Research history - Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Donor antigen presenting cells found to cause graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplant patients.
The genetic risk of schizophrenia found to be the result of thousands of common genetic variations common to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Identified four new arboviruses from Antarctica.
Mapped the major chromosomes of Giardia duodenali, a common parasite that is often contracted from untreated water sources causing diarrhoea and vomiting.
Mapped the genome of Schistosoma japonicum, the first flatworm to be mapped.
Mitigated dengue risk in areas in southern Vietnam through the use of community-based, biological control interventions to control the number of dengue-
spreading mosquito larvae.
Showed that the bacteria Wolbachia effectively shortens the life cycle of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, preventing it from spreading dengue fever.
Identified elevated serum hyaluronic acid levels as a new diagnostic marker for the detection of cirrhosis in patients with haemochromatosis, removing the need
for liver biopsy in 60 percent of patients.

The new building was officially opened in 1991, and was aptly named The Bancroft Centre, as a memorial to the family who contributed to QIMR’s early history.
In 1990 Professor Lawrie Powell, QIMR’s fifth Director, led the organisation into a new era of collaborative and translational research.
In 1992, scientists began to develop new methods to recognise and control organ transplant rejection without using immune-suppressing drugs.
In 1997, a philanthropic donation of $20 million was matched by both the federal and state governments. This represented the opportunity to construct a comprehensive cancer research centre unparalleled in Australian history. The Cancer Research Centre was named after Mr Clive Berghofer in appreciation of his extremely generous contribution towards the building.
During this decade, cancer research started to accelerate and in 1994 QIMR scientists discovered mutations of a melanoma gene in a study of Queensland families.
World-first human trials to test a new genetic immunotherapy treatment against cancer commenced in 1995.
Skin cancer researchers found in 1997 that cloud and shade provided little protection against ultraviolet rays; and in 1996 and 1998, genes were found that regulate cancer development and spread.
Researchers achieved 83-100% success in eradicating mosquito larvae carrying dengue fever in Vietnam by biological control.

Under the influence of Professor Kidson and rapid advances in technology, four distinct themes had emerged: molecular biology and parasitology; virology and immunology; cancer and cell biology; and epidemiology and public health.
In 1981, a five-year malaria vaccine project funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council placed QIMR at the forefront of global medical research for immunology research.
A Joint Experimental Oncology Program dedicated to investigating the molecular and cellular biology of human cancer began. In 1987 work also began on new treatments for giardia, an organism that causes illness and mortality in babies and children.
In 1988, the Queensland Government amended the QIMR Act to make it a statutory authority. The Queensland Premier at the time, The Honourable Mike Ahern, secured $30 million to fund a new building for QIMR’s ever-increasing staff numbers with construction starting in 1989.

QIMR relocated to new laboratories in the grounds of the Royal Brisbane Hospital at Herston in 1977 and a year later Professor Chev Kidson, who had been Foundation Professor of Medical Biochemistry at The University of Queensland, became the next Director. Professor Kidson’s vision was for QIMR’s research to contribute to issues of global disease.
Research programs included studies in entomology, immunology, arboviruses, acarology, rickettsioses, oncology and parasitology.
In 1970, ground-breaking work began into melanoma. This focus would lead to many important discoveries such as the understanding of genetic influence in melanoma development.

In 1960 QIMR scientists isolated Murray Valley encephalitis virus from mosquitoes, which paved the way for discovery of other arboviruses like Ross River virus.
Dr Derrick became Director of the Institute in 1961.
Ross River virus was discovered in 1963 by Professor Ralph Doherty who went on to succeed Dr Derrick as Institute Director in 1966.
QIMR established an oncology section to investigate cancer-causing viruses. Cancer cells were taken from Burkitt’s lymphoma patients in Papua New Guinea, which led to the discovery that the Epstein-Barr virus (which causes glandular fever) can cause lymphoma and some forms of leukaemia. In 1968, this same virus was found to immortalise white blood cells leading to research of these immune cells and their DNA.

From 1951 to 1965 in a QIMR field station at the Innisfail Hospital in north Queensland, researchers investigated leptospirosis, scrub typhus, dengue and other tropical fevers.
In 1954, an outbreak of dengue fever in north Queensland heightened the need for research into arboviral diseases.
Researchers searched extensively among native animals for rickettsia and other viruses, finding Toxoplasma gondii and strains of brucellosis in Queensland rodents.
Dr John Pope discovered the murine leukaemia virus, found in a common house mouse for which he was rewarded with a Rockefeller Fellowship to the United States.

Dr Edward Derrick’s (1898–1976) vision for the establishment of an institute for medical research in Brisbane led to the creation of QIMR by an Act of Parliament, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945.
QIMR began operations in 1947 with a staff of seven in a disused World War II US Army hut in Victoria Park, Brisbane. This temporary accommodation was to house QIMR for the next 30 years.