UQ recognised in Life Sciences Queensland Awards

A bioscience startup and a world-leading immunologist at The University of Queensland are among the winners in the Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ) GENE Awards.

The awards recognise the innovative research being undertaken at the University from discovery through to commercialisation.   

Professor Ranjeny Thomas AM from UQ’s Frazer Institute was awarded the QIMR Berghofer Woman of Influence Award for her contributions to the life sciences sector.

Professor Thomas is recognised globally for her work to prevent and cure autoimmune diseases. She founded two startup companies through UQ commercialisation company UniQuest to progress development of novel treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

Infensa Bioscience received the KE Select Emerging Innovator Award as an early-stage venture in the life sciences sector that is attempting to create global impact from local innovations.

The company is developing therapies for two of the world’s leading causes of death, stroke and heart attack, from a molecule found in the venom of the K’gari funnel web spider with research from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB).

Other UQ finalists included:

• Dr Zeinab Khalil – Rose-Anne Kelso Commemorative Award
• Professor Neena Mitter – QIMR Berghofer Woman of Influence Award and McCullough Robertson Industry Excellence Award
• Professor Scott Bell – McCullough Robertson Industry Excellence Award
• Protagonist Therapeutics - CYTIVA Company of the Year Award.