Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Institute for Molecular Bioscience We harness nature to discover cures for a better world Our vision is to create a world with a cure for every disease.

We harness our knowledge of nature to create sustainable cures for diseases that plague people, animals and plants. Our researchers use Australian venoms, plants and soils to stop superbugs in their tracks, to create better cancer treatments, to ensure patients survive strokes and heart attacks, to solve inflammatory diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and to develop environmentally frie

ndly and effective pesticides. We are based at The University of Queensland in Brisbane/Meanjin, Australia.

Thank you to everyone who joined and supported us for Bridge to Brisbane yesterday! πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ πŸŽ‰ We had an amazing turnout of ...
09/09/2024

Thank you to everyone who joined and supported us for Bridge to Brisbane yesterday! πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ πŸŽ‰

We had an amazing turnout of 50 runners, joggers and walkers all participating to raise funds for IMB's research.

If you missed out on donating to our endometriosis research, it's not too late! Small amounts add up - donation as little as $7 will make a meaningful difference πŸ’œ

πŸ”— Donate here: https://bit.ly/3Zg7Dre

πŸ“’ PhD applications (Domestic Round 1) close this week, 8 September at 11:59pm!Get in quick to be considered. Good luck πŸ€...
05/09/2024

πŸ“’ PhD applications (Domestic Round 1) close this week, 8 September at 11:59pm!

Get in quick to be considered. Good luck πŸ€

Apply here: https://bit.ly/3z8va2L

Help improve the lives of people impacted by   through supporting our team at the 2024 Bridge to Brisbane! πŸƒβ€β™€οΈThis Sund...
02/09/2024

Help improve the lives of people impacted by through supporting our team at the 2024 Bridge to Brisbane! πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

This Sunday 8 Sep 2024, a team of advocates from QENDO, UQ Researchers, donors and corporate supporters are joining forces at Bridge to Brisbane to raise funds for UQ endometriosis research.

Small amounts definitely add up and greatly encourage the team, so this week, please consider donating the price of two coffees to your favourite walker, runner or jogger!

Our endometriosis research is focused on:
- Reducing diagnostic delays
- Helping doctors understand the clinical implications of patient experiences, and
- Developing targeted endometriosis treatments including:

Thank you. Each donation brings us one step closer! πŸ’œ

πŸ”— Donate today: https://bit.ly/4cUJLg6

Are you wearing purple today? πŸ’œπŸŒˆToday is 'Wear it Purple Day' at UQ, a day where UQ staff and students wear purple to hi...
30/08/2024

Are you wearing purple today? πŸ’œπŸŒˆ

Today is 'Wear it Purple Day' at UQ, a day where UQ staff and students wear purple to highlight the importance of supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.

In addition to our purple-bedecked staff and students, Global Challenges scholar Lily Kenchington-Evans shared her research on antimicrobial resistance during the Wear it Purple Day Research Morning, which shared research on LGBTQIA+ topics and research by members of this community.

πŸ“· Pictured: Tony W., Dr Jane I.

Cells need to move through the body to perform their everyday functions but how they do this, especially in a crowded ti...
27/08/2024

Cells need to move through the body to perform their everyday functions but how they do this, especially in a crowded tissue environment, is a mystery. πŸ•΅οΈβ€β™€οΈ

Latest research by IMB and Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology - AIBN's Dr Samantha Stehbens sheds light on this process and defines a new set of principles that challenge how we believe cells experience and survive compression while navigating through crowded areas.

One potential application is weakening cancer cells to block their journey to other organs.

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/3yVoYLv

Will genetic engineering reshape humanity? 🧬That was the big question at this year's UQ Ideas Forum, hosted by Queenslan...
22/08/2024

Will genetic engineering reshape humanity? 🧬

That was the big question at this year's UQ Ideas Forum, hosted by Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) and held in recognition of National Science Week.

We welcomed the next generation of scientists from Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics & Technology (SMT) and Brisbane Grammar School to join us in discussions with our researchers on genetic engineering and how we may use it to tackle problems threatening our species.

IMB's Dr Daniel Liang-Dar Hwang joined Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology - AIBN A/Prof Jessica Mar, QBI's Timothy Bredy, and science communicator Dr Joel Gilmore for a panel discussion. Dr Hwang shared his research on the genetics of taste during a wide-ranging discussion on the possibilities and considerations of genetic engineering.

We were very impressed at the insightful questions and comments from the students, and their pitches on how they would use genetic engineering to improve the world.

Thank you for having us QBI, and to everyone who attended, and congratulations to the winning team from SMT, who will undertake internships at UQ.

Researchers have discovered how cell 'skeletons' cooperate to remove dying cells from epithelial tissues such as the gut...
21/08/2024

Researchers have discovered how cell 'skeletons' cooperate to remove dying cells from epithelial tissues such as the gut and breast - a critical process for maintaining healthy cells.

But this process can be disrupted in diseases, sometimes leading to the development of cancer.

These findings pave the way for further research into how disease increases cell death and inflammation, and potentially identify new ways to prevent or halt it.

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZcP4ob

Bageshri Nanavati, Ivaar Noordstra, Angela Lwin, John Brooks, James Rae, Robert Parton, Suzie Verma, Kinga Duszyc, Alpha Yap

πŸ“·: Image of colon cancer cells depicting the cell skeleton (cyan), cell membrane (yellow) and nucleus (magenta). Image by Dr Bageshri Nanavati.

19/08/2024
Join Nobel Award-winning scientist and UQ Alum, Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, for a lecture that honours his major c...
12/08/2024

Join Nobel Award-winning scientist and UQ Alum, Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, for a lecture that honours his major contributions to infection and immunology.

Be inspired as you hear Laureate Professor Doherty reflect on how his Nobel Prize-winning discovery changed our understanding of the immune system and the trajectory of his career, leading to tireless efforts to improve health in developing nations through vaccination, and to promote scientific literacy and engagement through books and trusted commentary, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

πŸ“… Monday, 30 September
πŸ•  5:30 - 7pm
πŸ“ Customs House, 399 Queen Street, Brisbane
🎟️ $50. Includes complimentary drink and refreshments

πŸ”— Register: https://bit.ly/3LZGmBR

----

The Peter Doherty Nobel Lecture Series has been established to celebrate the significant contributions made by Nobel Laureates in Australia and internationally. The series is named in honour of UQ's first - and so far, only - graduate to win a Nobel Prize.

Every other year, a Nobel Prize winner from Physics, Chemistry, Physiology/Medicine, Peace, Literature or Economics will be featured.

Did you know that just two hours of sunlight could power the Earth's economy for a year? β˜€οΈJoin the Centre for Solar Bio...
07/08/2024

Did you know that just two hours of sunlight could power the Earth's economy for a year? β˜€οΈ

Join the Centre for Solar Biotechnology at IMB and work on this exciting Earmarked PhD project to understand and optimise the light-capture capabilities of microalgae.

πŸ”— Find out more: https://bit.ly/46zqjEf

Get in quick. Applications close 30 September.

See Dr Clara Jiang this Saturday at Soapbox Science where she will share her work on 'Closing the gender gap in heart di...
07/08/2024

See Dr Clara Jiang this Saturday at Soapbox Science where she will share her work on 'Closing the gender gap in heart disease'.

πŸ“… Saturday 10 August
πŸ•™ 10am - 1pm
πŸ“Sisters Green, Museum Precinct, South Bank, Brisbane

Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women and non-binary scientists and the science they do.

πŸ”— Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ftE77j

Miss out on the IMB x Fashion Queensland gala?Not to worry. You can see the five exquisite garments inspired by IMB rese...
01/08/2024

Miss out on the IMB x Fashion Queensland gala?

Not to worry. You can see the five exquisite garments inspired by IMB research at Brisbane Fashion Month this October.

πŸ”— Find out more: https://bit.ly/3ynMocg

26/07/2024

Imagine waking up every day wondering if you are going to have a 'good' or 'bad' pain day. 😣

That is the reality of more than 1 in 5 Australians who live with chronic pain.

But what is chronic pain and how can we treat it?

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/4fjY5RB

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Cheese and Chats at The Atrium with the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG)! πŸ§€  ...
25/07/2024

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Cheese and Chats at The Atrium with the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG)! πŸ§€

CCRG has become a world leader in critical care research and biomedical engineering, pioneering technologies that improve outcomes for critically ill patients. Last week, CCRG celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a gala dinner at Queensland Parliament House with Shannon Fentiman MP recognising the group's ground-breaking research and unwavering dedication to improving patient care.

Heart transplant is currently the only effective treatment for end-stage heart failure and a shortage of donors presents a real challenge.

On the evening guests enjoyed a heart-felt panel discussion featuring the Head of Cardiothoracic Transplantation Research at CCRG, Professor David McGiffin, heart double-lung transplant recipient, Kate Phillips and Senior Media and Communications Officer at CCRG, Lauren Kelly, facilitated by IMB’s Wendy Mansell.

The panellists shared their stories and their bold visions to revolutionise heart transplantation.

πŸ”— Learn more about CCRG: https://bit.ly/3Skp7Pd

πŸ”— Want to tour our labs and witness our cutting-edge cardiovascular research for yourself? Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to know about our next free public tour: https://bit.ly/3WzvgJB

Bacterial biofilms have been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and irritable bowel diseases (IBD). But what are t...
23/07/2024

Bacterial biofilms have been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and irritable bowel diseases (IBD).

But what are they and why are they in our gut?

Removing them has given temporary relief for some, but researchers are looking to nature for longer lasting solutions.

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/3y5dV1X

Congratulations to our 2024 (mid-year) graduates! πŸŽ“ Completing a PhD is no easy feat. We are proud of each and everyone ...
18/07/2024

Congratulations to our 2024 (mid-year) graduates! πŸŽ“ Completing a PhD is no easy feat. We are proud of each and everyone of you and wish you every success in your futures, wherever that may take you πŸ’œ

A big congratulations to the following:

πŸŽ“ Dr Solal Chauquet
πŸŽ“ Dr Daniela Rojas Azofeifa
πŸŽ“ Dr Thulasi Sritharan
πŸŽ“ Dr Minh Tran
πŸŽ“ Dr Ang Li
πŸŽ“ Dr Zhixuan Wu
πŸŽ“ Dr Alesha Hatton
πŸŽ“ Dr Grace Lawrence
πŸŽ“ Dr Thi Thuy Linh Nguyen
πŸŽ“ Dr Freya Hodges
πŸŽ“ Dr Sixin Tian
πŸŽ“ Dr Xiao Tan
πŸŽ“ Dr Jing Xie
πŸŽ“ Dr Sabar Budiman
πŸŽ“ Dr Gavin Rice
πŸŽ“ Dr Charu Deepika
πŸŽ“ Dr Yizhuo Wang
πŸŽ“ Dr Viviene Santiago
πŸŽ“ Dr Beilei Bian
πŸŽ“ Dr Feifei Cheng
πŸŽ“ Dr Quang Anh Tuan Vo
πŸŽ“ Dr Tristan Tyler

Are you thinking of doing a PhD at IMB? πŸ‘‰ https://bit.ly/4cGNmza

Nature has long been a source of inspiration for medicines. 🌱With the rise of antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) and an...
17/07/2024

Nature has long been a source of inspiration for medicines. 🌱

With the rise of antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) and an increase in chronic diseases, now more than ever we need to look around us for new inspiration.

IMB's Global Challenges Scholarship theme for 2025 is 'Drugs inspired by nature'. Explore an exciting array of projects developing the next generation of medicines from sources such as soil and marine microbes, venoms and more.

What will you discover?

πŸ”— Explore PhD projects: https://bit.ly/3Sfw4kn

*PhD applications close 8 September. To qualify for a Global Challenges Scholarship, ensure you choose a Global Challenges project and complete the Expression of Interest form on the IMB website.

Last chance to register!Heart transplant is currently the only effective treatment for end-stage heart failure. However,...
16/07/2024

Last chance to register!

Heart transplant is currently the only effective treatment for end-stage heart failure. However, the shortage of donor organs presents a significant challenge.

How can we ensure every available heart gives new life to a recipient?

Join us for Cheese and Chats where UQ and Critical Care Research Group experts will share their bold vision to revolutionise heart transplantation. Hear the stories of three people intimately involved in the process: the surgeon, the patient and the storytellerβ€”Professor David McGiffin, Kate Phillips and Lauren Kelly.

UQ Alumni

πŸ”— Register here: https://bit.ly/3W23STg

Yesterday we were honoured to welcome James Lister MP - Member for Southern Downs and Tony Perrett MP to our labs to exp...
16/07/2024

Yesterday we were honoured to welcome James Lister MP - Member for Southern Downs and Tony Perrett MP to our labs to explore our venoms research and discuss research opportunities to eradicate fire ants.

Thank you and we hope to see you again soon!

What happens when fashion meets science... 😍We were blown away by the incredible designs at tonight’s Fashion Queensland...
11/07/2024

What happens when fashion meets science... 😍

We were blown away by the incredible designs at tonight’s Fashion Queensland Gala Dinner. All of them inspired by research right here at IMB!

Thank you to Fashion Queensland, Queensland Museum Kurilpa, the designers and all of our guests for an incredible night.

Miss out? Don’t worry. There will be another chance πŸ˜‰

πŸ‘— 1. Designed by Briana Enoch from Jarawee who brought in country and culture to this project. Her design depicts beautiful wildflowers.

πŸ‘— 2. Designed by Joshua from Djordjewitsch. Inspired by how spider venom can take a life but can also save a life (King Lab).

πŸ‘— 3. Designed by Joash Teo from Joteo. Inspired by Professor Glenn King’s work on venoms from Funnel Web spiders.

πŸ‘— 4. Designed by George Wu couture atelier. Inspired by what you see under the microscope. The embroidery of the design mimics cells and their flow.

πŸ‘— 5. Designed by Kiara and Bianca Bulley from Bulley Bulley. Inspired by the beauty of bacteria growing on agar plates as demonstrated by Dr Zeinab Khalil.

Heart transplant is currently the only effective treatment for end-stage heart failure. However, the shortage of donor o...
08/07/2024

Heart transplant is currently the only effective treatment for end-stage heart failure. However, the shortage of donor organs presents a significant challenge.

How can we ensure every available heart gives new life to a recipient?

Join us for Cheese and Chats where UQ and Critical Care Research Group experts will share their bold vision to revolutionise heart transplantation. Hear the stories of three people intimately involved in the process: the surgeon, the patient and the storytellerβ€”Professor David McGiffin, Kate Phillips and Lauren Kelly.

UQ Alumni

πŸ”— Register here: https://bit.ly/4cJyi3i

Researchers have unlocked crucial molecular secrets of ageing in cells, potentially paving the way to improve quality of...
07/07/2024

Researchers have unlocked crucial molecular secrets of ageing in cells, potentially paving the way to improve quality of life as people age.

The study decoded the process by which genes regulate how people mature as they grow and age, and was led by Dr Christian Nefzger with key contributions from Dr Ralph Patrick and Dr Marina Naval-Sanchez.

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/3xOP3va

04/07/2024

Why is it always the cute ones? πŸ›

Meet the electric caterpillar - with a painful sting that can last for days.

"This caterpillar has caused us to revise our theories of how venom evolved" - Dr Andrew Walker

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/45Pm9aU

02/07/2024
01/07/2024

Researchers have imaged key developmental stages for the first time, deepening our understanding of birth defects.

πŸ”¬Dr Melanie White, Dr Yanina Alvarez

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/3RPVDIC

Researchers have for the first time captured images and video in real time of early embryonic development to understand ...
01/07/2024

Researchers have for the first time captured images and video in real time of early embryonic development to understand more about congenital birth defects.

Dr Melanie White and Dr Yanina Alvarez used quail eggs to understand how cells begin to form tissues such as the heart, brain and spinal cord.

πŸ”— Read more: https://bit.ly/45Lo6Fk

Our Global Challenges scholars tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time. Working as a cohort, they take a dee...
27/06/2024

Our Global Challenges scholars tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time. Working as a cohort, they take a deep dive into a specialised topic and use a multi-disciplinary approach to find solutions.

Do your PhD at IMB and apply for a Global Challenges Scholarship to receive the following additional support:

πŸŽ“ +$5,000 per annum (top-up to UQ Graduate School Scholarship)
πŸŽ“ +$5,000 for an industry placement
πŸŽ“ +$2,000 professional development support
πŸŽ“ Laptop and desk setup
πŸŽ“ An all-inclusive retreat with your fellow scholars
πŸŽ“ Industry networking opportunities
πŸŽ“ Much more!

To be considered, submit an expression of interest on the IMB website. Open to Domestic candidates only.

πŸ”— Find out more: https://bit.ly/4eIBhe0

Today we welcomed students from the Health Sciences InspireU program to IMB.They visited Professor Glenn King's Lab wher...
26/06/2024

Today we welcomed students from the Health Sciences InspireU program to IMB.

They visited Professor Glenn King's Lab where they learnt about our venoms research and even got to see some of our spiders! πŸ•·οΈ

They also learnt about tardigrades from Professor Rob Parton and experienced our Virtual Reality station taking, a journey into the cell.

Thank you for visiting IMB and we hope we inspired the next generation of researchers and IMB students πŸ˜‰

--

The InspireU Program brings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students from across the state for a week-long camp on our St Lucia campus in Brisbane. They participate in a range of interactive and fun activities led by UQ academics and industry and community partners.

What do you think about  ?Most people think of danger but Andrew Walker and Glenn King see it as an opportunity to heal....
24/06/2024

What do you think about ?

Most people think of danger but Andrew Walker and Glenn King see it as an opportunity to heal.

πŸ”— Read more via The Guardian πŸ‘‡

For people in north Queensland, a bright green caterpillar’s sting β€˜feels like the seven rings of hell’. But scientists in Brisbane hope its toxin can be used to help, not harm

From discovering new treatments for cardiovascular disease to improving health equity and empowering women in STEM – all...
21/06/2024

From discovering new treatments for cardiovascular disease to improving health equity and empowering women in STEM – all possible because of our generous donors and support from our community πŸ’œ

View our Impact Report to see some of the many game-changing research discoveries this past year.

πŸ”— Impact Report: https://bit.ly/3Le6hW5

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306 Carmody Road
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IMB is a multidisciplinary life sciences research institute. Our scientists use world-leading infrastructure to drive discoveries from genome to drug design, disease discovery application and sustainable futures. Our research is framed through centres focused on superbugs, pain, heart disease, inflammation, solar biotechnology and the genomics-disease interplay.


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