Leading bioscientist to leave IMB

Prominent Queensland bioscientist Professor Peter Andrews would leave The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) at the end of the year, UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay announced today.

Professor Hay said Professor Andrews would resign from his positions as IMB co-director and CEO of the Institute’s commercialisation arm IMBcom, effective December 31.

“Peter has been one of the driving forces behind the development of the IMB and one of the pioneers of world class bioscience in Queensland and the recognition of its commercial potential,” Professor Hay said.

“The University will be sorry to lose him but undoubtedly he will continue to make a valuable contribution to bioscience in general and biobusiness in particular.”

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said Professor Andrews’ many scientific achievements and his collaborative approach to furthering research had earned him deep respect from his colleagues.

“His active support in selling our capabilities to the world has proved invaluable in helping promote Queensland as the Smart State,” Mr Beattie said.

“Whilst he will be best remembered in Queensland for his ground-breaking research work at UQ and Bond University, his life`s work in the area of drug design has also left lasting legacies at a number of other leading institutes around Australia.”

Professor Andrews said it was the right time for him to move on from the IMB and IMBcom, enabling others to take the helm when the Institute moved into a new $105 million state-of-the-art research complex (currently under construction at UQ) later this year.

He believed the IMB would develop into one of the world’s foremost research institutions.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at UQ - initially at the Centre for Drug Design and Development and more recently the IMB,” Professor Andrews said.

“The realisation of the IMB with Professor Hay and my co-director Professor John Mattick has been extraordinarily rewarding and challenging at the same time.

“I have derived enormous pleasure from being a part of Queensland’s burgeoning biobusiness community and I hope in the future to devote most of my working time to this activity.”

Professor Mattick said Professor Andrews had been a wonderful colleague, partner and friend, and he was pleased that he would remain actively involved in developing Queensland and Australia’s biotechnology industry.

“Peter’s generosity and vision during the challenging period of establishing the IMB has been a critical factor in its success to date,” Professor Mattick said.

“He brought enormous experience to this task, particularly in bridging the gap between science and industry.

“Peter also instinctively understood the value and importance of integrating molecular and cellular biology with structural biology and chemistry to create a new environment for systems biology. Although his departure will be a great loss to the Institute, we appreciate that Peter has set new challenges for himself and we wish him well.”

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