ANNUAL REPORT 2010 COVER IMAGE: WINNER OF THE 2010 IMB ÅNGSTRÖM ART COMPETITION DARREN BROWN: MACBEADS A merged image of two scanning electron microscope images of macrophages ingesting latex beads (dark orange) as part of the phagocytic process during the immune response. The macrophage is an immune cell that fights invading pathogens by ‘eating’ them – surrounding them and engulfing them. INSTITUTE FOR MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE ÅNGSTRÖM ART CENTENARY COLLECTION As part of our contribution to UQ’s Centenary in 2010, the Institute held an art competition. IMB researchers were invited to submit scientific images, and our judging panel selected a winner and two runners-up (see page 81 for more details). Part of the winner’s prize was having his or her image featured on the front cover of the 2010 annual report. Darren Brown, from the Stow group, was awarded this honour for his image ‘MacBeads’. Altogether, 62 images were submitted, a selection of which makes up the artwork for this report. The image titles, authors and a brief description can be found alongside each. To view the entire Centenary Collection, please visit www.angstrom-art.com IMB Annual Report 2010 1 IMB Vision Statement 2 Chair’s Message CONTENTS 3 Director’s Report 5 Deputy Directors’ Report 7 Feature: Pain Relief in a Cone Snail Shell 9 Organisational Chart 10 IMB Highlights 2010 16 IMB Advisory Board 19 Scientific Advisory Committee IMB RESEARCHERS 21 Division of Genomics and Computational Biology 29 Division of Molecular Genetics and Development 41 Division of Molecular Cell Biology 50 Division of Chemistry & Structural Biology 62 Joint Appointments 65 Affiliate Appointments 66 IMB Occupational Health and Safety Report 67 IMBcom 69 Postgraduate Research 74 Visiting Speakers 78 Collaborative Research Partnerships 81 Community Engagement 83 IMB Staff and Students 96 Financial Statements 99 Glossary of Terms 102 2010 Publications JESS INESON: TREE OF LIFE Microscopic snapshot of a developing kidney IMB VISION STATEMENT CREATIVITY, MOTIVATION AND we will be better equipped to understand INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM are the the basis of our differences and how and vital components of scientific discovery why things go wrong in disease states like and technological process, and underpin cancer. the research philosophy of the Institute In time, our collaborative research will lead for Molecular Bioscience. to improved therapies and diagnostics, Our research mission is to understand enhancing our ability to combat common the information contained in our genes diseases and genetic disorders. and proteins – the very foundation of our It will also give rise to new ideas, existence and health. technologies and knowledge-based By understanding how and why humans industries to improve the health and quality and animals develop the way they do, of life of future generations. imb annual report 2010 2 CHAIR’S MESSAGE 2010 WAS SIGNIFICANT FOR BOTH In other words, every $1 the Queensland The outcomes of the first 10 years The University of Queensland and the Government invested in IMB will return vindicate the calculated risks taken Institute for Molecular Bioscience. UQ between $4.50 and $6.50 to the state. by the founders and early funders of celebrated its Centenary, and January the IMB, who foresaw that it could The advantage conferred by this public 1 marked ten years since the IMB was influence a new direction in research and funding is reflected in human capital. officially established. Ninety years after its innovation for UQ – and for Queensland. The IMB has directly created 350 jobs birth, UQ had its first institute. since 2000, and Allen Consulting Group The Institute for Molecular Bioscience Since 2000, the IMB has been joined by projects that employment in Queensland has been instrumental to the growth in seven other UQ institutes and its budget will increase by between 800 and 1,100 global esteem for bioscience discovery has grown from $19.5 million to almost jobs by 2029, thanks to the Institute. conducted in Queensland and nationally, $90 million. and has established its own credentials These impressive numbers attest to address complex and urgent global Its second quinquennial review, covering to the sustained impact of strategic challenges. the institute’s performance from 2005- government support for research. 2009, was conducted by a distinguished The IMB’s vigour is linked to panel led by an eminent financial Professor Paul Greenfield, AO successful leveraging of seminal expert, Henry Smerdon. The review Vice-Chancellor funds from government, The Atlantic The University of Queensland demonstrates that the IMB has emerged, Philanthropies and UQ, and to networks in one decade, as equal in output to of outstanding partners in research, Australia’s long-established leaders in industry, philanthropy and not for profit biomedical discovery. organisations. The review process included an Fundamentally, the source of its strength assessment by the Allen Consulting is outstanding people – staff, students, Group of the IMB’s economic impact. the board, the scientific advisory This demonstrates that the Institute committee and directors. It has been my generated $220 (directly and indirectly) pleasure to interact with these people from a Queensland Government during 2010, as chair of the IMB board investment of $50 million. and Vice-Chancellor of the University. Further, the investment is forecast to have a significant expansionary effect, boosting Gross State Product by between $450 million and $650 million by 2029. ...every dollar the Queensland Government invested in IMB will return between $4.50 and $6.50 to the State’’ JOHN GRIFFIN: HOOP PINE POLLEN Hoop pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) are a species of tree endemic to eastern Australia.They produce prodigious amounts of pollen, making samples easy to obtain. 3 executive reports DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2010 WAS A BIG YEAR AT THE Government, was critical in determining In a short ten-year Institute for Molecular Bioscience. The future funding arrangements with University celebrated its centenary the State Government after 2014. In period IMB has made a during 2010 and we marked our tenth addition to a submission prepared by significant contribution year as an institute, joining in with the IMB, the Allen Consulting Group was to scientific enquiry at a major university events and running engaged to provide an assessment of some of our own. The most significant our economic and social contributions to national and international of these was a competition for images the State. level through publication from scientific research that formed The IMB submission tracked the the Centenary Collection of the IMB in high-impact journals, performance of the Institute between Ångström Art initiative. The entire 2005 and 2009 across a range of graduation of over 180 PhD collection of 62 entries was on display measures including competitive for The University of Queensland students with specialised grant income, publication output, Centenary Community Day on the 18th postgraduate student graduations and skills in molecular of April, 2010, after which 25 of the commercialisation of research. Across images were selected for reproduction bioscience, bioinformatics all of these measures we performed on iPhone skins, which have been given and chemistry, and at a comparable level to three other away at a number of university and significant Australian biomedical science the spinning out of 14 industry events throughout the year. institutes – the WEHI, QIMR and the companies from research The early part of the year saw us Garvan Institute. This was particularly focused on preparations for the July pleasing when the relative age of each of and discovery 2010 Quinquennial Review of our State the benchmarking institutes was taken Government funding. This Review, into account, with IMB being by far the ’’ chaired by Mr Henry Smerdon, AM, youngest. In a short ten-year period, former Under-Treasurer of the State IMB has made a significant contribution to scientific enquiry at a national and CANCER BIOLOGY IMAGING international level through publication in FACILITY OPENING high-impact journals, graduation of over Our first major activity for 2010 was the 180 PhD students with specialised skills opening of the ACRF Cancer Biology in molecular bioscience, bioinformatics Imaging Facility by the Governor and chemistry, and the spinning out of 14 companies from research and of Queensland, Her Excellency Dr discovery. From a State Government Penelope Wensley, AO, in February of investment of $82.5 million (to the end this year. Funded with a $2.5 million of 2009), a total of $211.30 million in grant from the Australian Cancer additional income has been leveraged. Research Foundation, the new Facility combines with the existing ACRF At the time of going to press, the Dynamic Imaging Facility at the IMB to report from the Quinquennial Review provide the most sophisticated research Team had been presented to the State facility in Australia for fluorescence Government and preliminary discussion imaging of cancer cells. The advanced about future State Government funding laser microscopes in the facility will be of the IMB and other UQ research used by researchers at the IMB and institutes, including the Queensland Brain Institute and the Australian Institute throughout Queensland to research the for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, origins of cancer, develop new drugs is now underway. and create prevention strategies for risk groups. 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2008 imbimb annualannual reportreport 2010 4 DARREN BROWN: SEADRAGONS A fluorescence microscope image of macrophages labelled with antibodies QUEENSLAND CENTRE FOR Rohan Teasdale, who were successful in MEDICAL GENOMICS OPENING an $8.9 million NHMRC program grant The Premier the Honourable Anna Bligh, application to examine cell biology and MP, performed the honours at the opening inflammation and Professor Rob Parton, of the Queensland Centre for Medical who received a Best and Brightest Genomics, located within the Institute, on Achievement Award from the NHMRC June 16th. This facility has been funded in March for the highest-ranked project by the largest-ever NHMRC grant, a State grant nationally.