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Institute for Molecular Bioscience

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

08/12/2025

🌱 Science, art and a moment of inspiration 🎨

At discovery happens not just in the lab — it’s in the connections we make.

When artist Hiromi Tango first saw Professor David Craik’s plants producing medicines, she saw more than science; she saw a story to share with the world. Her creative perspective, in turn, inspired David to reflect on his work in new ways:

“Her work and gentle spirit… allowed me to reflect more and think more deeply about our science. Art and science are actually two very similar professions… both creating things that no one had thought about before.”

Watch as together, they show how and grow stronger when different perspectives meet ✨

07/12/2025

was built for discovery 🔍

25 years ago, Project Leader Mark Roehrs set out to fix a problem: in traditional labs, scientists worked in silos and rarely crossed paths. His solution? Design a building that encourages connection.

By placing offices, open labs, and support spaces side by side, the Precinct at was designed to foster daily collaboration. Former IMB Director of Institute Operations Ian Taylor says it best: “By having a large open laboratory space, you've got interaction because you can see everyone else on your floor — you share equipment.”

Roehrs also engineered flexibility into the structure itself, allowing over 600 researchers to adapt and evolve their space as science evolves. Today, the is recognised as a national leader in — proving that architecture can be as transformative as the it supports.

What is your favourite IMB design feature? 🤔

05/12/2025

Today we celebrate at 🤝

A huge thank you to all the incredible people who support our scientific community — from ambassadors to volunteers. Your contributions are truly the heartbeat of our institute.

The 2025 theme, “Every Contribution Matters,” highlights how every act of volunteering, big or small, helps build a stronger and more connected world.

This day also marks the launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026) — a initiative showcasing the vital role of volunteering in achieving global sustainability 🌏

We’re proud to join in championing a future where is at the heart of communities.

04/12/2025

You won’t find the Very Hungry Caterpillar in IMB’s library…but you will find the Very Venomous Caterpillar — and scientists have just decoded its DNA 🐛🔬

have sequenced the genome of Doratifera vulnerans, the striking Mottled Cup Moth found in Brisbane’s Toohey Forest Park. Their discovery? A tiny creature whose has evolved into a powerful chemical defence — including toxins that may be harnessed for new drug development.

Led by Dr Andrew Walker at , the team uncovered 151 protein‑based toxins in its venom. Some can kill bacteria, parasites; others interact with human receptors linked to epilepsy, stroke and even cancer 💊

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( ), this work reveals how caterpillar venoms evolve across species — and showcases the power of IMB’s world-leading invertebrate venom library to drive discoveries.

Explore how this “pocket rocket” of the insect world could inspire future medicines 👉 https://news.uq.edu.au/2025-12-scientists-read-very-venomous-caterpillars-dna

This research was conducted in collaboration with MedGenome and supported by:
The Australian Research Council, including the Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Protein and Peptide Science, The National Health and Medical Research Council, The US Department of Defense and The Wellcome Trust, through CO-ADD (Community for Antimicrobial Drug Discovery).

03/12/2025

🧬 25 years of shaping the future of personalised medicine

“Differences in our DNA make us unique — not just in appearance, but in how we respond to our environment, diseases, and treatments,” says Associate Professor Sonia Shah.

From a single drop of blood, researchers can now sequence an entire genome and predict risk for up to 100 diseases — moving beyond “one-size-fits-all” medicine to treatments tailored to each individual.

As Professor Loïc Yengo explains, over 90% of global genetic studies focus on people of European descent, limiting accuracy for many populations. That’s why is collecting data from diverse communities and building models to improve risk prediction for everyone.

✨ Discover how IMB is making personalised medicine accessible.

02/12/2025

🌱 Vote for a greener future! 🌱

Every two hours, the sun delivers more energy than the world uses in a year. At , Professor Ben Hankamer is harnessing sunlight with to create bio-batteries, sustainable fuels, and even future medicines — innovations that not only tackle global challenges but also support green regional jobs.

As a finalist in the category, he needs your support! Vote for “Solar biotechnologies: harnessing light to solve global challenges” by 19 Jan 2026. Every vote counts — vote as many times as you like!

🔗 Vote here: https://www.shapingaustraliaawards.com.au/finalists/solar-biotechnologies-harnessing-light-to-power-to-solve-global-challenges-uq

01/12/2025

We're powering through to the end of the year, celebrating our 25th anniversary with some incredible throwback research. In 2015, we partnered with Trinity College Dublin to tackle a bold question: what if there were an ‘off-switch’ for pain? 📴

This research led us to investigate the molecule known as and its potential as a breakthrough in treating inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis, as well as rare genetic conditions that manifest at birth.

Dr Rebecca Coll from IMB said:

“Inflammatory diseases result when our immune system is unable to switch off and so causes chronic inflammation in the body.”

“We now know that MCC950 can block an important component of the immune response — an inflammasome called NLRP3 that ‘switches on’ inflammation in our immune cells.”

In diseases like CAPS (a rare autoinflammatory disorder), symptoms such as rashes, fevers, joint pain and headaches are often present at birth and persist throughout life. MCC950 targets the root of this overreaction: a protein complex called the NLRP3 inflammasome. And the benefits don’t end there:

💊 MCC950 can be taken orally.
💸 It’s cheaper to produce than protein-based therapies
⏱️ It clears from the body quickly, so doctors can pause treatment if needed
🌍 And it might help treat many inflammatory diseases, not just one

So today, you can think of MCC950 as a tiny molecular “off switch” for runaway immune responses!

Read more: https://imb.uq.edu.au/molecule-could-improve-treatments

30/11/2025

Is chronic inflammation fuelling modern diseases — and can we turn it off? 🔥

Professor Jenny Stow and her team are investigating the immune system’s first responders (macrophages) and how everyday exposures like processed foods, pollutants, and keep our bodies in a state of chronic inflammation.

By mapping the proteins that act as inflammation “switches,” they’re uncovering how to precisely control immune responses. This could lead to targeted therapies that fine-tune inflammation across tissues and diseases, including

See how collaboration and cutting-edge science are that matter.

27/11/2025

Ever wonder how the brain knows which nutrients to let in...and which to keep out?

Last year, Dr Rosemary Cater and her team at uncovered how the essential nutrient choline slips past the brain’s elite security system (the blood-brain barrier) using a molecular transporter called

By zooming in with cryo-electron microscopy, the team discovered that FLVCR2:

🚪 acts like a tiny protein doorway
👋 guides choline into the brain
💊 reveals a promising pathway that researchers can use to design smarter drugs for neurological disorders (like Alzheimer’s and stroke)

This research also reminds us just how important it is to eat choline-rich foods (think: eggs, veggies, beans and nuts) to keep our brains fuelled for life and discovery!

Another step forward in decoding the brain, and another moment in our series of as we celebrate and look back on 25 years of

Read more: https://news.uq.edu.au/2024-05-02-nutrient-research-reveals-pathway-treating-brain-disorders

25/11/2025

Vote now in the Jo Underhill Art Award - People's Choice Award! 🎨

The annual Jo Underhill is back, celebrating the powerful intersection of and at Each year, our staff create imaginative works inspired by science - and now you get to choose the winner! The People’s Choice Award is open for public voting — each entry shines a light on the of our researchers and the colleagues, partners, and supporters who make our work possible.

This award honours Jo Underhill, IMB’s former Artist-in-Residence whose playful spirit and artistic vision helped us see science differently. During her courageous journey with Hodgkins's lymphoma, Jo collaborated with IMB researchers, creating more than twenty original artworks that continue to inspire us.

Vote now to celebrate creativity and science before voting closes 2 December 👉 https://forms.office.com/r/7VDLbWXkKj?origin=lprLink

23/11/2025

From lab bench to market, has been driving impact for 25 years💫

IMB’s greatest strengths lie not only in cutting-edge science, but in the partnerships forged to drive innovation. This collaboration elevates the cross-disciplinary environment of turning ideas into impact 🌏

“…We can walk between floors and talk to world experts in genomics, cell biology, drug discovery and bring these ideas together,” says Professor Nathan Palpant.

“And we can take a discovery all the way through the drug discovery and commercialisation pathway,” adds Professor Glen King.

With support from organisations including the Foundation and the Government IMB takes a bold approach to spinning out companies, launching more than 20 ventures to bring science to market. Our message is clear: flexibility, collaboration, and purpose-driven science are key to transforming lives.

Curing disease: it's

Want to partner with us? 📧 businessdevelopment@imb.uq.edu.au

21/11/2025

Superbugs are getting stronger… but the next lifesaving antibiotic could be hiding in your backyard 🌱🧫

Antimicrobial resistance ( ) is rising fast — and the treatments we rely on are losing their power. In Australia, deaths from drug-resistant infections are already higher than they were a decade ago.

But here’s the plot twist: nature still holds the upper hand.

More than half of today’s antibiotics were first discovered in soil, and Queensland’s extraordinary biodiversity means our beaches, rainforests, wetlands, and deserts are full of microbes we haven’t even met yet.That’s where comes in. This program empowers everyday Australians to help uncover the next generation of antibiotics, straight from the ground beneath our feet.

This World AMR Week, join the hunt for microbes that could save lives!

Request your free soil kit and start digging for discoveries:
👉 https://www.explore.imb.uq.edu.au/soils_for_science/request_soil_kit

Address

306 Carmody Road
Brisbane, QLD
4072

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://imb.uq.edu.au/

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Our Story

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.