QIMR Berghofer

QIMR Berghofer Translational medical research institute making an impact in , and , and , and .

QIMR Berghofer is a leading translational research institute with an 80 year history in , Australia. Established in 1945 to research tropical and infectious diseases found in northern Australia, our scientists are now making an impact in , and , and , and . QIMR Berghofer is home to a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) f

acility, Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics, and a mosquito research laboratory which is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Each year we welcome thousands of high school students to the Institute to participate in our education programs. We also host tours for small groups and offer a range of events and community engagement opportunities throughout the year. Join our community on social media to keep in touch and visit our website to connect with the latest health and medical research: www.qimrb.edu.au.

We’re back in !QIMR Berghofer’s Regional Education Program is connecting with young scientists of the future at Yarraba...
08/05/2026

We’re back in !

QIMR Berghofer’s Regional Education Program is connecting with young scientists of the future at Yarrabah State School, Kuranda District State College and Smithfield State High School.

The program includes hands‑on activities, presentations from real medical researchers, and the opportunity to explore how science happening in today is shaping the health of tomorrow.

It’s all about sparking curiosity, building confidence, and showing regional students that a career in is absolutely within reach🔬🧬🧫

Learn more about the Regional Education Program at QIMR Berghofer: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/education/regional-education-program

Spotlighting student research at QIMR Berghofer’s Annual Student Symposium 💫It was fantastic to gather last Friday at Vi...
07/05/2026

Spotlighting student research at QIMR Berghofer’s Annual Student Symposium 💫

It was fantastic to gather last Friday at Victoria Park/Barrambin to celebrate the achievements of our student researchers. The day featured a full program of presentations and poster sessions, showcasing the breadth and quality of student projects across the Institute.

A highlight of the symposium was the keynote address by Malaika Ingram from CSIRO, who shared her tips and perspectives on post-PhD career pathways. We also extend a big thank you to our gold sponsor Miltenyi Biotec for their generous support of the event.

Well done to all students who presented their work, and congratulations to our award winners -
Short talks: Marloes Helder (1st), Steph Brauer (2nd)
Lightning talks: Victor Flores, Justin Chan, and Matheus Santos (Joint 1st)
Posters: Dana Friess (1st), Koh@Kok Jie Yi, and Ellie Davey (Joint 2nd).

Thank you to the QIMR Berghofer HDC Student Representatives Agnes Carolin, Bianca Naumann, Emily Vivian, Nitsan Rotenberg, and Thomas Kennedy for delivering such a successful and engaging symposium.

📍Explore student research projects available at the Institute here: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/student-projects

06/05/2026

For more than 100 years, the gold-standard practice for pathologists to detect cancers and many other severe diseases has been by looking at slides under a microscope.

Now, a novel tool from QIMR Berghofer’s National Centre for Spatial Tissue and AI Research (NCSTAR) is opening a new paradigm.

The STimage tool gives pathologists the ‘super resolution vision of superman or superwoman’ to scan millions of invisible biomarkers, allowing patients to be diagnosed earlier and receive biologically-informed access to the best treatment option available for them sooner.

Read more: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/whats-on/news/ai-screening-tool-gives-pathologists-%27spatial-super-vision%27-to-detect-hidden-cancer

This week, the Institute took its Regional Education Program to Toowoomba!Partnering with the Toowoomba and Surat Basin ...
05/05/2026

This week, the Institute took its Regional Education Program to Toowoomba!

Partnering with the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, our team delivered an immersive medical research experience for 35 senior students from Toowoomba Grammar School, St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba Anglican School and The Glennie School.

Students engaged in a diverse program including:
• Career‑journey conversations with QIMR Berghofer scientists Drs Nigel Waterhouse and Ellie Paige, and PhD student Dana Friess
• A synchronised remote digital pathology session
• Hands‑on laboratory experiments
• A career‑pathways activity linking classroom science to real health‑sector opportunities
• A dynamic meet‑up with researchers

We love these opportunities! Building Queensland’s future research workforce starts right here.



Find out more about our Education program here: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/education/regional-education-program

30/04/2026

Dr Elina Panahi, a research officer from QIMR Berghofer’s Control Lab, is in Tonga this week with Pacmossi (Pacific Mosquito Surveillance Strengthening for Impact) to help test mosquitoes as part of efforts to combat .

We’re proud to support the Australian Government and other Pacific partners to help Pacmossi install more effective mosquito surveillance and control across the region.

To find out more about Dr Panahi’s work, head to https://www.qimrb.edu.au/researchers-and-labs/mosquito-control

Yesterday over 150 students from seven schools across South-East Queensland visited the Institute to participate in our ...
30/04/2026

Yesterday over 150 students from seven schools across South-East Queensland visited the Institute to participate in our bi-annual High School Seminar Series, focusing on psychology and mental health research.

The program featured:
⭐ Associate Professor Baptiste Couvy Duchesne on “Neuroimaging, the good, the bad and the dead salmon”
⭐ Lachlan Hamilton, PhD candidate, on “Is the brain a trombone?”
⭐ Dr Lotta Oikari on “Breaking barriers to treat dementia”, and;
⭐ Dr Jodi Thomas on “The genetics of depression”.

Students also heard an overview of education pathways and opportunities from our Education Coordinator, Dr Liam St Pierre, before enjoying a behind-the-scenes tour of our labs.

Dr St Pierre said the energy in the room was fantastic.

“The students asked such thoughtful and curious questions. You could really see how engaged they were and how keen they are to understand how science works in the real world.”

Our next High School Seminar Series is coming up in July and will focus on biology. We look forward to welcoming another group of curious minds very soon!

Learn more about QIMR Berghofer's High School Seminar Series here: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/education/high-school-seminar-series

Have you seen the beautiful artwork installation in our foyer at 300 Herston Road?An explanatory plaque is now in place ...
29/04/2026

Have you seen the beautiful artwork installation in our foyer at 300 Herston Road?

An explanatory plaque is now in place beside the Institute’s Reconciliation Action Plan artwork, inviting visitors to better understand the deep symbolism and meaning behind the piece.

Read on to learn more…

❤️ A Journey of Healing, Growth and Discovery - by the late artist, Leah Cummins, who was a proud Mayi-Kulan and Kalkadoon woman from Northwestern Queensland ❤️

At the heart of the piece is a central figure — symbolising the individual — supported by staff, services, and the wider community. Surrounding this figure are eight pillars, each representing one of the eight decades QIMR Berghofer has dedicated to advancing research.

Surrounding these are 10 pillars reflecting the core values and areas of focus that form the foundation of QIMR Berghofer.

Encircling these elements are microbes — the subjects of intense research by QIMR Berghofer scientists. Flowing through the artwork are river pathways, symbolising the discovery process and the growth it nurtures — mirrored in the thriving plant life depicted throughout the design.

The helping hands of QIMR Berghofer are shown through symbols of connection: palm leaves, shells, the reef, flowing rivers, and the vast blue ocean — linking bush to sea, and spreading across our communities like seeds carried on the wind. These elements illustrate QIMR Berghofer’s outreach — its staff connecting with communities, seeking solutions and cures for the health challenges faced by many Queenslanders.

Spotlight on… Judy Garcia! ✨ For many of us, the first friendly face we see each day at QIMR Berghofer belongs to our ne...
28/04/2026

Spotlight on… Judy Garcia! ✨

For many of us, the first friendly face we see each day at QIMR Berghofer belongs to our new Concierge, Judy Garcia.

Based at Reception, Judy has been with the Institute for just over three weeks and has already become a warm and engaging presence for staff, visitors and collaborators. As Concierge, she is the go‑to person for assistance with parking, visitor check‑ins and greeting anyone walking in or out of the building.

Before joining QIMR Berghofer, Judy worked in the hotel sector as both a receptionist and staff manager, balancing front‑of‑house service with back‑office coordination. Originally from Barcelona, she brings with her a strong commitment to exceptional customer service and says the welcome she’s received here has been wonderfully warm.

Next time you’re passing Reception, make sure you stop by and say hello to Judy as she settles into her new role.

Today we honour all those who have served, and those who continue to serve, our nation. ANZAC Day holds special signifi...
24/04/2026

Today we honour all those who have served, and those who continue to serve, our nation.

ANZAC Day holds special significance at QIMR Berghofer, as our history is closely linked to military service and medical research.

Founded in 1945, the Institute was shaped by the lessons of World War II, including the urgent need to address diseases affecting Australian troops deployed to tropical regions. posed a serious threat, leading the Australian Defence Force to invest heavily in research to prevent and manage the disease. and scrub typhus were also of great concern.

Our first Director, Dr Ian Mackerras, was a leading entomologist and parasitologist who served in both World Wars, retiring from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. His wife, Dr Josephine Mackerras, was also a distinguished parasitologist and Army officer. They have been described as one of the most productive husband-and-wife teams in Australian history. The Mackerrases combined their scientific expertise and frontline experience to conduct research that helped protect the health of Australian military personnel serving in tropical environments.

Their work strongly influenced the Institute’s early research priorities, and research into malaria and other tropical diseases continues at QIMR Berghofer today.

We are proud to honour and uphold their legacy.

Lest we forget.

Spotlight on…Dr Jasmin Straube! ✨Dr Jasmin Straube has dedicated her career to better understanding and treating aggress...
22/04/2026

Spotlight on…Dr Jasmin Straube! ✨

Dr Jasmin Straube has dedicated her career to better understanding and treating aggressive and difficult to treat , including acute myeloid (AML).

As a Senior Research Officer in The Leukaemia Research Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer, Dr Straube studies a rare group of cells known as leukaemia stem cells.

These cells are incredibly resilient and can survive treatment and allow cancer to return. By uncovering what makes these cells so resilient, Dr Straube’s research aims to stop cancer from recurring.

Using sophisticated sequencing methods and computer-based modelling, she explores how genetic changes affect cancer cell growth, treatment response and the immune system. This work helps explain why certain treatments work well for some patients and not others, opening avenues for more tailored approaches to patient care.

It was fantastic to hear from Dr Straube at our internal “Science Explained: Lunch and Learn” seminar (pictured, with QIMR Berghofer Interim Director and CEO, Professor Grant Ramm) earlier this week!

📍 Learn more about Dr Straube’s research on our website: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about/our-people/jasmin-straube

A breakthrough born in a Brisbane lab is now one step closer to helping patients worldwide. 🌏💙 Kazia Therapeutics has ac...
21/04/2026

A breakthrough born in a Brisbane lab is now one step closer to helping patients worldwide. 🌏💙

Kazia Therapeutics has acquired a potential new cancer therapy developed by QIMR Berghofer’s Professor Sudha Rao — her third discovery to be taken forward by the company in just two years.

The therapy targets SETDB1, a protein cancers use to stay hidden from the immune system. By blocking it, tumours may become visible again, allowing immunotherapy to do its job.

Professor Rao has also been appointed Chief Scientific Officer at Kazia Therapeutics.

Congratulations Professor Rao!

Read more: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/whats-on/news/drug-developer-acquires-potential-cancer-treatment-discovered-by-qimr-berghofer-researcher

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