ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 CONTENTS ABOUT QIMR 1 RESEARCH DIVISIONS 14 QIMR at a glance 2 Cancer and Cell Biology 16 Research highlights 4 Genetics and Population Health 27 Awards and achievements 6 Immunology 43 Chairman’s report 8 Infectious Diseases 56 Members of Council 9 Mental Health 72 Director’s report 11 Joint Research 74 Cover: Tissue culture plate courtesy of phototonyphillips.com | Inside Cover: Aedan Roberts, PhD student, Familial Cancer Laboratory ABOUT US OUR QIMR is one of Australia’s largest and most successful PHILOSOPHY medical research institutes. Our researchers are investigating the genetic and environmental causes QIMR supports scientists who perform world-class of more than 40 diseases as well as developing new medical research aimed at improving the health and diagnostics, better treatments and prevention strategies. well-being of all people. The Institute’s diverse research program extends from tropical diseases to cancers to Indigenous health, mental health, obesity, HIV and asthma. OUR VISION OUR LOGO To be a world renowned medical research institution. The QIMR logo is comprised of superimposed benzene rings which symbolise one of the fundamental molecular arrangements of the chemicals which make up living things. OUR MISSION Director – Professor Michael Good AO Deputy Director – Professor Adèle Green AC Better health through medical research. Patron – Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO www.qimr.edu.au | [email protected] CORPORATE DIVISION 78 Patents 93 Trust report 83 Offi cial Committees 94 Members of Trust 84 Publications 96 POSTGRADUATE TRAINING 85 Lectures 108 Completed students 87 Staff 117 Student awards 88 Students 124 AWARDS 89 Visiting Scientists 125 Grants and funding 91 Organisational Structure 128 QIMR Annual Report 2009/10 1 100713_QIMR_AR10_FINAL.indd 1 22/09/10 10:04 AM QIMR AT A GLANCE Supporting scientists who perform world-class medical research aimed at improving the health and well-being of all people. PATENT PORTFOLIO BY CATEGORY RESEARCH AGREEMENTS New treatment patents Research service agreements Vaccine patents Clinical trial agreements Delivery platform patents Commercialisation agreements Diagnostic patents Intellectual property agreements Drug target patents License agreements Others 2 QIMRQIMR Annual ReportReport 2009/102009/10 NHMRC GRANTS $ Millions 20 16 12 8 4 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Grants Fellowships FUNDRAISING REVENUE SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS $ Millions 450 8.0 7.0 350 6.0 5.0 250 4.0 3.0 150 2.0 50 1.0 0 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 Articles High Impacts Bequests/Gifts in Kind Sponsorship Event Revenue Donations & Gifts STAFF NUMBERS QIMR TRUST RESEARCH FUNDING $ Millions 700 7.0 600 6.0 500 5.0 400 4.0 300 3.0 200 2.0 100 1.0 0 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Staff Students 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 3 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS • Identifi ed a new gene linked to schizophrenia and bipolar • Developed a more effective treatment against visceral disorder. leishmaniasis, using an antibody which stimulates the • Used an experimental immunotherapy treatment to help a immune system. bone marrow transplant patient overcome a life threatening • Discovered strong period pain and excess weight in infection. childhood doubles risk of endometriosis. • Effectively prevented mosquitoes from spreading dengue • Developed a simple blood test to monitor risk of contracting fever by infecting them with a naturally occurring bacterium, cytomegalovirus which is one of the leading causes of death Wolbachia. for transplant patients. • Assisted the World Health Organization identify the best • Identifi ed and successfully treated a previously undiagnosed malaria rapid diagnostic tests to control malaria. condition, an immune defect that leads to fulminant • Found two new genes that increase the risk of late onset infectious mononucleosis. Alzheimer’s disease. • Discovered the cumulative effect of lots of small genetic • Proved the consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol variations in many of our genes determine complex traits during pregnancy affects the expression of genes in the such as height. developing fetus and that these changes last into adulthood. • Identifi ed a new variant of a gene that helps regulate iron and • Identifi ed a potential new target for future anti-malarial drugs, haemoglobin levels. an enzyme used by the malaria parasite to obtain nutrients. • Commenced human clinical trials using live malaria to develop a method to test future anti-malarial drugs. 4 QIMR Annual Report 2009/10 CANCER RELATED RESEARCH Dr Kelly Landers, Conjoint Endocrine Laboratory HIGHLIGHTS • Identifi ed two gene variants that double the risk of • Found that women who eat processed meat several times developing melanoma. a week increase their risk of developing ovarian cancer by 20%. • Discovered that missense mutations in DNA have a greater impact on breast cancer risk than previously thought. • Discovered the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers dramatically reduce the risk of oesophageal cancer. • Discovered the human liver fl uke (Opisthorchis viverrini) contributes to the development of liver cancer by secreting • Developed a compound from the rainforest that has granulin. shown signifi cant anti-cancer activity in animal cancers. • Identifi ed a gene variant associated with increased survival • Demonstrated increased risk of cancer risk in in breast cancer patients. haemochromatosis patients. • Found that drinking more than four cups a day of black, green or herbal tea reduces ovarian cancer risk by almost 30%. 5 AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS • QIMR received its largest-ever number of project grants • Professor Peter Visscher, head of QIMR’s Queensland from the National Health and Medical Research Council Statistical Genetics Laboratory, was honoured by being (NHMRC) with 26 successful applications representing elected to the Australian Academy of Science. a 41% success rate. This is signifi cantly higher than the • Associate Professor Maher Gandhi, head of Clinical national average of 23%. Immunohaematology won the Australian Society for • Professor Michael Good, QIMR Director received an Medical Research's (ASMR) Research Week Clinical Australia Fellowship providing $4 million over fi ve years Researcher Award for his work investigating the to continue his lifesaving work into combating malaria immunobiology of lymphoma. and streptococcus A – two of the world’s biggest killers. • Kimberley Jones, from the same laboratory won the Professor Good was also awarded the 2009 CSIRO Eureka Postgraduate Student Award. Prize for Leadership in Science and selected as a 2010 Queensland Great. • Dr Michelle Wykes was awarded a $300,000 Queensland Government Smart Futures Fellowship for research on the body’s immune response to malaria infection. 6 QIMR Annual Report 2009/10 Jatin Patel, PhD student, Conjoint Endocrine Laboratory • Associate Professor Gail Garvey won the Our Women, • Dr Daniel Worthley was awarded the NHMRC RG Our State Award for Promoting Indigenous Women in Menzies Fellowship which is awarded to the highest recognition of QIMR’s Spotlighting Careers in Indigenous ranked postdoctoral fellowship application and a NHMRC Heath and Science Program. CJ Martin Postdoctoral Training Fellowship to undertake further research in the USA. • Dr Manuel Ferreira won the QIMR Post-doctoral award and was a fi nalist in the ASMR 2010 Post-doctoral awards. • Dr Stuart MacGregor won the prestigious Ruth Stephens Dr Ferreira was also successful in securing NHMRC funding Gani Medal of the Australian Academy of Science. to embark on Australia’s largest genetic asthma study. • Dr Li Yuesheng was awarded a Future Fellowship by • Dr Alberto Pinzón-Charry, won a 2009 Queensland Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the only scientist Young Tall Poppy Science Award for excellence in research from Queensland to receive the Howard Hughes Medical and public engagement. Institute Fellowship which has been extended until 2011. 7 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT I was honoured when approached by the Premier of Queensland. The Honourable Anna Bligh, in 2009 to take up the position of Chair of the QIMR Council. As Vice Chancellor of The University of Queensland from 1996 to 2007, I have been involved in the development of many major new research institutes including the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Queensland Brain Institute and am aware of the challenges facing a growing QIMR. The last 12 months has seen QIMR move into a period of signifi cant growth with construction commencing on the Smart State Medical Research Centre, a 13 fl oor research facility due for completion in 2012. The fi rst sod was turned by Premier Bligh on 9 February 2010. The state-of-the-art facility Professor John Hay AC - QIMR Council Chair will accommodate 20 new Our research program, publications and competitive funding research laboratories, continues to grow and attract world-class researchers and students from around the globe. increasing QIMR’s staff During his time as Director, Michael was instrumental in securing funding for the new building; established QIMR’s capacity by more than 60 Indigenous Health Research Program, and a new Division of Mental Health Research. The Institute’s successful education percent to around 1,200. program is testament to his commitment to inspiring the scientists of tomorrow. The project is not only an important asset to QIMR, but also The past year also saw the departure of the General to the wider community with the research completed within its Manager, Dr Julie-Anne Tarr who after two years at QIMR walls benefi ting the health and well-being of all. took up a position with the Queensland University of The Queensland Government has shown its long term Technology. During her time at QIMR, Dr Tarr was heavily commitment to our endeavours by substantially increasing our involved in securing funding for the construction of the new core fi nancial support. This generous commitment will allow $180 million Smart State Medical Research Centre and the recruitment of fi rst class scientists and the establishment of overseeing the re-organisation of the Corporate Division.