cardiac differentiation.” During his time at AIBN, Dr Prowse produced six publications and credits AIBN’s multidisciplinary nature for giving him the skills needed to transition to management at CCRM. He worked under the supervision of Professor Gray, a pioneer of biotechnology research and development in Australia who has held academic positions and gained commercial experience. Professor Gray has held positions at University College London and the University of California, Berkeley; and worked for Eli Lilly and Co and the Cetus Corporation in the US. Dr Prowse said insights gained from working alongside Professor Gray, as he oversaw AIBN’s growth to 450 people and an annual turnover of $40million, was invaluable. “I was fortunate to see how the institute r Andrew Prowse moved from focus is slightly different. “The work is more grew and developed, with the desire to commercially focused. CCRM is a bridge a lab-based position to one produce solid scientific research at the core between academia and industry,” he said. involving management and of all the activities,” Dr Prowse said. commercialisation in 2013 and CCRM has brought together a renowned credits AIBN with giving him the group of stem cell scientists and “I was exposed to a multitude of scientific skills needed to ensure a smooth bioengineers to fulfil regenerative medicine’s disciplines and gained skills needed for transition. promise to treat many diseases affecting the lab-based research, analysis and progress world’s population. towards commercialisation.” After six years at AIBN, Dr Prowse took up a Highlighting the value of professional position as a project manager at the Centre The centre aims to harness the power of networks, Dr Prowse will work at CCRM for Commercialization of Regenerative stem cells, biomaterials and molecules to with Dr Nick Timmins, with whom he Medicine (CCRM) in Toronto, Canada. repair, regenerate or replace diseased cells, tissues and organs as part of an initiative to originally shared an AIBN office. He is overseeing about six projects at potentially treat, manage and cure some of “We became good friends at AIBN CCRM, working with other managers the most devastating and costly diseases. through a mutual interest in science and to balance the workload of scientists; “Previously I was involved in research for extracurricular activities and the contact developing experimental projects and the improvement of knowledge in general,” remained after he left,” Dr Prowse said. outlines; and facilitating Dr Prowse said. “Nick moved to CCRM about two years ago interaction between scientific team members “Now I am taking knowledge developed to help establish the centre and get projects and the global research community. in academia and helping to move forward off and running. Moving to Canada was made Dr Prowse is still working in the lab, though the towards a product or therapy.” easier because of the connection with Nick.” AIBN Annual Report 2013 55

Expertise and equipment aids research career

IBN’s interdisciplinary environment, state-of-the-art facilities and unique expertise enable Dr Claudia Vickers to exploit her interests in metabolic engineering for production of industrially-useful biochemicals. Dr Vickers is interested in replacing current industrial practices, heavily reliant on petrochemicals, with sustainable approaches using systems and synthetic biology for metabolic engineering of organisms. She trained in plant molecular biology at UQ and CSIRO Plant Industry and spent three years in England developing a research program focused on a group of natural compounds called isoprenoids, investigating their biological functions and industrial applications. Returning to UQ, Dr Vickers joined Professor Lars Nielsen’s systems and synthetic biology group in 2007 to pursue an interest in biological production of useful isoprenoid compounds. “I joined AIBN because it is the only institute in Australia that has access to the equipment and expertise required for a of industrially-useful isoprenoids in “My research career has given me the full-scale metabolic engineering research engineered microbes. opportunity to travel widely. I have developed program, including specialised metabolic Dr Vickers supported a successful Marie large networks of international collaborators modelling and systems biology expertise throughout Europe, America and Australasia.” from Professor Nielsen,” she said. Curie Fellowship application from University of Barcelona graduate Dr Jordi Perez-Gil and Dr Vickers is also very active in science Dr Vickers has built a research team within will welcome her to AIBN in 2014 to work outreach and communication, and has Professor Nielsen’s group, linking her diverse on isoprenoid metabolism and examine the made several educational videos, posted research areas through understanding potential of developing novel antibiotics. on YouTube. fundamental biology and applying it to industrial production of natural compounds. While Dr Vickers has a focus on research, “I find it extremely rewarding talking she is also interested in teaching and She has developed a sucrose-to- to people about science. Much of our mentoring at graduate and undergraduate research is funded by taxpayers and I bioproducts program and an industrial levels. She has affiliated positions at UQ’s believe it’s really important to communicate isoprenoids program, focused on School of Chemical Engineering and School – and justify – how we spend that money.” converting sucrose from sugarcane into of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, industrially-useful biochemicals. and is a founding member of AIBN’s Early Dr Vickers is recognised in Australia as A UQ Foundation Research Excellence Career Researcher Support Committee. a key member of the synthetic biology Award in 2013 was among the highlights “I have been extremely fortunate to have community, with previous roles as an of a successful year for Dr Vickers. had excellent mentors throughout my career. advisor to the Federal Government and The award recognises demonstrated I have learned an enormous amount from the American-based Institute of Science excellence and promise of future success them and from my own experiences in for Global Policy. She was a keynote in research; and leadership potential in research science. I think it’s my responsibility speaker at a synthetic biology workshop strategically important fields. to pass that on as best I can to the next at Macquarie University in November. Dr Vickers and Professor Nielsen generation.” Dr Vickers will chair the synthetic received an Australian Research Council Dr Vickers has benefitted from the biology session at the NanoBio Australia Discovery grant in 2013 to investigate the interdisciplinary nature of AIBN’s research conference in July 014 and run a biochemistry and regulation of carbon flux environment, which has complemented the dedicated synthetic biology workshop through isoprenoid metabolic pathways, network of collaborators she developed entitled From Talk to Action: Developing enabling Dr Vickers to improve yields during her studies and while overseas. and Funding SynBio Research in Australia. 56 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Graduate combines research and mentoring

“I want the next generation to understand more about science, engineering and research. I see myself communicating science to larger audiences to improve public engagement with science.” Dr Luckman also has mentoring and supervision responsibilities in Professor Halley’s research group at AIBN, moving into a leading role at the Centre for High Performance Polymers in 2013 to improve research and development with potential industry partners. The role involves working with multiple research partners in industry and generating income for AIBN through consulting partnerships. “During my career I would like to devote myself to improving the environment that surrounds research in Queensland, including funding and support. In a similar way, I would like to work with local industry, building ties to leading scientific research and universities.” From a scientific prospective, Dr Luckman has worked across several fields concurrently. His PhD project was in tissue engineering. Dr Luckman presented his research r Paul Luckman is taking an projects in Professor Halley’s group for the in Florida while completing his PhD unusual approach to building company. under Professor Justin Cooper-White’s supervision. what he hopes will be a It is a significantly different role to one he successful career in teaching, temporarily took over from AIBN Professor “Professor Cooper-White taught me supervision and research. Darren Martin in 2013 as co-ordinator to be ambitious, to have the drive to Since Dr Luckman completed his PhD and lecturer of the biomaterials course for succeed and to strive to for continuous at AIBN in July 2013, he has taken UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering. improvement,” he said. on several diverse roles that involve Teaching is something Dr Luckman “There are several reasons why I chose working with industry, supervising has done since enrolment as an AIBN to undertake my PhD and continue research projects and mentoring a new undergraduate, when he tutored high my career path. AIBN’s strength lies in its generation. school and then UQ students. diversity of research and the expertise and Dr Luckman has a research management equipment within the institute. role in Professor Peter Halley’s AIBN “I find teaching one of the most rewarding aspects so far in my career. It is incredibly “In a traditional research setting in either research group, working with start-up a science or engineering laboratory, company Plantic Technologies to develop challenging and has enabled me to be a better public speaker,” he said. it is challenging to bring one field into smart packaging materials with support the other. There are very few places in from an Australian Research Council “I like the social interaction. Learning the world that have AIBN’s cross-over. linkage grant. how people learn, apart from being a Opportunities for novel research are easier The role will focus on building consulting fascinating topic, has helped me become to take advantage of than if you were in a relationships and coordinating research a better student in my own studies. more traditional research institute.” AIBN Annual Report 2013 57

Engagement 58 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Community engagement

IBN researchers took science out “It is significant and a great honour to be Queensland contemplating further study at of the lab and into the public invited to present at TEDGlobal, given the university level and careers in science, and arena as part of community large, international audience and the calibre their parents and teachers. of fellow presenters,” Professor Kendall said. engagement activities during Professor Kendall provided insights into 2013, helping to achieve Using the slogan Ideas Worth Spreading, personal and academic attributes likely a greater understanding of the TED Global presentations bring together to be beneficial for successful careers in impact science has on people’s the world’s most fascinating thinkers and science and engineering and outlined his everyday lives. challenges them to present talks in 18 own career in the field. minutes or less. The researchers spoke to large audiences Professor Justin Cooper-White delivered a and videos of their presentations were Professor Kendall was also involved in a TEDx talk to an audience of more than 300 posted online to take their messages around panel discussion for UQ’s Global Leadership people at the State Library in Brisbane about the world. Series, a lively program of events for alumni engineering and designing human tissues. and the community aimed at unearthing Professor Mark Kendall was the only matters that have impact and shape The video of the presentation, called presenter from Australia to give a TEDGlobal people’s ideas of the world. ONExHEART, has been posted by talk in Edinburgh, Scotland in June, detailing TEDxBrisbane on YouTube and continues to the potential global reach of his vaccine The discussion on improving the reach attract viewers. delivery device the Nanopatch. of vaccines to the developing world with Nanopatches featured Translational Research Professor Cooper-White detailed tissue The video of the presentation, delivered to Institute Director of Research Professor Ian engineering efforts that aim to regenerate a select audience of about 1000 people Frazer AC; Head of Clinical Research at the heart tissue and arrest cardiovascular at TEDGlobal 2013, was uploaded to the National Centre for Immunisation Research disease, which is responsible for more than TEDGlobal website and attracted more than and Surveillance Professor Robert Booy; and 30 per cent of deaths in Australia. 600,000 views within three months. Queensland Chief Scientist Dr Geoff Garrett “We are truly passionate about making Professor Kendall said the TEDGlobal AO. AIBN Director Professor Peter Gray was heart failure a thing of the past,” Professor presentation introduced a broad, the moderator. Cooper-White said of his AIBN research international audience to the technology The commercial and social implications of group and collaborators. “I truly think that it developed in his AIBN lab and advanced Professor Kendall’s research were detailed will be possible, with a lot more hard work, through spin-out company Vaxxas towards in a keynote address at a Young Women in to mend a broken heart.” clinical testing and product development. Science and Engineering presentation at St TEDx is a program of local, self-organised The Nanopatch has been developed to deliver Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School in May. events that bring people together to share a dry-coated vaccine into the skin, achieving Held as part of a larger Aspiring Women a TED-like experience. At TEDx events, protective immune responses in small animal in Science Conference, the presentation’s TEDTalks video and live speakers combine models with doses up to 100 times smaller audience included more than 100 female to spark deep discussion and connection in than required for a needle and syringe. high school students from around small groups. AIBN Annual Report 2013 59

School engagement

esearchers and students at High school students were offered a chance Youth Leaders Forum and UQ Open AIBN engaged with a growing to experience life in a lab during 2013, with Day also gained access to AIBN labs for list of schools in 2013, with four-day placements providing an insight into conducted tours. the life-cycle of research from experimentation building tours, student lab The tours are conducted as part of the AIBN and collaboration to commercialisation. placements and school visits. Ambassador Program to demonstrate the Outreach activities involved 17 schools from The 30 students involved in placements breadth of research at AIBN and explain south-east Queensland, including those came from 10 schools, with Natalie Young real-life applications of the work. coming from Toowoomba’s The Glennie on the Gold and Sunshine coasts and at AIBN researchers also travelled to schools as School to secure a place in Professor Matt Toowoomba, Warwick and Coomera. part of the institute’s outreach activities, with Trau’s lab for an insight into nanoscience, AIBN Professor Anton Middelberg engaged QASMT welcoming Dr Esteban Marcellin, Dr nanotechnology and molecular diagnostics. with remote and rural students when he Mirjana Dimitrijev Dwyer, Dr Darren Korbie conducted an online science class for Tours of AIBN labs were arranged for and Dr Simon Corrie for presentations on Charleville School of Distance Education, students from Albany Creek State High; strategically-designed proteins for drug teaching Year 5 and 6 students about Brisbane Boys’ College; St John Fisher delivery and food stabilisation; molecular electricity and conductivity using copper and College; the Queensland Academy for technologies for diagnostics; and genetics for zinc lodged in lemons. Science, Mathematics and Technology personalised medicine. (QASMT); Scots PGC College in Warwick; To encourage the learning, Professor AIBN’s outreach activities aim to foster an Mt Creek State High School on the Middelberg has started planning for interest in science; create an understanding Sunshine Coast; and Emmanuel College on Charleville School of Distance Education of the value of science in the lives of the Gold Coast. students to spend a day at AIBN in 2014 as Queenslanders; and present science to part of a week-long experience of city life in Students at UQ’s St Lucia campus for the students as a potential area of study and a Brisbane. Spark Engineering Camp, the International career path. 60 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Sister city relationship builds knowledge

“I would like to be involved in solving those problems. With Gordon Xu, I have been improving my research skills, analytical thinking and understanding the research culture.” Mr He said his visit to Brisbane was his first trip outside China and had given him a more global outlook. Associate Professor Xu said the placement provided a valuable exchange of knowledge and ideas, important in opening the research field to the next generation of early career researchers. “It is important for researchers to have a global outlook and collaborate with top people in their fields in various parts of the world,” he said. The scholarship is part of a sister city arrangement between Brisbane and Shenzhen, a city of 10 million people in Guangdong Province near Hong Kong. Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said sister city relationships delivered real opportunities and results for Brisbane and Shenzhen businesses, students and residents. “This is a great opportunity for a student hinese undergraduate medical biomolecules that manipulate the body’s from Shenzhen to work with and learn from anti-cancer cells to stimulate a strong student Jiang He improved world-class researchers at AIBN. his research skills, analytical immune response. “Through this scholarship opportunity, thinking and understanding Targeting diseased parts of the body while students from both cities can learn from of the research culture during leaving healthy cells untouched should a three-month placement at AIBN reduce the side effects of broad-spectrum each other and develop new skills while contributing to advances in biomedical in 2013, as part of a Shenzhen- treatments such as chemotherapy, in which research.” Brisbane Sister City Research medicines flood the entire body and also Scholarship. destroy healthy cells. AIBN has a wide engagement with the Mr He said his experience at AIBN had global research community, including Mr He studied nanotechnology at AIBN training people from universities, research under Associate Professor Zhi Ping (Gordon) reinforced his interest in a career in biomedical research, starting with a PhD in institutes and industries in other countries. Xu’s supervision while receiving credit for either Australia or the US. his fifth-year undergraduate degree at As part of its development and engagement Shenzhen University. “We have been solving problems through program, AIBN encourages students and physics and chemistry for hundreds of early career researchers to engage with The research scholarship enabled Mr He years, but there are still lots of questions, outside groups to develop networks and to work with Associate Professor Xu on especially in significant areas of human skills for the foundation of a successful developing nanoparticles aimed at delivering health,” Mr He said. scientific career. AIBN Annual Report 2013 61

Student experience 62 AIBN Annual Report 2013

RHD report

Student achievements in 2013 demonstrate AIBN’s research productivity, effective support infrastructure and inclusive recruitment strategies.

he institute had records in the undergraduates and research projects for recognition of the work, with the number and quality of research higher Honours, Masters and PhD students. postgraduate student best paper award degree completions in 2013, student at the Australasian Congress of Applied Research students are primarily attracted commencements and scholarships awarded. Mechanics at the University of Adelaide. to innovative projects the institute’s leading A record 27 research students were awarded researchers undertake and the results Mr Meliga’s modelling simulates the higher degrees in 2013, with 26 gaining a PhD they produce. AIBN encourages students application to skin of microscopic needles and one an MPhil – a marked increase on the through policies that reward timely progress, on a silicon wafer, called the Nanopatch, 15 students awarded in 2012. promote publication and provide support which can be coated with vaccines against when needed. key diseases including influenza, human PhDs were awarded to Yosephine Andriani, papillomavirus, herpes simplex, and the Colin Archer, Jessica Cameron, Xiaojing West Nile and Chikungunya viruses. Chen, Yam-Mi Chuang, Pamela Jaramillo Student achievements Ferrada, Erika Fiset, Sandy Budi Hartono, PhD students Tim Brennan and Nilay James Briggs was selected for one of Kelly Kitchens, Atikah Kadri, Jakov Kulis, Thakar were among 20 Australians, only seven Herchel Smith Fellowships Peng Li, Mervyn Liew, Paul Luckman, selected on academic achievement and awarded annually to students across the Leila Matindoost, Sean Muir, Hoang Quan scientific potential, for a European Molecular entire graduate sciences intake at Harvard, Nguyen, Huey Wen Ooi, Azlin Fazlina Biology Lab scholarship to attend its PhD allowing him to join an intake of about 60 Osman, Tania Rivera Hernandez, Suriana Symposium in Heidelberg, Germany. PhD students to study RNA genes and their Sabri, Anne Sandstrom, Nghia Truong role in shaping the epigenome. The travel also enabled Mr Brennan to Phuoc, Dipti Vijayan, Jie Yang and Yian Zhu. work with world leaders in yeast metabolic This will continue a collaboration with An MPhil was awarded to Khaled Sebakhy. engineering research in Professor Jens Harvard Assistant Professor John Rinn that Nielsen’s lab at Chalmers University of As a measure of research performance started when Mr Briggs was completing his Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. during candidature, 18 of the students Honours under the supervision of AIBN’s who submitted their thesis in 2013 met the Associate Professor Ernst Wolvetang and Mr Brennan continued AIBN’s success at eligibility criteria for the Dean’s Award for the Institute for Molecular Bioscience’s the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, Research Higher Degree Excellence, which Professor John Mattick and Dr Guy Barry. named runner-up at UQ’s 2013 final and is based largely on examiners requiring being selected by the audience as the Patrick Fortuna won UQ’s inaugural John minor or no changes to the thesis. people’s choice winner. Kapeleris Medal for Biotechnology for his Dr Yang and Dr Kulis were recipients of the Masters studies, completed jointly between He was awarded for the explanation of award in 2013, recognising a demonstrated AIBN and the School of Chemistry and his research as part of the Queensland excellence in a research higher degree and Molecular Biosciences. Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative in using commended for substantial contribution to sources such as sucrose from sugarcane to The Masters study was conducted in AIBN their field of research. make renewable jet fuel. Associate Professor Ernst Wolvetang’s The success can be attributed to AIBN’s laboratory, where Mr Fortuna was employed The 3MT competition challenges students to aim of generating outstanding research as a research assistant since his graduation strip away jargon and explain their research and, in the process, a new generation of and started his PhD in late 2013. in a compelling way to a general audience outstanding researchers. within three minutes. It is a trade-marked PhD student Stefano Meliga was listed UQ innovation in research communication AIBN has an inclusive strategy to attract and as first author when his mathematical now adopted by more than 80 universities in cultivate talented students with an interest in modelling work was published in 2013 12 countries. research as a potential career. The strategy in the prestigious Journal of Controlled encompasses laboratory tours for high Release. It adds to Engineers Australia’s The National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia school students, research internships for National Committee on Applied Mechanics award financially supported Mr Thakar to AIBN Annual Report 2013 63

attend the Australian Society for Stem Cell in Lille, France, recognising the quality and Nathan Boase received the award for best Research conference in Brisbane, where he scientific interest of her submission. oral presentation at the Royal Australian won the best poster presentation award. Ms Taylor was also selected to present a Chemical Institute Queensland Polymer Group Student Symposium. He completed a three-year term in 2013 poster at the 9th annual Protein and Antibody on the coveted International Society for Engineering Summit in Boston in the US. Mr Boase also presented a poster at the Stem Cell Research Junior Investigator The Australasian Society for Biomaterials and World Molecular Imaging Congress in Committee, representing postdoctoral Tissue Engineering awarded Clementine Savannah, Georgia, in September. researchers and medical and graduate Pradal an ASBTE Conference Travel Award Camila Orellana was runner-up in the students, fostering networking and to present at the annual conference in South Young Investigator Awards for her oral augmenting meeting attendance through Australia’s Barossa Valley. presentation at the Bioprocessing Network travel grants and merit awards. She was also invited to present at the Asian 2013 Conference on the Gold Coast. PhD students Kripal Singh Lakhi and Biomaterials Congress, an international Geoffrey Lawrence received poster conference in Hong Kong in June. www.aibn.uq.edu.au/future-students awards at the International Workshop and Seminar on Green Energy Conversion in Nagano, Japan, recognising the quality of data from their research into new materials. James Briggs The students received Graduate Travel Awards from the University of Yamanashi to attend the seminar, giving them a chance to meet researchers and students from around the world. Mr Lawrence also received a prize for best oral presentation at the 21st International Conference on Materials and Technology in Portorož, Slovenia in 2013, ahead of 40 other researchers from Europe, China, and North and South America. Donna Capararo received a UQ Graduate School International Travel Award and won a Centennial Scholarship from the Royal Aeronautical Society for travel to the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials at North Dakota State University in Fargo, the US. Ms Capararo spent three month on a research exchange, working with Professor Stuart Croll’s team on molecular modelling of polymer networks. Karin Taylor was awarded a European Society for Animal Cell Technology bursary to present at the organisation’s conference 64 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Graduates 2013

Yosephine Andriani Jessica Cameron Graduate position: Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hasselt, Belgium, with Qualifications:ST (equivalent to BEng) Qualifications: BEng (Biomechanical) research projects focused on developing Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya, (Hons)/BSc (Mathematics) University of a photo-ATRP polymerisation method that Indonesia, MScEng (Chem Eng) National Sydney, PhD UQ could be used for developing biomaterials Taiwan University of Science and Technology, PhD awarded: November 2013 PhD (Biomedical Engineering) UQ Pamela Ferrada Principal supervisor: PhD awarded: November 2013 Professor Andrew Whittaker Qualifications: Bs Biochem (Hons) Austral University of Chile, PhD UQ Principal supervisor: Thesis title: Hydrogels for wound healing Professor Darren Martin applications PhD awarded: January 2013 Thesis title: Biocompatibility and toxicity Research project: The goal of the research Principal supervisor: of synthetic organoclay nanofillers and was to develop and characterise materials Professor Justin Cooper-White biomedical polyurethane nanocomposites to form part of a bandage for chronic Thesis title: Cartilage tissue engineering Research project: The research has been and acute wounds. A range of hydrogels using mesenchymal sromal cells from driven by the advancement of Cochlear were synthesised and the structure of human term placenta implants, requiring new insulation materials the polymers was studied at different scales. The hydrogels were analysed Research project: The research focused capable of accommodating a smaller and on the isolation and characterisation of to determine their ability to maintain a more intricate design of electrode arrays. mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from the physiologically ideal, moist environment for Polyurethanes have long been attractive amniochorionic fetal membrane of human reepithelialisation and wound closure. The polymeric biomaterials due to their term placenta. Two major goals of this project ability of the hydrogels to deliver various biocompatibility, processability and tailorable were the comparative characterisation of mechanical properties. For future designs drug molecules was also measured. amnion, chorion and bone marrow-derived of some next generation medical device Graduate position: Student of a Masters MSCs, and the effect of low oxygen tensions components, the mechanical properties of of Biostatistics on expansion and differentiation potential existing polyurethanes are inadequate. In of placental derived stem cells ex vivo. The the project, the viability of silicone-based studies demonstrated the enhanced cartilage polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposites Yami Chuang forming ability of chorion derived MSCs in was investigated for long-term implantable Qualifications: BSc (Hons) UQ, comparison to amnion and bone marrow medical devices, particularly for the next GCertResCom UQ, PhD UQ cells, and therefore, their great potential as generation of Cochlear implants. a cell source for cartilage tissue engineering PhD awarded: July 2013 applications. Graduate position: Scientist, patterning Principal supervisor: and fabrication, Institute of Materials Graduate position: Research consultant at Associate Professor Idriss Blakey Research and Engineering, Singapore Just Outcomes Pty Ltd Thesis title: Directed self assembly of rationally designed block copolymers: Erika Fiset Colin Archer Towards an advanced lithography process Qualifications: BSc (Chem) Universite Laval, Qualifications: BEng UNSW, BSc UNSW, for reducing line edge roughness MSc (Chem) Universite Laval, PhD UQ PhD UQ Research project: Devices controlled by PhD awarded: December 2013 PhD awarded: November 2013 computer chips impact on almost every aspect of people’s lives, enabled by the Principal supervisor: Dr Denisa Jurcakova Principal supervisor: Professor Lars Nielsen ability to build faster and more energy Thesis title: Nitrogen-rich porous carbons Thesis title: Understanding the phenotypic efficient chips. However, the development for supercapacitors asymmetry in Escherichia coli of the next generation of devices has been Research project: The thesis focused on the inhibited by issues with materials used in their Research project: The research involved synthesis and characterisation of nitrogen-rich manufacture. A major issue has been the developing and characterising multi-omics porous carbon materials as carbon electrodes ability to accurately manufacture transistors, datasets to explain diversity amongst strains for supercapacitors to understand the components that make up computer chips, of E coli, a popular host for biotechnological combined effect of carbon porous structures with dimensions in the order of 30nm, or applications. The focus was on genes, and surface nitrogen functionalities on the 1000 times thinner than the width of a human proteins and metabolites that could explain energy storage mechanism. The optimal hair. The objective of the research was to large observed differences between strains in porosity of electrode materials, the effect of improve the ability to manufacture transistors carbon source use, growth rate and organic microporosity and particle size of double-layer at those length scales. The approach used acid production. Each significantly influence capacitance mechanism was first investigated electrostatic and thermal properties of the commercial viability of a bioprocess. using silicon carbide-derived carbons as a rationally designed polymers to significantly model of electrode materials without nitrogen Graduate position: Data engineer, improve the manufacturability of transistors. surface functional groups. The synergistic developer and licensee of RBlockchain, The research outcomes show a potential effects of porosity and surface chemistry an R software package providing real- to improve manufacturing processes in on the capacitive performance were then time network analysis and tracking of computer chip manufacture, ultimately investigated by using nitrogen-rich porous transactions across cryptocurrency influencing production yields and chip carbons synthesized from different melamine blockchains and marketplaces performance. precursors. AIBN Annual Report 2013 65

Graduate position: Postdoctoral research evaluation of several vaccine candidates PhD awarded: December 2013 fellow at the Laboratory of Chemical and against group A streptococcus infection Principal supervisor: Environmental Engineering at Universitat using a virus-like particle-based platform Associate Professor XiangDong Yao de Girona, dealing with bioelectrochemical for antigen presentation. The project systems for water treatment demonstrated the ability of VLPs to raise Thesis Title: The roles of carbon antigen-specific immune responses in nanotubes, metal organic frameworks and Sandy Budi Hartono mucosal surfaces, highlighting their potential transition metals in a Magnesium-based application as intranasal vaccine delivery hydrogen storage system. Qualifications: ST UKWMS, MPhil UQ, systems. PhD UQ Research project: The project focused on PhD awarded: December 2013 Graduate position: Postdoctoral research improving hydrogen storage performance fellow at the School of Chemistry and by co-doping carbon nanotubes with Principal supervisor: Molecular Biosciences, UQ pre-synthesized titanium and vanadium Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu catalyst respectively in magnesium hydride. Thesis title: Synthesis of porous Kelly Hitchens The possibility of introducing metal organic nanoparticles as carriers in therapeutic delivery framework as catalyst was also investigated. Qualifications: BBiomolSc (Hons I) Griffith, Research project: The research focused PhD UQ Graduate position: Senior lecturer at on the synthesis of large pore mesoporous Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia silica nanoparticles (LPMSN), including PhD awarded: December 2013 their functionalisation, characterisation Principal supervisor: Anne Marie Kozak and application in gene and drug delivery. Associate Professor Christine Wells (formerly Sandstrom) Novel and facile approaches have been established to develop composites of Thesis title: Dissecting the role of Mincle in Qualifications: BSc (Textile chemistry), LPMSN and various polycations, showing the macrophage response to trehalose-6,6’- MSc (Textile chemistry) UC Davis, PhD advantages such as high binding capacity, dimycolate and mycobacteria. (Bioengineering) UQ strong ability to deliver genetic molecules Research project: Trehalose-6,6’- PhD awarded: April 2013 and low cytotoxicity. The system was tested dimycolate (TDM), a component of to deliver functional siRNA against minibrain- mycobacterial cell walls, is a critical Principal supervisor: related kinase and polo-like kinase 1 in mediator of tuberculosis pathology in animal Professor Justin Cooper-White osteosarcoma cancer cells. Modification of models. Despite its importance, there is a Thesis title: Development of methods for the LPMSN endowed the system with multi- lack of a clear perspective on the molecular plasma polymerization of surfaces in two functions, such as time-dependant release mechanisms mediating TDM-induced and co-delivery of gene and drug molecules. and three dimensions for tissue engineered host responses. The thesis addressed interfaces The results showed that modified LPMSN the role of Macrophage inducible C-type had great potential for efficient gene therapy. Lectin (Mincle) in early host responses Research project: The thesis focused on Graduate position: Lecturer and research to TDM, particularly Mincle’s function in the characterisation and optimisation of scientist at Widya Mandala Catholic orchestrating inflammatory responses. plasma polymer surfaces to enhance the University, Surabaya, focusing on synthesis The thesis implicated Mincle in directing in-vitro differentiation of mesenchymal stem of porous materials for gene and drug a subset of TDM-induced macrophage cells to chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and delivery and bio-molecules separation responses via multiple mechanisms. The osteoblasts (bone cells). research also demonstrated that primary Graduate position: Applications scientist Tania Rivera Hernandez human monocytes stimulated with TDM at Izon Science US Ltd, Cambridge, recapitulated the majority of the host Massachusetts Qualifications: BEng (Biotech) UPIBI-IPN, response to mycobacteria. Mexico, PhD UQ Graduate position: Postdoctoral Peng Li PhD awarded: May 2013 researcher at AIBN Qualifications: BEng WHUT (China), MEng Principal supervisor: CTH, Sweden, PhD UQ Professor Anton Middelberg Atikah Kadri PhD awarded: October 2013 Thesis title: Bioengineering virus-like Qualifications: BEng (Chemical particles for vaccine development Engineering with Fuel Technology, Hons) Principal supervisor: Research project: The research focused University of Sheffield, MSc (Engineering) Associate Professor Zhi Ping (Gordon) Xu on the design, manufacture and in vivo University Malaya, PhD UQ Thesis title: Control, preparation and characterisation of inorganic nanocrystals as Dr Erika Fiset long-term micronutrient foliar ertilisers Research project: Control, preparation and characterisation of nanocrystals as potential long-term suspension foliar fertilisers for supplementing micronutrients to plants were investigated to correct the micronutrient deficiency in crop plants. To overcome the disadvantages of conventional fertilisers, such as phytotoxicity or low efficacy, suitable ion concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper, and iron in their fertiliser suspensions were proposed. The particle morphology was rationally designed to be one-dimensional nanoscale for good adherence on leaf surfaces. Successful preparation of selected nanocrystals via industry-applicable method could be used to solve the global problems of low yield and quality in crop production against continuously increasing population. Graduate position: Technical manager, Tianjin Dawnrun Group (Australia) Pty. Ltd 66 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Paul Luckman sodium borohydride using low-cost input working with Professor Christopher Barner- materials. Kowollik and Professor Matthias Franzreb Qualifications: BEng(Hons) UQ, MEng UQ, PhD UQ Graduate position: Senior engineer, Research Assignments Program, the Dow Azlin Fazlina Osman PhD awarded: July 2013 Chemical Company, Michigan, US Qualifications: BEng (Hons), MSc Principal supervisor: (Materials engineering) Universiti Sains Professor Justin Cooper-White Hoang Quan Nguyen Malaysia, PhD (Nanotechnology) UQ Thesis title: Development of novel materials PhD awarded: April 2013 and scaffold fabrication methodologies for Qualifications: BBiotech (Hons) UQ, PhD UQ soft tissue engineering applications PhD awarded: December 2013 Principal supervisor: Professor Darren Martin Research project: The focus for the Principal supervisor: Dr Steven Reid thesis was to develop a scaffold that varied Thesis title: Biomedical thermoplastic Thesis title: Genome-scale transcriptomic regionally in moduli and had the correct polyurethane nanocomposites: structure- study of Helicoverpa Zea host cells and H. microstructure to direct cell response property relationships armigera baculovirus infections in vitro tailored for the meniscus tissue engineering Research project: The viability of siloxane- applications. The work aimed to develop Research project: Baculovirus-insect cell based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) scaffold fabrication techniques and scaffold technologies are being developed for the nanocomposites was investigated as new materials for use in fabricating a scaffold production of eukaryotic proteins, veterinary insulation materials for implantable and for the meniscus tissue engineering. In and human vaccines, delivery vectors for electrically active medical devices. The the process, several novel tissue scaffold gene-therapy‚ and biopesticides. However, effect of an organically modified nanosilicate fabrication methodologies were developed, cell-virus interactions make baculovirus- (organosilicate) being added to the underlying including an adaptation to the thermally- based manufacturing processes inherently TPU morphology and mechanical properties induced phase separation process for complex. The thesis uses a genome-scale was thoroughly studied and reported. photo-curable polymers; and a novel method transcriptomic approach to investigate for controlling isotherms during thermally- the interactions at the mRNA levels of a Graduate position: Senior lecturer at induced phase separation to control scaffold Helicoverpa Zea cell line and a H. armigera Universiti Malaysia Perlis pore architectures. virus, aiming to identify genes important for high productivity of in vitro production of Graduate position: Postdoctoral baculoviruses using insect cell culture. The Nghia Truong Phuoc researcher at the Centre for High study provided insights on the systemic Qualifications: BSc HCMUS, MSc Performance Polymers at AIBN, with primary process of virus production in infected cells HCMUS, PhD UQ research focused on the development of and identified host genes that are important thermoplastic biopolymer films for renewable PhD awarded: November 2013 for virus propagation in insect cell culture. packaging applications Principal supervisor: Graduate position: Postdoctoral Professor Michael Monteiro researcher at the RIKEN research institute, Leila Matindoost Japan, working in a research project funded Thesis title: Synthesis of functional polymers Qualifications: BSc Isfahan University of by the European Human Frontier Science and nanostructures for siRNA delivery Technology, MSc Guilan University, PhD UQ Research Program for studying roles of Research project: The objective of the noncoding RNAs in DNA damage repair to PhD awarded: July 2013 thesis was to synthesize well-defined find RNA markers and RNA regulators in polymers and 3D functional polymeric Principal supervisor: Dr Steven Reid DNA damage response pathways. nanostructures for siRNA delivery. The Thesis title: In vitro production of polymers and nanostructures were designed budded virions in group I and group II Huey Wen Ooi and synthesized to address long-standing Alphabaculoviruses barriers in siRNA delivery, focusing on Qualifications: BBiotech (Nanotechnology), endosome escape and siRNA unpacking. Research project: The thesis investigated PhD (Polymer chemistry) UQ the factors involved in the production Graduate position: Lecturer at Vietnam of wild type Helicoverpa armigera PhD awarded: August 2013 National University, Ho Chi Minh City nucleopolyhedrovirus budded virus, in Principal supervisor: Helicoverpa zea cells. Professor Andrew Whittaker Suriana Sabri Graduate position: Assistant Professor at Thesis title: Precisely-structured thermo- Qualifications: BS (Hons) Universiti Putra Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran responsive “click” hydrogels Malaysia, MS Universiti Putra Malaysia, PhD Research project: The conventional UQ Sean Muir method for preparing hydrogels is using free PhD awarded: November 2013 radical polymerisation, whereby the final Qualifications: BE (Chem, Hons I), BSc structure of the network is determined by Principal supervisor: Dr Claudia Vickers (Chem), PhD UQ statistical processes. For these networks, Thesis title: Metabolic engineering for PhD awarded: August 2013 the properties are described in averages production of industrial isoprenoids from and cannot be defined precisely. Since the sucrose using Escherichia coli. Principal supervisor: Professor Max Lu emergence of living radical polymerisation Research project: The research focused Thesis title: Sodium borohydride techniques, polymer chains with different on the development of an efficient microbial production and utilisation for improved functionalities of narrow molecular weight host, E coli, that uses sucrose as a carbon hydrogen storage distributions are easily synthesised. The source for production of biochemicals, in methods, combined with coupling reactions, Research project: The project aimed particular isoprene. Sucrose is a preferred create the possibility of synthesising to develop a system for safe, controllable feedstock for microbial fermentation homogeneous precisely-structured on-board hydrogen storage based on because it is cheap, abundant in nature and networks. The research project involved sodium borohydride, allowing hydrogen to relatively environmentally friendly. Sucrose designing and preparing precisely-structured be stored in aqueous solution and released use in E coli is poorly understood and most thermo-responsive hydrogels using on demand with a catalyst. Improvements industrial E coli strains cannot use sucrose. reversible-deactivation radical polymerisation made to the system included a new method The major outcomes of the thesis are coupled with high fidelity reactions such as for preparing a higher activity catalyst; a novel development of a detailed understanding of “click” chemistry for cross-linking reactions. reactor design which could achieve a higher the molecular control of sucrose use in E coli hydrogen storage capacity than conventional Graduate position: Postdoctoral fellow at W; development of a molecular biology tool designs; and a new process for regenerating Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, for integration of large DNA sequences onto AIBN Annual Report 2013 67

Jie Yang Qualifications: BChem, Shandong University; PhD, UQ PhD awarded: December 2013 Principal supervisor: Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu Thesis title: Functionalized porous materials with controlled structures for the removal ofphosphate and arsenic from wastewater Research project: The accumulation of phosphorus or arsenic in aquatic systems results in a deterioration in water quality. Excess input of phosphorus in natural waters is the main cause of a serious environmental issue, eutrophication. Water containing even low concentrations of Dr Sean Muir arsenic is very toxic and thus has a strong adverse effect on human health. To protect the natural environment and improve water the E coli chromosome; successful transfer opportunistic fungus Candida albicans formed quality, phosphorus and arsenic adsorbents of methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway the crux of the thesis. The research identified, with high performance based on porous genes from plant into E coli for isoprene for the first time, a reciprocal pattern of Mincle materials with controlled structures were production; and identification of a negative expression on monocytes or neutrophils developed. The study also aimed to establish regulation control for the MEP pathway. within the same donor. The expression the fundamental correlation between the The combination of sucrose utilisation dichotomy was accompanied by strong pore structure and adsorption performance and improved isoprenoid pathway flux in functional polarisations. Mincle on monocytes and to provide guidelines for the design of one strain enables access to a cheap and favoured the induction of inflammatory phosphorus and arsenic adsorbents with environmentally friendly carbon source for cytokines and Th17 cells, while the receptor high performance. production of an industrially important class of on neutrophils strongly correlated with fungal biochemicals. Development of cheaper and uptake and killing. Together this suggests a Graduate position: Lecturer Sichuan more environmentally friendly bioprocesses monocyte+/neutrophil- phenotype will favour University, China will improve the ability of bioprocesses to regulation of mucosal fungal infections, but compete with current petrochemical-derived the reciprocal phenotype of neutrophil+/ Yian Zhu routes for manufacture of many products. monocyte- is desirable for a systemic Qualifications: BSc Nanjing University, Graduate position: Senior lecturer, infection, where clearance is important. It is envisaged that future clinical studies may China, MSc Nanjing University, China, PhD Department of Microbiology, Universiti Putra UQ Malaysia exploit this pattern of Mincle expression to help identify increased susceptibility in the PhD awarded: September 2013 clinic, both in patients with chronic mucosal Principal supervisor: Associate Professor Khaled Omar Sebakhy infection and acute-care patients at risk of Zhi Ping (Gordon) Xu Qualifications: BSc, MSc (Chemical developing systemic infections. Thesis title: Synthesis and modification of Engineering) Alexandria University, MPhil Graduate position: Research officer at the fluorescent quantum dots for live-cell imaging (Polymer Chemistry) UQ Garvan Institute, Sydney, with a focus on Since the first MPhil awarded: February 2013 understanding the role of a cytokine(IL-27) Research project: in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and demonstration of the biomedical potential Principal supervisor: cancer of quantum dots (QDs) in 1998, QD-based Professor Michael Monteiro bio-research has increased exponentially. QDs have become a powerful tool in the Thesis title: RAFT-Mediated Polymerization Mervyn Liew Wing On in Nanoreactors study of cell and molecular biology, molecular Qualifications: BSc (Biotechnology, Hons I) imaging and medical diagnostics, due to Research project: The synthesis of well- Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, PhD UQ their unique optical properties. But QDs also defined polymer nanoparticles in water has have some disadvantages that hinder their been quite a challenge, especially in the PhD awarded: February 2013 broad applications. The thesis developed a synthesis of particles with good control over Principal supervisor: series of novel strategies on the synthesis both particle size distribution (PSD) and Professor Anton Middelberg and modification of fluorescent CdTe molecular weight distribution (MWD). The QDs, with remarkable improvement in the research involved developing a novel process Thesis title: Scalable and intensified fluorescence retention and biocompatibility. to synthesise nanoparticles with excellent bioprocessing for virus-like particle Further cell experimental results indicated control over particle size and molecular manufacture the great potential of these highly fluorescent weight using RAFT-mediated polymerization Research project: The research project nanoparticles in biomedical imaging. of styrene. focused on the development of scalable Graduate position: Postdoctoral and intensified upstream viral structural researcher at School of Medicine, Dipti Vijayan protein production and downstream virus- Translational Research Institute, UQ, with like particle (VLP) assembly and formulation research investigating in vivo biodistribution Qualifications: BBiotech Mumbai bioprocesses that enable low-cost, of QDs and developing QDs-based University, MBiotech UQ, PhD UQ mass manufacture of VLP vaccines. The nanoprobes for targeted imaging PhD awarded: June 2013 intensified bioprocesses developed in the research project is crucial for the distribution Principal supervisor: and real-world utility of VLP vaccines, Associate Professor Christine Wells especially in underdeveloped countries Thesis title: The role of human Mincle in the where vaccines remain cost-prohibitive. innate immune response to Candida albicans Graduate position: Senior lecturer, Research project: How immune Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, cells expressing Mincle respond to the Universiti Sains Malaysia. 68 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Student association builds stronger community

he AIBN Student Association Dorgan, who answered questions about Mr Boase said the focus on linking ASA (ASA) continued to assist in building making connections and applying for events to important cultural celebrations a stronger institute community in positions in overseas labs, covering topics from Spain, Germany, China and Malaysia 2013, with frequent and diverse such as how to make contact, explaining was successful in securing large and diverse social and academic events. skill sets in a meaningful way, writing a crowds of staff and students. curriculum vitae and networking. The ASA provides a support network and “Running culturally diverse events was a promotes co-operation between students AIBN graduate and UQ tutor Dr Paul highlight for the ASA in 2013,” he said. “A and research groups at AIBN. Luckman spoke at the workshop about the strong sense of community was evident and most successful way of using a range of people in attendance represented all areas Good attendance was recorded at 17 graphics to illustrate research results in a of the institute.” events the ASA hosted during the year, thesis. with a focus on cultural diversity to ensure The ASA took an active role in promoting, student inclusion and engagement of the UQ Library’s Research Information Services supporting and participating in the Three entire cohort. representative Phil Yorke Barber provided a Minute Thesis competition, a UQ innovation presentation on using oft-untapped library that challenges students to strip away Overseeing the full calendar of events resources such as patents and ways to were ASA president Nathan Boase, vice jargon and explain their research in a president Amanda Pearce, secretary Li-Yen successfully navigate through the records. compelling way to a general audience within three minutes. Wong, treasurer Thomas Bennett, social Additional ASA activities included institute representatives Yadveer Grewal and Samuel Christmas and Melbourne Cup functions; Members played leading roles in the AIBN Richardson, academic representatives a Halloween party; Chinese New Year Ambassador Program. Donna Capararo and Xiaoli Chen and and Malaysian Independence pot luck ASA executive officers took numerous webmaster Will Anderson. lunches; trivia and games nights; and Friday groups of visitors around the AIBN building afternoon functions to mark St Patrick’s Day, They provided support to students in 2013 during the year, presented demonstrations Cinco de Mayo, the Tour de France and through PhD skills workshops, with speakers of their research and explained their Oktoberfest. sharing their knowledge in applicable fields relevance to improving people’s lives. It of lab and library research, networking, Sporting events aimed at building institute was part of tours organised for school collaboration and thesis presentation. social interaction included supported bike groups, prospective PhD students, industry Speakers included Colorado School of rides and the annual staff-versus-students delegations, visiting researchers and the Mines biopolymers expert Professor John soccer and cricket matches. public. AIBN Annual Report 2013 69

Alex Bowler Summer intake engages future researchers

IBN’s Summer Research decision to work in the field and taught him Bowler worked in Professor Lars Nielsen’s Scholarship Program has attracted about transfecting animal cell cultures and lab, engineering bacteria and exploring 40 undergraduate students working under Good Manufacturing Practice various metabolic and regulatory pathways studying in Germany, the UK and conditions. to produce industrially relevant compounds such as biofuels or antibiotics. India; the University of New “Everything I learned I would not have South Wales; Queensland University learned in a classroom,” he said. “I prefer “I feel the benefit of the program is being of Technology and UQ. ‘learning by doing’. I knew a lot of the thrust into a real working lab environment. The program enables AIBN to engage with theoretical parts, but it all makes more It takes so much more planning and critical researchers of the future as part of eight to sense after doing the research at AIBN.” thinking than I could have imagined,” Mr Bowler said 12 weeks of focused research during the UQ student Lewis Chambers spent a third traditional end-of-year holiday break. consecutive summer in the AIBN labs, The program’s 2013-14 cohort completed It was established to enable highly where he investigated the lifetime of free their projects with professional 10-minute motivated undergraduate students to gain radicals in a specific class of materials presentations of their research and valuable research skills, access cutting-edge known as ionic liquids. submitted written reports of their work. research facilities, receive career mentoring Time spent in Professor Andrew Whittaker’s The program develops laboratory, analytic, and cultivate scientific curiosity. lab enabled Mr Chambers to develop writing and presentation skills, but more Patrick Ottensmeyer was studying at the technical skills, present scientific information importantly defines for students whether or University of Bielefeld in Germany when and communicate with fellow scientists. not research is a viable career path for them. For those who are excited by their AIBN a fellow student told him about AIBN, “I have learned to be much more self- research there are genuine opportunities to particularly the work of Professor Peter Gray’s directed in the lab and found I was continue a trajectory through Honours and research group into the development of motivated to consider research as a PhD towards a career in research. biopharmaceuticals with animal cell cultures. career because the work is so intellectually Mr Ottensmeyer said his research project stimulating – and the people are, too.” Visit www.aibn.uq.edu.au/undergraduate in Professor Gray’s lab strengthened his UQ chemical engineering student Alex 70 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Research higher degree students

Prasanna Lakshmi Abbaraju Jacob Coffey Mervyn Liew Vaidyanathan Rufika Shari Abidin Holly Corbett Soo Lim Swasmi Purwajanti Yusilawati Ahmad Nor Guanghui Cui Derong Lu Samuel Richardson Suad Alateeq Alexandra Depelsenaire Paul Luckman Tania Rivera Hernandez Mohamed Ahmed Alfaleh Thanh Tam Doan Carlos Luna Flores Pedro Andres Eduardo Saa Samah Alharbi Hai-Yan Dong Yiming Ma Higuera Eid Alosime Liam Fearnley Elizabeth Mason Khaled Sebakhy AbdulKarim AlSultan Erika Fiset Aini Syahida Mat Yassim Suriana Sabri Nasim Amiralian Nicholas Fletcher Sainimili Vaubula Mateyawa Anne Sandstrom Will Anderson Patrick Fortuna Leila Matindoost Andrea Schaller Yosephine Andriani Wanli Johnny Fu Timothy McCubbin Jessica Schwaber Melisa Anggraeni Mikhail Gavrilov Michael Mehlman Athanasia Amanda Septevani Colin Archer Marianne Gillard Anand Kumar Meka Arjun Seth Aditya Ardana Ricardo Axayacatl Gonzalez Stefano Meliga Abu Ali Ibn Sina Luqman Atanda Garci Khairatun Najwa Mohd Amin Faheem Amir Solangi Anushree Balachandran Stephen Goodall Sean Muir Hao Song Thomas Bennett Yadveer Grewal Swathi Mukundan Michael Song Mercy Rose Benzigar Gency Gunasingh Jamileh Nabizadeh Marcos Saul Soto Perez Nathan Boase Ryan Harrison Taryn Naidoo Xiaoran Sun Valentin Bobrin Hadi Hezaveh Amir Nemati Hayati Jie Tang Mareike Bongers Alejandro Hidalgo-Gonzalez Hwee Ing Ng Karin Taylor Marion Brunck Kelly Kitchens Hoang Quan Nguyen Alemu Tekewe Mogus Maria Buchsteiner Md Daloar Hossain Yuting Niu Nguyen Tran Thi Dat Sandy Budi Hartono Cheng Huang Huey Wen Ooi Nghia Truong Phuoc Teera Butburee Siddharth Jambhrunkar Camila Orellana Dipti Vijayan Suzanne Kathryn Butcher Pamela Jaramillo Ferrada Azlin Fazlina Osman Jarurin Waneesorn Jessica Cameron Stalin Joseph Gillian Osmond Kewei Wang Donna Capararo Atikah Kadri Ellen Otte Yangyang Wen Liyu Chen Jakov Kulis Harish Padmanabhan David Wibowo Weiyu Chen Kripal Singh Lakhi Amanda Pearce Thomas Williams Xiaojing Chen Geoffrey Lawrence Bingyin Peng Li-Yen Wong Xiaoli Chen Kebaneilwe Lebani Nicolas Pichon Yanheng Wu Yam-Mi Chuang Chang Lei Clementine Pradal Chun Xu Panagiotis Chrysanthopoulos Peng Li Ramanathan Pudhukode Shiyu Yan Jie Yang Tianyu Yang Yannan Yang Meihua Yu Bijun Zeng Cheng Zhang Hongwei Zhang Jun Zhang Liang Zhao Yao Zheng Ruifeng Zhou Yian Zhu Yingdong Zhu Huali Zuo

*List includes graduating students and those in a UQ RHD program undertaken at AIBN during 2013 AIBN Annual Report 2013 71

Grants & publications 72 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Grants

Fellowships and Project Grants awarded to AIBN researchers where funding commenced in 2013

Type Granting Scheme Chief Investigators Title Duration Total Funding Awarded

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects A/Prof Aijun Du, Non-precious fuel cell cathode 2013-2015 $330,000 Grant Income Dr Yun Hau Ng, catalysts from carbon-based nanohybrids: a computational to experimental quest

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Prof Ian Frazer, Sterile inflammation as a 2013-2015 $500,000 Grant Income Prof Mark Kendall determinant of adaptive immunity

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Prof Andrew Whittaker, Understanding and controlling the 2013-2015 $420,000* Grant Income Dr Kevin Jack, structure of thin polymer films used Dr Hui Peng in photolithography

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects A/Prof Christine Wells, The Stemformatics gene expression 2013-2015 $269,000* Grant Income Dr Kim-Anh Le Cao, compendium: development of A/Prof Arthur Tenenhaus multivariate statistical approaches for cross platform analysis

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Dr Chenghua Sun, To identify and understand highly 2013-2015 $260,000* Grant Income Prof Huagui Yang, reactive surfaces for solar hydrogen A/Prof Gang Liu production

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Prof Chengzhong Yu, Optimisation of functional 2013-2015 $340,000* Grant Income Dr Amanda Nouwens, mesoporous materials for low- Dr Indira Prasadam abundance biomarkers quantification towards biodiagnostic applications

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects A/Prof Lianzhou Wang, Designing plasmon-enhanced 2013-2015 $341,000 Grant Income A/Prof Shanqing Zhang, photocatalysts for solar-driven Dr Zhen Li water pollutant removal

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects A/Prof Lianzhou Wang, Self-cleaning thin films for anti- 2013-2015 $396,000 Grant Income Dr Xu Zong reflective solar cell coatings

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Dr Denisa Jurkacova, Development of high performance 2013-2016 $480,000 Grant Income Prof Max Lu, cathode materials for Li-ion Prof Lianzhou Wang batteries

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Prof Mark Kendall, Investigating a novel, physical 2013-2016 $595,688 Grant Income Prof Ian Frazer adjuvant for improving immune responses of vaccines

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Dr Zhongfan Jia Engineered polymer scaffolds 2013-2017 $754,947* Grant Income for controlled proliferation and differentiation of stem cells

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects Dr Chenghua Sun Computer-Aided Design of High- 2013-2017 $717,079 Grant Income Performance Photocatalysts for Solar Hydrogen Production Based on Red Titanium Dioxide

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Early Dr Simon Corrie Polymer micropatches applied to 2013-2015 $375,000* Grant Income Career Researcher the skin for integrated capture and Award detection of circulating biomarkers

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Early Dr Jess Frith An innovative platform using non- 2013-2015 $375,000* Grant Income Career Researcher coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) Award to control stem cell differentiation outcomes

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects A/Prof Lianzhou Wang, Designing plasmon-enhanced 2013-2015 $341,000 Grant Income A/Prof Shanqing Zhang, photocatalysts for solar-driven Dr Zhen Li water pollutant removal

Australian Competitive ARC Discovery Projects A/Prof Lianzhou Wang, Self-cleaning thin films for anti- 2013-2015 $396,000 Grant Income Dr Xu Zong reflective solar cell coatings

*Administered by AIBN AIBN Annual Report 2013 73

Type Granting Scheme Chief Investigators Title Duration Total Funding Awarded

Australian Competitive NHMRC Project Grants Prof Melissa Little, Directed differentiation of human 2013-2015 $630,158 Grant Income A/Prof Ernst Wolvetang, embryonic stem cells to kidney Prof Justin Cooper-White progenitors

Australian Competitive NHMRC Project Grants Dr Ryan Taft, Investigation of processed 2013-2015 $650,802 Grant Income A/Prof Ernst Wolvetang, snoRNAs as cryptic regulators of Dr Guy Barry, the imprinted Prader-Willi syndrome Prof Merlin Butler locus

Australian Competitive NHMRC Project Grants Prof Pamela Russell, Simultaneous imaging and drug 2013-2015 $545,362 Grant Income Prof Andrew Whittaker, delivery for prostate cancer Dr Kristofer Thurecht theranostics

Australian Competitive NHMRC Project Grants Prof Mark Walker, Interaction of group A streptococci 2013-2015 $789,524 Grant Income Prof Victor Nizet, with intracellular innate immune A/Prof Christine Wells defence

Australian Competitive NHMRC Project Grants Prof Michael Roberts, Specific targeting of nanosystems 2013-2015 $951,201 Grant Income Prof Mark Kendall by cutaneous delivery

National and National Breast Cancer Prof Matt Trau, Enabling clinical epigenetic 2013-2018 $5,000,000* International Grant Foundation A/Prof Glenn Francis, diagnostics: the next generation of Income Prof Susan Clark, personalised breast cancer care Prof John Forbes, Prof Melissa Brown, Prof Alexander Dobrovic, Prof Rodney Scott

National and Asian Office of Prof Debra Bernhardt Composite reinforcement using 2013 $47,801* International Grant Aerospace Research boron nitride nanotubes Income and Development

National and Australian Mathematical Prof Andrew Whittaker, AMSI Internship – Huey Wen Ooi – 2013 $20,000* International Grant Sciences Institute Miss Huey Ooi Anteo Diagnostics Income Industry Internship Program

National and CSIRO Prof Justin Cooper-White CSIRO OCE Science Leader 2013-2017 N/A* International Grant Fellowship Income

National and CRIS grant administered Prof Justin Cooper-White Australian National Fabrication 2013-2014 $249,000 International Grant by Monash University Facility Income (via the Australian National Fabrication Facility Limited (ANFFL))

Contract Research and Uniquest Pty Ltd Prof Darren Martin Nanocomposite R&D 2013-2014 N/A* other Industry Income

Contract Research and Uniquest Pty Ltd A/Prof Stephen Mahler, QM6 process investigations 2013 N/A* other Industry Income Dr Rob Speight

Contract Research and Uniquest Pty Ltd Dr Annette Dexter Peptide based fluids for oil and gas 2013 N/A* other Industry Income applications

Contract Research and Uniquest Pty Ltd Dr David Chin, The manufacture of a recombinant 2013-2014 N/A* other Industry Income Dr Martina Jones antibody

Contract Research and Uniquest Pty Ltd Dr Jane Kenna, ANFFQ – stone dust replacement 2013-2014 N/A* other Industry Income Dr Lien Chau, – project 3 Dr Elliott Cheng, Dr Imelda Keen, Dr Haiqing Li, Dr Elena Karan, Dr Javaid Khan, Prof Justin Cooper-White

Contract Research and DSM Biologics Prof Peter Gray, DSM funded program 2013-2014 N/A* other Industry Income Company Australia Dr David Chin, Pty Ltd Dr Jeff Hou

Contract Research and Queensland Health Prof Peter Gray, Safety assessment of anti-hendra 2013-2015 N/A* other Industry Income A/Prof Stephen Mahler, virus antibody in humans Dr David Chin

Research Donation Philanthropic Gift Prof Matt Trau Personalised nano-medicine 2013 $250,000*

Other Therapeutic Innovation Prof Peter Gray TransBio project 2013-2014 $100,000* Australia

*Administered by AIBN 74 AIBN Annual Report 2013 Publications

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(2013) Flow Cytometry of Neural angiogenesis and tumor growth in nude mice. Amiralian N, Nouri M. (2013) Circular and Ribbon- Cells. In Neural Progenitor Cells: Methods and BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 13: Like Silk Fibroin Nanofibers. In Research in Novel Protocols, ed. Reynolds BA, Deleyrolle LP, pp. 135- 168.1-.11 Materials, ed. Rafiqul I, pp. 191-206. New York, 44. New York, United States: Humana Press United States: Nova Science Publishers Ali SA, Baumann K, Jackson T, Wood K, Mason S, Punyadeera C, Slowey PD. (2013) Saliva as Undheim EAB, Nouwens A, Koludarov I, Hendrikx Behrendorff JBYH, Johnston WA, Gillam EMJ. an Emerging Biofluid for Clinical Diagnosis I, Jones A, Fry BG. (2013) Proteomic comparison (2013) DNA Shuffling of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes. and Applications of MEMS/NEMS in Salivary of Hypnale hypnale (Hump-Nosed Pit-Viper) and In Cytochrome P450 Protocols, ed. Phillips IR, Diagnostics. In Nanobiomaterials in Clinical Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan Pit-Viper) Shephard EA, Ortiz de Montellano PR, pp. 177-88. Dentistry, ed. Subramani K, Ahmed W, Hartsfield venoms. Journal of Proteomics, 91 : 338-343 New York, United States: Humana Press JK, pp. 453-68. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier Al-Shehri S, Henman M, Charles BG, Cowley D, Belcher C, Marshall R, Edwards G, Martin D. Shaw PN, Liley H, Tomarchio A, Punyadeera C, (2013) The Commercialization of Nanotechnology: Reid JC, Williams SR, Searles DJ, Rondoni L, Duley JA. (2013) Collection and determination The Five Critical Success Factors to a Nanotech- Evans DJ. (2013) Fluctuation Relations and the of nucleotide metabolites in neonatal and adult Enabled Whole Product. In Nanotechnology Foundations of Statistical Thermodynamics: saliva by high performance liquid chromatography Commercialization, ed. Takuya T, pp. 171-204. A Deterministic Approach and Numerical with tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Australia: Pan Stanford Publishing Demonstration. In Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics Chromatography B 931: 140-7 of Small Systems: Fluctuation Relations and Chau LT, Frith JE, Mills RJ, Menzies DJ, Titmarsh Beyond, ed. Klages R, Just W, Jarzynski C, pp. 57- Anand C, Joseph S, Lawrence G, Dhawale DS, DM, Cooper-White JJ. (2013) Microfluidic Platforms 82. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag Wahab MA, Choy J-H, Vinu A. (2013) Mesoporous for Informed Tissue Scaffold Development. In gallosilicate with 3D architecture as a robust Microfluidic Devices for Biomedical Applications, Wee EJH, Shiddiky MJA, Trau M. (2013) Detecting energy-efficient heterogeneous catalyst for ed. Xiujun L, Yu Z, pp. 363-87. Cambridge, UK: DNA Methylation for Cancer Diagnostics and diphenylmethane production. ChemCatChem 5: Woodhead Publishing Prognostics. In Microfluidics, Nanotechnology and 1863-70 Disease Biomarkers for Personalized Medicine Chen H, Nordon RE. (2013) Application of Applications, ed. Shiddiky M, Wee E, Sakandar R, Anand C, Priya SV, Lawrence G, Dhawale DS, Microfluidics to Study Stem Cell Dynamics. In Trau M, pp. 117-32. New York, United States: Nova Varghese S, Wahab MA, Prasad KS, Vinu A. (2013) Emerging Trends in Cell and Gene Therapy, ed. Publishers Cage type mesoporous ferrosilicate catalysts with Danquah MK, Mahato RI, pp. 435-70. New York, 3D structure for benzylation of aromatics. Catalysis United States: Springer New York Zhao C-X, Middelberg APJ. (2013) Stimuli- Today 204: 125-31 Responsive Peptide Nanostructures at the Chen H, Wang L. (2013) Semiconductor-Based Fluid-Fluid Interface. In Protein Nanotechnology: Anand C, Priya SV, Lawrence G, Mane GP, Dhawale Nanostructures for Photoelectrochemical Sensors Protocols, Instrumentation, and Applications, ed. DS, Prasad KS, Balasubramanian VV, Wahab MA, and Biosensors. In Nanoscale Sensors, ed. Li S, Gerrard JA, pp. 179-94. New York, United States: Vinu A. (2013) Transesterification of ethylacetoacetate Wu J, Wang ZM, Yiang YJ, pp. 87-118. Heidelberg, Humana Press catalysed by metal free mesoporous carbon nitride. Germany: Springer Catalysis Today 204: 164-9 Zhou JZ, Xu ZP, Qian G. (2013) Effective Phosphate Huynh CT, Lee DS. (2013) Injectable Temperature- Removal Using Ca-based Layered Double Anand C, Srinivasu P, Mane GP, Talapaneni SN, and pH/Temperature-Sensitive Block Copolymer Hydroxide Materials. In Nanotechnology for Water Benzigar MR, Priya SV, Al-deyab SS, Sugi Y, Vinu Hydrogels. In Polymeric and Self Assembled and Wastewater Treatment, ed. Lens P, Virkutyte A. (2013) Direct synthesis and characterization Hydrogels: From Fundamental Understanding to J, Jegatheesan V, Seung-Hyun K, Al-Abed S, pp. of highly ordered cobalt substituted KIT-5 with Applications, ed. Loh XJ, Scherman OA, pp. 139- 153-68. London, UK: IWA Publishing 3D nanocages for cyclohexene epoxidation. 66. 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Anggraeni MR, Connors NK, Wu Y, Chuan YP, Lua and its anode performance in the methanol electro- and mistakes in the workplace. International Journal LHL, Middelberg APJ. (2013) Sensitivity of immune oxidation reaction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, of Health Care Quality Assurance 26: 564-76 response quality to influenza helix 190 antigen 1 20: 6262-6270 structure displayed on a modular virus-like particle. Coffey JW, Corrie SR, Kendall MAF. (2013) Early Vaccine 31: 4428-35 Chen C, Sun Q, Ren D-X, Zhang R, Bai F-Y, circulating biomarker detection using a wearable Xing Y-H, Shi Z. (2013) Bromoperoxidase mimic microprojection array skin patch. Biomaterials 34: Ataee-Esfahani H, Liu J, Hu M, Miyamoto N, as catalysts for oxidative bromination-synthesis, 9572-83 Tominaka S, Wu KCW, Yamauchi Y. 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performance of N-doped mesoporous based hydrogels tailored for intervertebral disc porous reduced graphene oxide templated by carbons prepared from a gelatin biomolecule. regeneration. Biomaterials, 35(4): 1150-1162. epub hydrophobic CaCO3 spheres. Journal of Materials ChemPhysChem 14: 1563-9 2013 print 2014 Chemistry A, 2(2): 451-459. epub 2013 print 2014

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(2013) Confinement of chemisorbed phosphates Wahab MA, He C. (2013) Structural and optical Wu L, Yang BX, Yang XH, Chen ZG, Li Z, Zhao HJ, in a controlled nanospace with three-dimensional properties of titanium functionalized periodic Gong XQ, Yang HG. (2013) On the synergistic effect mesostructures. Chemistry-A European Journal 19: mesostructured organosilica framework via of hydrohalic acids in the shape-controlled synthesis 5578-85 evaporation-induced self-assembly method. Journal of anatase TiO2 single crystals. CrystEngComm of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 13: 2771-6 15: 3252-5 Yang T, Liu J, Zheng Y, Monteiro MJ, Qiao SZ. (2013) Facile fabrication of core-shell-structured Wahab MA, Jia Y, Yang D, Zhao H, Yao X. (2013) Wu X, Lu G, Wang L. (2013) Effect of sodium on Ag@Carbon and mesoporous yolk-shell-structured Enhanced hydrogen desorption from Mg (BH4)2 photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar Ag@Carbon@Silica by an extended Stober method. by combining nanoconfinement and a Ni catalyst. cells assembled with anatase TiO2 nanosheets Chemistry-A European Journal 19: 6942-5 Journal of Materials Chemistry A 1: 3471-8 with exposed {001} facets. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 391: 70-3 Yang Y, Karmakar S, Yu M, Popat A, Yu C. (2014) Wang DK, Varanasi S, Fredericks PM, Hill DJT, Synthesis of silica vesicles with small sizes and Symons AL, Whittaker AK, Rasoul F. (2013) FT-IR Wu X, Lu G, Wang L. (2013) The effect of reduced aggregation for photodynamic therapy. characterization and hydrolysis of PLA-PEG-PLA photoanode thickness on the performance of dye- Chemistry Letters 43, 316–318 epub 2013 print based copolyester hydrogels with short PLA sensitized solar cells containing TiO2 nanosheets 2014 segments and a cytocompatibility study. Journal of with exposed reactive {001} facets. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Early Materials Research 28: 475-9 Yeow B, Coffey JW, Muller DA, Grondahl L, Kendall View: 1-14 MAF, Corrie SR. (2013) Surface modification and Xie DF, Martino VP, Sangwan P, Way C, Cash GA, characterization of polycarbonate microdevices for Wang D-W, Sun C, Zhou G, Li F, Wen L, Donose Pollet E, Dean KM, Halley PJ, Averous L. (2013) capture of circulating biomarkers, both in vitro and BC, Lu GQ, Cheng H-M, Gentle IR. (2013) The Elaboration and properties of plasticised chitosan- in vivo. Analytical Chemistry 85: 10196-204 examination of graphene oxide for rechargeable based exfoliated nano-biocomposites. Polymer 54: lithium storage as a novel cathode material. Journal 3654-62 Yu H, Du A, Song Y, Searles DJ. (2013) of Materials Chemistry A 1: 3607-12 Graphyne and graphdiyne: versatile catalysts for Xie F, Pollet E, Halley PJ, Averous L. (2013) Starch- dehydrogenation of light metal complex hydrides. Wang D-W, Zeng Q, Zhou G, Yin L, Li F, Cheng based nano-biocomposites. Progress in Polymer Journal of Physical Chemistry C 117: 21643-50 H-M, Gentle IR, Lu GQM. (2013) Carbon-sulfur Science 38: 1590-628 composites for Li-S batteries: status and prospects. Yu H, Pan J, Bai Y, Zong X, Li X, Wang L. (2013) Journal of Materials Chemistry A 1: 9382-94 Xing J, Chen ZP, Xiao FY, Ma XY, Wen Hydrothermal synthesis of a crystalline rutile TiO2 CZ, Li Z, Yang HG. (2013) Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 nanorod based network for efficient dye-sensitized Wang H, Qian Z, Ma S, Zhou Y, Patrick JW, Duan X, nanojunction systems with an unusual electron- solar cells. Chemistry: A European Journal 19: Jiang Y, Qu H. (2013) Energy status of ripening and hole transportation pathway and enhanced 13569-74 postharvest senescent fruit of litchi (Litchi chinensis photocatalytic properties. Chemistry: An Asian Sonn.). BMC Plant Biology 13:55 Journal 8: 1265-70 Yu M, Jambhrunkar S, Thorn P, Chen J, Gu W, Yu C. (2013) Hyaluronic acid modified mesoporous Wang H, Rauf S, Padmanabhan H, Dimitrov K. Xu Y, Zhang J, Zhou J, Chen C, Liu Q, Qian G, Xu silica nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to (2013) Nanodumbbells as multi-functional diagnosis ZP. (2013) CN and heavy metal removal through CD44-overexpressing cancer cells. Nanoscale 5: probes. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 15: formation of layered double hydroxides from mixed 178-83 1633.1-.9 CN-containing electroplating wastewaters and AIBN Annual Report 2013 81

Yu M, Karmakar S, Yang J, Zhang H, Yang Y, Thorn Zhang L, Hu X, Yu C, Crawford R, Yu A. (2013) alpha-Fe2O3 multi-shelled hollow spheres as high- P, Yu C. (2014) Facile synthesis of ultra-small hybrid Preparation of sinapinaldehyde modified performance anode materials for lithium ion batteries. silica spheres for enhanced penetration of 3D mesoporous silica materials and their application Chemical Communications 49: 8695-7 glioma spheroids. Chemical Communications 50, in selective extraction of trace Pb(II). International 1527-1529 epub 2013 print 2014 Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 93: Zhou L, Zhou X, Huang X, Liu Z, Zhao D, Yao 1274-85 X, Yu C. (2013) Designed synthesis of LiMn2O4 Yu NYC, Schindeler A, Peacock L, Mikulec microspheres with adjustable hollow structures for K, Fitzpatrick J, Ruys AJ, Cooper-White JJ, Zhang L, Tang R, Bai S, Connors NK, Lua LHL, lithium-ion battery applications. Journal of Materials Little DG. (2013) Modulation of anabolic and Chuan YP, Middelberg APJ, Sun Y. (2013) Molecular Chemistry A 1: 837-42 catabolic responses via a porous polymer scaffold Energetics in the Capsomere of Virus-Like Particle manufactured using thermally induced phase Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Zhou R, Zheng Y, Hulicova-Jurcakova D, Qiao SZ. separation. European Cells and Materials 25: Journal of Physical Chemistry B 117: 5411-21 (2013) Enhanced electrochemical catalytic activity 190-203 by copper oxide grown on nitrogen-doped reduced Zhang X, Dou G, Wang Z, Li L, Wang Y, Wang H, graphene oxide. Journal of Materials Chemistry A Yu ZB, Xie YP, Liu G, Lu GQ, Ma XL, Cheng H-M. Hao Z. (2013) Selective catalytic oxidation of H2S 1: 13179-85 (2013) Self-assembled CdS/Au/ZnO heterostructure over iron oxide supported on alumina-intercalated induced by surface polar charges for efficient laponite clay catalysts. Journal of Hazardous Zhu Q, Fu Y, Zhu S. (2013) Broad band focusing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Journal of Materials 260: 104-11 of photonic crystals with graded negative index. Materials Chemistry A 1: 2773-6 Journal of Computational and Theoretical Zhang X, Liu T, Sun W, Liu J. (2013) Mesoporous Nanoscience 10: 177-80 Zayas HA, Lu A, Valade D, Amir F, Jia Z, O’Reilly organosilica hollow microspheres with hierarchical RK, Monteiro MJ. (2013) Thermoresponsive structures on the shell. Journal of Nanoscience and Zhu Y, Hong H, Xu ZP, Li Z, Cai W. (2013) Quantum polymer-supported L-proline micelle catalysts for Nanotechnology 13: 3046-53 dot-based nanoprobes for in vivo targeted imaging. the direct asymmetric aldol reaction in water. ACS Current Molecular Medicine 13: 1549-67 Macro Letters 2: 327-31 Zhang X, Wan Y, Cooper-White J, Dimeski G, Atherton J, Punyadeera C. (2013) Quantification Zhu Y, Li Z, Chen M, Cooper H, Lu GQ, Xu ZP. Zayas HA, Truong NP, Valade D, Jia Z, Monteiro MJ. of D-dimer levels in human saliva. Bioanalysis 5: (2013) One-pot preparation of highly fluorescent (2013) Narrow molecular weight and particle size 2249-56 cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide quantum dots distributions of polystyrene 4-arm stars synthesized under neutral-pH condition for biological applications. by RAFT-mediated miniemulsions†. Polymer Zhao C-X. (2013) Multiphase flow microfluidics for Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 390: 3-10 Chemistry 4: 592-9 the production of single or multiple emulsions for drug delivery. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 65: Zhu Y, Li Z, Chen M, Cooper HM, Xu ZP. (2013) Zeng BJ, Chuan YP, O’Sullivan B, Caminschi I, 1420-46 Tuning core-shell SiO2@CdTe@SiO2 fluorescent Lahoud MH, Thomas R, Middelberg APJ. (2013) nanoparticles for cell labeling. Journal of Materials Receptor-specific delivery of protein antigen to Zhao C-X, Middelberg APJ. (2013) One-step Chemistry B 1: 2315-23 dendritic cells by a nanoemulsion formed using fabrication of titania hollow spheres by controlled top-down non-covalent click self-assembly. Small interfacial reaction in a droplet-based microfluidic Zhuang D-W, Kang Q, Muir SS, Yao X, Dai Early View: 1-7 system. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 14: 703-9 H-B, Ma G-L, Wang P. (2013) Evaluation of a cobalt-molybdenum-boron catalyst for hydrogen Zhang B, Li X, Liu J, Xie F, Chen L. (2013) Zhao C-X, Middelberg APJ. (2013) Microfluidic generation of alkaline sodium borohydride solution- Supramolecular structure of A- and B-type granules synthesis of monodisperse hierarchical silica aluminum powder system. Journal of Power of wheat starch. Food Hydrocolloids 31: 68-73 particles with raspberry-like morphology. RSC Sources 224: 304-11 Advances 3: 21227-30 Zhang B, Wang D, Hou Y, Yang S, Yang XH, Zhong Zong X, Sun C, Yu H, Chen ZG, Xing Z, Ye JH, Liu J, Wang HF, Hu P, Zhao HJ, Yang HG. Zhao C-X, Yu L, Middelberg APJ. (2013) Magnetic D, Lu GQ, Li X, Wang L. (2013) Activation of (2013) Facet-dependent catalytic activity of platinum mesoporous silica nanoparticles end-capped with photocatalytic water oxidation on N-doped ZnO nanocrystals for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized hydroxyapatite for pH-responsive drug release. bundle-like nanoparticles under visible light. Journal solar cells. Scientific Reports 3 Article number:1836 Journal of Materials Chemistry B 1: 4828-33 of Physical Chemistry C 117: 4937-42

Zhang B, Xiong S, Li X, Li L, Xie F, Chen L. (2014) Zhao L, Seth A, Wibowo N, Zhao C, Mitter N, Yu Zong X, Thaweesak S, Xu H, Xing Z, Zou J, Lu Effect of oxygen glow plasma on supramolecular C, Middelberg A. (2014) Nanoparticle vaccines. G, Wang L. (2013) A scalable colloidal approach and molecular structures of starch and related Vaccine, 32(3): 327-337. epub 2013 print 2014 to prepare hematite films for efficient solar water mechanism. Food Hydrocolloids, 37: 69-76. epub splitting. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 15: 2013 print 2014 Zhao ZY, Liu J, Hahn M, Qiao S, Middelberg APJ, 12314-21 He L. (2013) Encapsulation of lipase in mesoporous Zhang B, Zhao Y, Li X, Li L, Xie F, Chen L. (2014) silica yolk-shell spheres with enhanced enzyme Zong X, Wang L. (2014) Ion-exchangeable Supramolecular structural changes of waxy and stability. RSC Advances 3: 22008-13 semiconductor materials for visible light-induced high-amylose cornstarches heated in abundant photocatalysis. Journal of Photochemistry and water. Food Hydrocolloids, 35: 700-709 epub 2013 Zhen C, Wang L, Liu G, Lu GQ, Cheng H-M. (2013) Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews, 18: 32- print 2014 Template-free synthesis of Ta3N5 nanorod arrays 49 epub 2013 print 2014 for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. Zhang J, Su H, Zhou J, Qian G, Xu Z, Xi Y, Xu Y, Chemical Communications 49: 3019-21 Zong X, Xing Z, Yu H, Bai Y, Lu G, Wang L. (2014) Theiss FL, Frost R. (2013) Mid- and near-infrared Photocatalytic hydrogen production in a noble- spectroscopic investigation of homogeneous cation Zhen C, Wang L, Liu L, Liu G, Lu GQ, Cheng metal-free system catalyzed by in situ grown distribution in MgxZnyAl(x+y)/2-layered double H-M. (2013) Nonstoichiometric rutile TiO2 molybdenum sulfide catalyst. Journal of Catalysis, hydroxide (LDH). Journal of Colloid and Interface photoelectrodes for improved photoelectrochemical 310: 51-56 epub 2013 print 2014 Science 411: 240-6 water splitting. Chemical Communications 49: 6191-3 Zhang J, Xu Y, Liu J, Zhou J, Xu ZP, Qian G. (2013) Fe(CN)63−/Fe(CN)64− redox in the interlayer Zheng Y, Jiao Y, Ge L, Jaroniec M, Qiao SZ. (2013) determined by the charge density of ZnnCr-layered Two-step boron and nitrogen doping in graphene double hydroxides. Journal of Solid State Chemistry for enhanced synergistic catalysis. Angewandte 198: 506-10 Chemie-International Edition 52: 3110-6

Zhang J, Xu Y, Zhou J, Liang Y, Chen C, Liu Q, Qian Zhou G, Pei S, Li L, Wang D, Wang S, Huang K, G, Xu ZP. (2013) Magnetic nanomaterials recovered Yin L-C, Li F, Cheng H-M. (2014) A graphene-pure- from co-treatment of CN-containing electroplating sulfur sandwich structure for ultrafast, long-life wastewaters and pickle acid liquor. Separation and lithium-sulfur batteries. Advanced Materials, 26(4): Purification Technology 120: 186-90 625-631. epub 2013 print 2014

Zhang J, Zhou JZ, Liu Q, Qian G, Xu ZP. (2013) Zhou G, Wang D-W, Li L, Li N, Li F, Cheng H-M. Efficient removal of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) through (2013) Nanosize SnO2 confined in the porous shells reacting with recycled electroplating sludge. of carbon cages for kinetically efficient and long- Environmental Science and Technology 47: 6493-9 term lithium storage. Nanoscale 5: 1576-82

Zhang J, Zhou J, Xu Z, Li Y, Cao T, Zhao J, Zhou G, Yin L-C, Wang D-W, Li L, Pei S, Gentle IR, Ruan X, Liu Q, Qian G. (2014) Decomposition of Li F, Cheng H-M. (2013) Fibrous hybrid of graphene potent greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and sulfur nanocrystals for high-performance by kirschsteinite-dominant stainless steel slag. lithium-sulfur batteries. ACS Nano 7: 5367-75 Environmental Science and Technology, 48(1): 599- 606 epub 2013 print 2014 Zhou L, Xu H, Zhang H, Yang J, Hartono SB, Qian K, Zou J, Yu C. (2013) Cheap and scalable synthesis of 82 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Patents granted in 2013

Peptide networks Titanate photocatalyst Patch production Anton Middelberg and Annette Dexter Gao Qing Lu and Lianzhou Wang. US Xianfeng Chen, Mark Kendall, Tarl Prow (licensed to Pepfactants). European patent patent granted October 2013. and Anthony Raphael. Chinese patent granted December 2013. granted June 2013. VLP-based vaccine delivery Method of producing a system Porous polymer structures population of cells Linda Lua and Anton Middelberg. US Justin Cooper-White, Yang Cao and Nicholas Timmins, Lars Nielsen and Emma patent granted August 2013. Andrew Rowlands. Australian patent Palfreyman. US patent granted October granted January 2013. 2013. Australian patent granted November Preparation of suspensions 2013. Gao Qing Lu and ZhipingXu. Canadian patent granted July 2013. AIBN Annual Report 2013 83

Seminar Series 2013

4 February: Professor Ryong Ryoo, Center Universität Mainz, Germany; Makromolekulare Titles: Synthesis and characterization of novel for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth, Germany polyoxometalates; Synthesis, nanostructures, Institute for Basic Science and Department of Title: Self-organized multicompartment and thermal properties of ABA-type amphiphilic Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science nanostructures from new triblock terpolymers triblock copolymers consisting of side-chain liquid and Technology crystalline polymethacrylate as a hydrophobic 20 June: Professor Magnus Nyden, Director, Title: Surfactant molecules guiding multilevel nano- A-block and poly(ethylene oxide) as a hydrophilic Ian Wark Research Institute, the University of structures B-block; and Functional metal complexes utilized South Australia non-covalent interactions–siderophores, catalysts, 8 February: Professor Dayang Wang, Ian Wark Title: New methods for predicting diffusion in luminescent complexes Research Institute, the University of South Australia porous materials and new technologies for Title: Nanoparticles at interfaces preventing biological growth at solid liquid 10 October: Dr Nobuyoshi Joe Maeji, Chief interfaces Scientific Officer, Anteo Diagnostics Ltd 4 March: Professor Jin-Ho Choy, Executive Title: Nano-glues and surface modifications by use Vice President, EWHA Woman’s University, Seoul, 15 July: Dr James W. Thackeray, Research of coordination forces Korea Fellow, Dow Electronic Materials Title: EWHA Womans University in Seoul, Korea Title: Chemical amplification resists: their practical 17 October: Dr Andy Mukherji, Patent attorney, use and development in the semiconductor Griffith Hack; and Nicola Lake, Senior Associate, 6 March: Dr Mervyn Turner, Advisor to Bay City industry Engineering, Griffith Hack Capital, San Francisco, US Title: The hidden value of patent literature Title: May you live in interesting times: the future of 16 July: Professor Zhibing Zhang, School healthcare of Chemical Engineering, the University of 18 October: Professor Albin Sandelin, The Birmingham, UK Bioinformatics Centre, Copenhagen University, 14 March: Professor Mark Kendall, Group Title: Encapsulation and micromanipulation: from Denmark Leader, AIBN fundamentals to industrial applications Title: Biogenesis and degradation of exotic RNAs Title: Improving the reach of vaccines to the from enhancers and gene promoters developing world with Nanopatches 1 August: Professor Hynek Biederman, Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty 24 October: Kathy Hirschfeld, Senate, UQ; 21 March: Professor John Dorgan, Site of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Board member, AIBN Director, Colorado Center for Biorefining and Prague, Czech Republic Title: Navigating the labyrinth of leadership Biofuels, Colorado School of Mines, US Title: Nanocomposite and nanostructured films Title: Supramolecular EcoBioNanocomposites based on plasma polymers 28 October: Professor Alberto Gabizon, incorporating stereocomplexation Hebrew University-Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, 8 August: Professor Kirill Alexandrov, ARC Israel 28 March: Professor Jeffrey Gorman, Leader, Future Fellow, AIBN, Institute for Molecular Title: Liposomes as a nanomedicine platform in QIMR Protein Discovery Group; Convenor, Bioscience, UQ cancer therapy Proteomics Australia Title: Synthetic sensing and signal transduction Title: Proteomic dissection of the battle between cascades based on artificial autoinhibited 31 October: Professor Ruben Pio, Division of respiratory syncytial virus and epithelial cells during proteases Oncology, Center for Applied Medical Research, infection University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain 9 August: Professor Dongyuan Zhao, Title: The role of complement proteins in lung 11 April: Professor Peter Halley, Group Leader, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of cancer AIBN Chemistry, Fudan University, China Title: Translational polymer research for sustainable Title: Interfacial assembly and engineering for novel 7 November: Professor Brian Yates, polymers ordered mesoporous materials Executive Director, Engineering, Mathematics and Information Sciences, Australian Research Council 18 April: Professor Robert Booy, National 15 August: Dr Sue O’Brien, Research Integrity Title: Australian Research Council: current Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Officer, UQ Research and Innovation developments and research opportunities Title: Vaccine scares and successes Title: Following the Australian Code for the 14 November: Professor James Runt, Materials 8 May: Dr Gustavo Mostoslavsky, Boston Responsible Conduct of Research at UQ Science and Engineering Department, Penn State University School of Medicine, US 22 August: Dr Robert Robinson, Bragg Institute, University, US Title: Stem cells, disease modeling, regenerative Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Title: Nanostructure and molecular dynamics of medicine, gene correction and lentiviral vectors as Organisation polyurea copolymers tools for gene transfer Title: Opportunities for soft-matter and biological 5 November: Jason A. Roberts, Senior 9 May: Professor Hiroaki Kitano, Director research using OPAL, the new Australian research Medical Scientist, National Enterovirus Reference and President, Systems Biology Institute; Visiting reactor Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Professor, the University of Tokyo and Keio 29 August: Dr Richard McQualter, AIBN Reference Laboratory, Melbourne University, Japan Title: Production of a biodegradable plastic in a Title: Supercomputer simulation of newly Title: Systems biology in the context of systems high biomass C4 crop discovered and novel enteroviruses and precision engineering 13 September: Professor Enrico Traversa, 20 November: Professor Dangsheng Su, 16 May: Professor Gordon Southam, School of Physical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Catalysis and Materials Division, Institute of Metal Earth Sciences, UQ Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Title: Bacteria: nature’s nano-scale bioengineers Saudia Arabia Title: Nanocarbon: catalysis and energy Title: Next generation of solid oxide fuel cells 23 May: Dr Chris Elvin, CSIRO Animal, Food and operating at 600°C based on chemically stable 6 December: Dr Chris Fellows, Senior Lecturer, Health Sciences proton conducting electrolytes Chemistry Program, University of New England Title: Molecular biomimicry: nature’s 4 billion years Title: Why is it so? Mechanistic investigations of of research and development 26 September: Dr Pilar Blancafort, Associate pervaporation, scale inhibition and monolayer Professor, Cancer Epigenetics Group School of 30 May: Professor J.D. Pettigrew, Queensland evaporation suppression Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, the Brain Institute, UQ University of Western Australia 13 December: Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, Title: The mystery of Bradshaw rock art Title: Re-wiring the cancer genome: engineering Medical Officer, Research, Policy and Product 13 June: Dr James (Jim) Aylward, Owner, of novel targeted therapies for breast and ovarian Development, Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Oncolin cancers World Health Organization Title: Pioneering the early path to translation: one Title: Global Polio Eradication Initiative: progress 26 September: Associate Professor Tadaharu updates and the role of innovation scientist-inventor’s journey Ueda, Assistant Professor Shingo Hadano and 17 June: Professor Axel Müller, Institute Assistant Professor Kenji Matsumoto, Kochi of Organic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Japan 84 AIBN Annual Report 2013

Contact AIBN

Director Thank you Professor Peter Gray T: +61 7 3346 3888 E: [email protected]

We thank our donors and benefactors for Deputy Director (Operations) their continued generosity. AIBN’s research Dr Zoe Cahill success has been enriched through ongoing T: +61 7 3346 3800 E: [email protected] philanthropic support and we remain grateful for the opportunities this provides. External Relations and Advancement Manager Petrina Gilmore T: +61 7 3346 3899 M: +61 413 619 642 E: [email protected]

Deputy Director (Commercialisation) Dr Ian Nisbet T: +61 (0) 431 709 121 E: [email protected]

Research Higher Degree Manager Tony Miscamble T: +61 7 3346 3989 E: [email protected]

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Building 75 Corner College and Cooper roads The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia T: +61 7 3346 3877

Our history – AIBN was established by The University of Queensland Senate in December 2002. – Construction of a custom-designed 15,689sq m AIBN research facility started in November 2004. Front cover image: – First AIBN Group Leaders appointed in a detailed chrome mask produced at the Australian 2005. National Fabrication Facility Queensland node (ANFF-Q) on their Heidleberg Direct Laser Writer, capable of – The $73.6 million AIBN research facility achieving sub-micron print features. was completed in August 2006. These patterned masks are used as the first step in numerous fabrication techniques, all supported – Then Queensland Premier Peter Beattie

95472 1.5K JUN14 CS CRICOS PROVIDER NUMBER 00025B by the staff and facilities at ANFF-Q. opened the facility on October 23, 2006. Thank youAIBN Annual Report 2013

We thank our donors and benefactors for their continued generosity. AIBN’s research success has been enriched through ongoing philanthropic support and we remain grateful for the opportunities this provides.

Vice-Chancellor’s message ...... 1 Wells Group: Facilities & research Web portal gains traction ...... 21 environment ...... 47 Director’s message ...... 2 Whittaker Group: Infrastructure facilitates research ...... 48 Board marks first full year ...... 3 Collaborations tackle diagnosis Research agreement for protein Scientific Advisory Committee ...... 4 and fabrication ...... 22 experts ...... 50 Wolvetang Group: Research highlights 2013 ...... 5 Disease models test regenerative medicines ...... 23 Alexandrov Group: Mentoring & career development ...... 51 Expression system gives Yu Group: protein insights ...... 6 Breakthrough technologies patented . . . 24 Commercial relevance part of PhD studies ...... 52 Bernhardt Group: Appointments ...... 25 Insight into nanomaterials from PhD first step to building a Theory and Computation ...... 7 Associate Group Leaders ...... 26 research career ...... 53 Cooper-White Group: ARC Fellowships ...... 28 Bridge between research and industry . . 54 Researchers closer to clarifying Awards flow to AIBN ...... 29 stem cell clues ...... 8 Expertise and equipment aids career . . . 55 Funding ...... 30 Drennan Group: Graduate combines research Ceramic system stability explored ...... 9 and mentoring ...... 56 Gray Group: Commercialisation activities & Clinical trial closer for industry engagement ...... 31 Hendra virus therapy ...... 10 Engagement ...... 57 Suppressing anti-inflammatory drug Halley Group: side effects with nanomaterials ...... 32 Community engagement ...... 58 Polymer projects successfully TenasiTech nanoparticle additive School engagement ...... 59 finalised ...... 11 validated ...... 33 Sister city relationship builds Kendall Group: DSM scale-up facility opened ...... 34 knowledge ...... 60 Invention nears commercialisation . . . . . 12 Mahler Group: QSAFI completes significant work . . . . . 35 Cancer therapy in clinical trials ...... 13 Philanthropic initiative to support Student experience ...... 61 Martin Group: research ...... 36 RHD report ...... 62 Research converts Spinifex ...... 14 IAP links researchers with industry . . . . . 37 Graduates 2013 ...... 64 Middelberg Group: Internship brings industry relevance . . . . 38 Advancing understanding of Student association builds biological interactions ...... 15 stronger community ...... 68 Monteiro Group: International collaborations ...... 39 Summer intake engages future Drug delivery mechanism fights Consortium exchanges valuable researchers ...... 69 cancer ...... 16 information ...... 40 Research higher degree students ...... 70 Nielsen Group: Merck, Vaxxas collaboration ...... 41 Complex system design and analysis . . .17 Researchers’ bid for better batteries Trau Group: Grants & publications ...... 71 Grants advance rapid and reduced emissions ...... 42 Grants ...... 72 point-of-care diagnostics ...... 18 Point-of-care device gains momentum . . 43 Publications ...... 74 Vinu Group: Dow partnership develops ...... 44 Research generates international Patents granted in 2013 ...... 82 collaborations ...... 19 ICBNI promotes in-depth collaborations ...... 45 Thank you ...... 84 Wang Group: Collaboration builds better batteries . . . . 20 Queensland-China workshop ...... 46 Contact AIBN ...... 84 AIBN Annual Report 2013

AIBN Annual Report 2013