Institute for Molecular Bioscience

05/05/2026

Aussie algae in action 💚

IMB's Dr Melanie Oey is investigating how Queensland microalgae can support cell culture systems used in cultivated meat research.

By exploring algae‑assisted co‑cultivation, this work examines how algae can improve oxygen availability, nutrient use and waste management in cell cultures — while also generating algal biomass that may be used for other applications.

The research highlights the potential of algae to contribute to more efficient and sustainable biomanufacturing systems, in collaboration with industry partners including Magic Valley.

🧪 Read more in Protein Production Technology International – Algae Ascent (2026) https://bit.ly/48Ftnko

Research out of IMB's Centre for Solar Biotechnology.

The research highlights the potential of algae to contribute to more efficient and sustainable biomanufacturing systems, in collaboration with industry partners, including

30/04/2026

What if we could watch the spine form in real time?

New research published in Nature Communications shows how fluorescent quail embryos are helping scientists understand neural tube defects, which affect more than 200,000 pregnancies each year.

IMB's PhD student SamaraRaine explains the breakthrough in her latest article for The Conversation Australia + NZ: https://bit.ly/4eSomc2

28/04/2026

🧬 The first month of pregnancy can shape a lifetime.

Researchers from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), with support from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology - AIBN, have, for the first time, observed how tiny disruptions in early embryonic development can lead to serious birth defects.

Using advanced real-time imaging of quail embryos (which develop in ways similar to humans), the team watched how the neural tube, the structure that forms the brain and spinal cord, can fail to join correctly, causing junctional neural tube defects (JNTD), a rare type of birth defect.

The research shows how disruption to a protein called PRICKLE1, which helps control how cells move and organise during development, can interfere with this critical process.

Lead author Dr Jian Xiong Wang, senior researcher Dr Mel White, and collaborator Associate Professor Samantha J. Stehbens (AIBN) say the findings improve understanding of how these birth defects occur and open new avenues for future prevention, screening and treatment.

📖 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4cTfj8b

26/04/2026

💊 A new pill that could change the lives of millions

Psoriasis affects an estimated 60 to 125 million people worldwide—and a new once-daily treatment is now set to reach patients.

Designed through an embedded research program at The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the drug was developed in partnership with Protagonist Therapeutics and Johnson & Johnson.

As the first targeted oral peptide to block the IL-23 receptor, Icotyde combines biologic-level efficacy with the simplicity of a daily pill—marking a life-changing step forward in treatment, which has long been dominated by injectables.

Icotyde has received FDA approval and is heading to market, offering a promising new option for those living with moderate-to-severe disease.

A meaningful example of how embedded research programs can help translate discovery into real-world therapies.

Read more here - https://bit.ly/4u3R2Df

24/04/2026

Endometriosis treatment is still trial-and-error. What if we could change that?

At this year’s Pint of Science AU Festival, IMB researcher Isaac Kyei Barffour is taking you inside the lab — where endometriosis is being grown and studied to better understand the disease and accelerate drug discovery.

Because right now, how endometriosis starts and progresses remains largely unknown.

🧬 Using molecular medicine and genome engineering, Isaac’s research is helping unlock new pathways for treatment and move beyond guesswork.

No science background needed — just bring your curiosity.

📍 Brisbane Brewing Co
🗓 Tuesday 19 May
⏰ 6:00pm – 8:30pm
🎟 $15 (limited tickets remaining)
👉 Book your spot: https://bit.ly/4sxS755

23/04/2026

IMB research, powered by the data collected through the antimicrobial screening initiative Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery - Co-Add , is helping shape the global response to emerging fungal threats.

IMB's research program has been recognised in a World Health Organization (WHO) assessment of the global antifungal pipeline, published in The Lancet Microbe.

The findings are clear: despite rising infections and resistance, the pipeline remains early-stage and underpowered — reinforcing the importance of continued investment in discovery research.

IMB is proud to be part of this critical global effort.

Read more here -https://bit.ly/41x7GiB

17/04/2026

The stage is set… for superbugs 🦠

PhD researcher Lily Kenchington-Evans is searching for new antibiotics to tackle the growing threat of drug-resistant bacteria here at 's IMB.

From designing new compounds in the lab to sharing science with the community, Lily brings creativity to research and communication.

Read more about Lily’s work here 👉 https://bit.ly/4aNZnEs

Check out the Pint of Science Festival (18–20 May) and get amongst some mind-bending research.

16/04/2026

Australia is at risk of losing a generation of researchers.

Funding success rates have fallen below 10% and are now closer to 4%, for early and mid-career scientists, while MRFF funding remains underutilised.

An open letter led by the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG), backed by the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), is calling for urgent action:

• Unlock the full capacity of the MRFF
• Make science a sustainable career
• Build a connected innovation system

This is about more than research. It’s about Australia’s future health, economy and global competitiveness.

Researchers, clinicians and sector leaders are invited to add their name.

✍️ Sign the Open Letter: https://bit.ly/4cMFiiF

Join our Open Letter to Minister Mark Butler calling for the full capacity of the MRFF to be unlocked. Australia stands at a critical juncture for medical research and innovation. The decisions we make now will shape our health, economy and sovereign capability for decades.

16/04/2026

Green means go! 🚦

In just 24 hours, this algae has grown from pale green to a rich, dense dark green, ready to help lab-grown muscle cells thrive.

On the way to a next-generation, sustainable algae technology that supports cultivated meat—producing oxygen, clearing waste, and cutting costs.

Mother Nature meets lab innovation.

Read more about the research here 👉https://bit.ly/4cVCJvo

14/04/2026

Love hormone on, love hormone off....

IMB's Professor Markus Muttenthaler and his research team have developed a molecular light switch that allows oxytocin, the hormone linked to trust, bonding and emotional connection, to be activated with pinpoint precision inside the brain.

By controlling exactly when and where oxytocin is released, scientists can now observe how social behaviours and emotions are wired at the level of individual brain cells.

So why does this matter?

🧠 Helps reveal how the brain forms social connections
💛 Improves our understanding of conditions like anxiety, autism, PTSD and depression
🔬 Opens the door to more targeted future therapies

A powerful new tool for decoding the biology of human connection.

Read more here 👉 https://bit.ly/4tNpAcH

Tag someone below who helps your brain release a little extra oxytocin 💞

02/04/2026

Before cells begin their journey through the developing body, do they already know what they will become?

New research published in Nature suggests the answer is yes.

IMB scientists contributed to an international study with collaborators from the University of California San Diego and The University of Utah, revealing that neural crest cells – the cells that help form nerves, pigment cells and facial tissues – make key fate decisions much earlier than previously understood.

By combining live imaging in quail embryos with human and mouse data, the team tracked individual cells in real time, uncovering new insights into one of the most fundamental questions in developmental biology.

Read the paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10313-0

Image: Neural Cell Crest