From cane toad lures to drugs from deadly venoms: IMB is a global research powerhouse

Over the past quarter century, The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) has established itself as a global science powerhouse.

There have been kidneys grown in a dish, plants that function as medicines, and algae examined for its role in regenerative medicine, cell growth and solar driven biotechnologies.

Deadly spider venom has been developed to treat heart attacks, and the invasive march of the cane toad has been reduced with pheromone lures that disrupt its breeding cycle.

There has been a vital progression in the understanding of inflammation, and a bee-friendly pesticide on national retail shelves.

Harnessing the power of nature to cure disease, many researchers have successfully commercialised their discoveries.

There has been more than $3 billion invested in IMB intellectual property, resulting in 20 spin-out companies, as well as global collaborations and industry partnerships.

IMB executive director Professor Ian Henderson said the institute launched in January 2000 with an ambitious mission and has since helped shift Queensland’s reputation from a resource-driven economy to a knowledge-based one.

“IMB was formed out of a vision to make a difference to mankind,’’ Professor Henderson said.

“The vision was to directly address global health challenges and diseases afflicting humanity – from cancer and inflammation to antibiotic resistance, women's health and rare diseases – and translating discoveries into tangible benefits.

“We have a demonstrable output from investment in our research, and we are one of the leading research institutes globally. And for our size, we punch well above our weight.’’

A history of success

In the closing years of last century, the ambitious and transformational research precinct of IMB was announced, with funding from UQ, the federal and state governments, and the late philanthropist Chuck Feeney.

The $50 million institute was lauded as a coup for Queensland as a “research and development engine” and a development of national significance designed to drive innovation in health and biotechnology.

Peter Beattie was Queensland’s Premier from 1998 to 2007 and had a key agenda of transforming Queensland into Australia’s ‘smart state’.

Speaking as part of IMB’s 25^th anniversary celebrations, Mr Beattie said Queensland was home to some of the smartest brains in the world but, at the time, was less effective in commercialising research effectively.

“More to the point, we didn’t have institutions that were globally competitive,’’ he said.

“We had one of the best universities in the world and we wanted to establish one of the best institutes.

“We wanted to encourage innovation and encourage the best brains in Australia to stay in Australia, and to also attract the best brains from around the world.

“It was a long-term public policy and the vision worked.’’

Mr Beattie, now the chair of Brandon BioCatalyst, a collaboration of more than 50 Australian and New Zealand medical research institutes, hospitals and universities, said the investment in IMB has more than paid off.

“It has returned a skilled workforce, created jobs, and has attracted and maintained brainpower,’’ he said.

“And that’s the economy of the future…frankly it’s more valuable than what you can dig out of the ground,’’ he said.

“Mining brains, if I can put it in those terms, was the most important outcome of and the benefit from this public investment.’’

A collaborative environment

Professor Kate Schroder studies chronic inflammatory diseases that have no cure or effective treatment.

As head of IMB’s Inflammasome Laboratory, she is the co-inventor on patents for small molecule inhibitors of a protein complex that drives inflammation.

This has implications for the treatment of debilitating conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and motor neuron disease.

The research is currently under commercialisation by Inflazome Ltd, founded by IMB Group Leader Professor Matthew Cooper and acquired by Roche in a landmark deal that is one of the largest in Australian and Irish biotech history.

“IMB is really special, I think unique, certainly in Australia and probably worldwide,’’ Professor Schroder said.

“Inflazome was based on intellectual property that was generated here at IMB which is a melting pot of medicinal chemistry and biology under one roof.

“The groups here are world class, at the forefront of their field, and they have multidisciplinary capacities.

“We’ve got chemists in the same building as biologists and geneticists, and that collaborative spirit is what really allows us to solve real problems.’’

Best kept secret

To the wider community, Professor Henderson said IMB is a “jewel in the crown’’ of Australian academic research but remains one of the country’s best kept secrets.

“Many people don’t even know it exists,’’ he said.

“Science research is a global business. We have recruited not only brilliant scientists, but brilliant scientists with an entrepreneurial spirit.

“We are working to provide cures for diseases. We are leaders in the genetics space to predict your risk of disease early in your life.

“The groups here are at the forefront of their field and are doing cutting-edge science.

“Who would have thought you could take spider venom and translate it into a heart drug?’’