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.
