Science's New Age

The importance of developing a critical mass of research expertise is well recognised by the University of Queensland.

UQ's INSTITUTES

A $20 million dollar commitment from the Queensland Government will ensure that construction starts soon on the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI).

The QBI, together with the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), will form one of the largest concentrations of biological scientists in the world.

While UQ supports a broad research profile, it also invests strategically in selected areas to develop critical mass and internationally recognised strengths. Key research institutes have been developed to achieve just that.

In addition, UQ has invested strategically in the areas of mining and minerals to create the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).

UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay AC has credited such state-of-the art research centres with reversing the so-called "brain-drain" of Australian academics to overseas postings, as well as significantly boosting national commercialisation activity.

Professor Hay particularly thanked the Queensland Government, under the leadership of Premier Peter Beattie, for the financial and moral support for these new knowledge-based institutes.

He also acknowledged the major role played by The Atlantic Philanthropies in funding for the IMB, QBI and AIBN.

Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI)

More and more, Australia's mining industry has to deal with the concept of responsible growth - growth that makes economic sense and is environmentally and socially responsible.

And, increasingly, the industry is turning to UQ's Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) for new and unique ways of addressing its responsibilities.

SMI Director, Professor Don McKee, is proud of the reputation that the Institute has built up after just three years.

"As a group that had to start from scratch, one of the main criteria for judging our success is that the mining industry is coming to SMI," Professor McKee said.

"What that shows is we are developing an appropriate research agenda and we are making an impact of real value on the mining industry. This is an absolutely clear sense of achievement for us."

Part of this success stemmed from a decision to focus research at an operational level.

"While a lot of the drive for sustainable development comes from high-level corporate decisions, SMI focused on the operations and how to come up with practical applications, thereby bridging the gap between high level ideas and their coal-face implementation," Professor McKee said.

"Over that two to three year journey, we have really learnt something about the different components of sustainability - the social, environmental and economic aspects.

"This range of capabilities spans almost all the components of sustainable development and as a result, SMI is now undertaking cross-disciplinary research that was way beyond our capacity only two years ago."

The SMI will have a new home in 2005, the $21 million Sir James Footes Building at the University's St Lucia campus.

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)

AIBN researchers will soon have world-class, purpose-built facilities, with construction of the $60 million Institute to start in late 2004.

The AIBN is the first institute in Australia to accommodate internationally-recognised researchers in both bioengineering and nanotechnology.

It boasts one of the most significant concentrations of these researchers in the country. This means the skills of engineers, chemists, biologists and computer scientists are being pooled to discover new processes and products that will improve human health and quality of life.

Researchers focus on four main areas of research ? nano-technology for energy and the environment, cell and tissue-engineering, systems bio-technology and nanobiomaterials and devices.

Queensland Brain Institute (QBI)

Earlier this year, Premier Beattie announced a $20 million investment in the $60 million QBI construction project.

QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett said he was delighted with the Government's commitment.

"This Institute will be dedicated to understanding how the brain functions," Professor Bartlett said.

"Once we understand how the brain works at a cellular and molecular level, we can use these discoveries to address problems such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia and look at mental illness such as schizophrenia.

"The work will provide, for the first time, a real opportunity to develop new therapeutics to treat mental and neurological diseases."

Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB)

IMB Director Professor John Mattick AO has an inspiring message for his researchers.

"Everyone who works at the IMB should be trying to win a Nobel Prize," he said.

"Our work aims to develop a better understanding of human health and diseases and then apply this knowledge for the benefit of the whole community."

IMB researchers have been exploring the information contained in genes and proteins ? innovative work propelling Australian research to the forefront of world-best practice.

A $1.3 million grant from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, for example, will be used to establish the country's only state-of-the-art Dynamic Imaging Facility for Cancer Biology.

Research outcomes are commercialised by the University owned technology transfer company IMBcom Pty Ltd.

"We look forward to demonstrating to the community that their investment is well-placed and will yield great dividends in terms of our contribution to world knowledge in biomedical science, and to the development of knowledge-based industries in Queensland and Australia," Professor Mattick said.

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