From the Director
Professor Michael F. Good
AO MD PhD DSc FASM FAFPHM FAIM FRACP (Hon)
Professor Michael Good was appointed Director of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in April 2000, prior to which he was Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Vaccine Technology. He graduated MD PhD from the University of Queensland and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. He undertook postdoctoral training as a Visiting Scientist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. His interests are in the field of immunity and immunopathogenesis to malaria and group A streptococcus/rheumatic fever, particularly to the development of vaccines.
The Institute has experienced a reflective year, with a number of different reviews undertaken. Two new laboratories have been established and the Australian Centre for Vaccine Development was launched with an Inaugural Symposium. An important clinical trial evaluating an experimental treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma was initiated in Hong Kong, and opened by the Queensland Premier, Mr Peter Beattie in May 2007.
The past twelve months have been a reflective time for the Institute, with a number of reviews undertaken during the period. The Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945 is currently under review by Government with a number of different models proposed for future operations of the Institute. QIMR’s organisational resources were independently reviewed by Mr Ken Roberts AM. The review looked at the existing structure of the Institute, its performance in a general sense, and impediments to success. A number of recommendations were made, resulting in a change in organisational structure in September 2006 and initiation of a strategic planning process for the period 2007 to 2011 in April 2007.
In October 2006, a review of QIMR research activities was undertaken by a panel led by Professor Graham Brown, Head of the Department of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The panel included Professors Graham Colditz, Michelle Haber, Richard Smallwood, Joe Trapani and Bob Williamson. It offered a number of suggestions for improving QIMR’s scientific quality and output.
The Smart State Research Centre
Plans for construction of a third building to house a Smart State Research Centre came to fruition during the year. Total funding for
the project was achieved in May 2007 with the announcement of $55 million for QIMR in the Federal Budget. This complemented similar
amounts from the Queensland Government and an independent donor. Construction will begin following demolition of the building currently
on site, which is planned for the end of 2008.
People and Events
The Chairs of the four research Divisions changed during the year. Thanks to the outgoing Chairs and welcome to the new ones.
Dr Geoff Hill replaced Associate Professor James McCarthy as head of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Dr Amanda Spurdle took over
from Dr Kum Kum Khanna as head of Cancer and Cell Biology, Professor Emma Whitelaw assumed Associate Professor Greg Anderson’s role
as head of Population Studies and Human Genetics and Dr Chris Schmidt replaced Professor Denis Moss as head of the Therapeutic Development
and Clinical Research Division.
Two new laboratories were established during the year, both headed by scientists already working at QIMR. Dr Maher Gandhi now leads the Immunohaematology Laboratory, and Dr Joanne Young, the Familial Cancer Laboratory.
The Institute launched the Australian Centre for Vaccine Development (ACVD) with an Inaugural Symposium in May 2007. Vaccine research requires expertise in immunology, pathogenesis, molecular and structural biology and clinical trials methodology. The ACVD harnesses this varied expertise into one cohesive unit to advance the science of vaccine development. I was delighted to appoint Associate Professor Rajiv Khanna as inaugural Director of the ACVD.
QIMR hosted two important events during the year. The Premier Peter Beattie QIMR Lecture was presented at Parliament House in February 2007 by Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty on “The Science Culture”. A major international conference, The 4th Indo-Australian Conference on Biotechnology was held at the Institute in May.
Research Highlights
Molecular cancer epidemiologists discovered five possible genetic links in breast cancer development, after pooling together data
from more than 20 groups around the world. The Cancer Genetics Laboratory confirmed a common variant of the gene Caspase 8, carried by
25 percent of people of European descent, actually reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Researchers from the Population Studies and Cancer group announced a link between consumption of leafy green vegetables and a reduction in the risk of skin cancer, particularly among those with a previous history of the disease.
Two new population-based studies began during the year, one on the causes of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (disorders that affect up to one in every 200 Australians), and the other on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which affects up to one in ten Australian children. Another study was initiated on pancreatic cancer which is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in western countries.
A cutting edge paper from the Immunology and Infection group, defining the role of dendritic cell subsets in cerebral malaria was published. The Bone Marrow Transplantation Laboratory also published a number of articles describing the ability of various cell subsets to modulate transplant outcome.
Awards and Achievements
QIMR scientists continued to receive prestigious honours and awards during the year.
Two QIMR associates received the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Sister Regis Dunn, long serving member
of the Institute’s Ethics Committee, received the award for her significant service to medicine, particularly through promotion and support
of bioethics in medical research, and as a researcher in the field of genetics.
Professor Anne Kelso, Senior Principal Research Fellow at QIMR, was awarded the Honour in recognition of her service to science, particularly in the field of immunology and vaccine research, through contributions to a range of scientific organisations and as an academic and mentor. Anne left QIMR early 2007 to lead the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne. The Derrick-Mackerras Memorial Lecture was delivered by former Victorian Premier Mr Jeff Kennett, in his role as founder and Chairman for beyondblue, the national depression initiative. The lecture struck a chord with every member of the audience and provided further impetus for the establishment of the Institute’s planned Mental Health Division.
At the same event, QIMR’s high achievement awards were presented by the Queensland Minister for Health, The Honourable Stephen Robertson. Two Bancroft Medals were bestowed – one to Mr Michael Staley, Chief Operating Officer, for over seven years dedication to QIMR’s infrastructure development and stable financial growth planning, and the other to Dr Helen Leonard for her years of commitment to workplace health and safety at the Institute.
The Ralph Doherty Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Medical Research for 2006 went to Dr Alex Loukas, a QIMR parasitologist who also won the Bancroft Mackerras Medal from the Australian Society of Parasitology and was runner up in the Eureka Prize in the same year. Dr Scott Burrows and Dr Jacqueline Upcroft each received Long Service Awards and special new Humanitarian Awards were given to Kath Rose, Roy Prosser and Dean Duncan. Mr David Lyons was made a QIMR Fellow.
Grants and Funding Success
New NHMRC awards for 2007 included 16 Project Grants, one Program Grant, and an Australian-European (EU) Collaborative Grant.
QIMR scientists also won seven Research Fellowships, two Career Development Awards and eight Postdoctoral Training Fellowships to
bring total NHMRC funding for the year to approximately $18.3 million, including infrastructure support.
Five new grants were awarded by the US National Institutes of Health, with a total value of approximately US$5 million, covering areas as diverse as malaria, genetic epidemiology and cancer. New grants awarded by the Cancer Council Queensland included eight Project Grants, one Senior Research Fellowship and one Postgraduate Scholarship. Cancer Council Queensland support for the year was approximately $1.48 million.
The Ian Potter Foundation Foundation provided $100,000 towards the purchase of an HPLC-Mass Spectrometer to be used for drug discovery and development and the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland provided significant ongoing support for the Leukaemia Foundation Laboratory headed by Professor Andrew Boyd of The University of Queensland.
The Development and Marketing Department continued to elicit funding from a range of other sources including donations, bequests and corporate sponsorship. Ms Michelle Lagana, Director of the department was instrumental in securing an important Phase I clinical trial in Hong Kong, to evaluate an experimental treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, one of the most common cancers in people of Chinese descent. The trial is being conducted in collaboration with Hong Kong’s Queen Mary Hospital and the University of Hong Kong, and was launched by Queensland Premier, Mr Peter Beattie. Ms Lagana resigned from her post at the end of the year after 13 years service to QIMR, and the Institute wishes her well in her future endeavours.
As always, the Institute is extremely grateful to its visionary sponsors, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Mr Clive Berghofer and the many other donors both small and large who contribute so generously to the continued development of medical research in Queensland.
Michael F. Good