Professor Peter Gray

A new $50 million Institute will spearhead research into biomedical delivery, biodevices, tissue regeneration and cell therapies.

Taking giant scientific leaps using the smallest of matter is one priority for University of Queensland researchers at the new $50 million Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.

Bioengineering and nanotechnology are important new areas of research, with potential benefits in health, manufacturing, information technology and the environment.

Nanotechnology is the ability to systematically build structures atom by atom at the molecular level, while bioengineering involves the design of artificial human organs and tissues.

The AIBN will also focus on areas of biotechnology such as developing materials that are less likely to be rejected when used in tissue or organ replacement.

The AIBN has been housed in the School of Biomedical Sciences since being established at the end of 2002. Plans for a more permanent home have been completed and construction of the
state-of-the art facility at UQ's St Lucia campus, is expected to begin in July 2004 and be completed at the end of 2005.

Professor Peter Gray joined the AIBN in August as inaugural Director, moving from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) where he was Director of the Bioengineering Centre and Professor of Biotechnology, as well as a Senior Principal Research Fellow with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

While at UNSW, he built up research and development capabilities in mammalian cell culture to the stage where the university was the Australian leader, with an extensive collaborative network of international research groups and corporations.

Professor Gray has also had commercial experience in the USA working for Eli Lilly and Co and for Cetus Corporation, as well as holding academic positions at the University College of London and at the University of California, Berkley.

 He was also one of the founders, and is a past president of, the Australian Biotechnology Association (Ausbiotech) and is regularly called upon as an expert witness in biotechnology patent cases.

"It's an exciting opportunity given the very rapid development coming out of the fields of nanotechnology and biotechnology," Professor Gray said.

Professor Gray said he was also looking forward to building on UQ's already strong links to commercial activities.

UQ's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor David Siddle said having an eminent researcher such as Professor Gray heading the AIBN was a coup for the University.

Professor Peter Gray www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/graypp.html

On this site

Go to top