State's Smartest Fellows

From left: Dr Blakey, Professor Siddle and Dr Schirra

The Queensland Government has made a substantial investment in growing the State’s knowledge economy.

Groundbreaking UQ research into obesity reduction, computer chip manufacture and the control of crop-damaging pests is being significantly advanced through the work of Smart State Fellows.

UQ researchers Dr Louise Hutley, Dr Idriss Blakey and Dr Horst Schirra have each received three-year fellowships. The Queensland Government provides $150,000 in funding for each fellowship as part of its Smart State initiative, which is matched collectively by research organisations and industry co-sponsors.

Professor David Siddle, UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), said the fellowships scheme was a manifestation of the government’s commitment to research and development, and to the development of a knowledge economy.

“The University is delighted that three of its innovative staff have been recognised in this way and is looking forward to further collaboration with the government for the benefit of all Queenslanders,” Professor Siddle said.

Dr Hutley, from the School of Medicine, is developing a drug to block the growth of fat cells.

Obesity is a major contributor to medical conditions including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and depression.
“Despite the fact that obesity is so prevalent in our society, we still don’t really know what makes fat tissue grow,” Dr Hutley said. Using human fat tissue, Dr Hutley has identified a growth factor crucial to the development of fat cells.
“These findings form the basis of novel therapies that will target and block development of new fat cells, thus limiting growth of fat tissue,” Dr Hutley said.

Dr Blakey, from the Centre for Magnetic Resonance, is investigating why some materials fail during the computer chip manufacturing process.

“I am hoping to design new material and processes for what is a multi-billion-dollar industry,” he said. “The fellowship will provide crucial funding for my research program and enable me to further develop national and international collaborations with industry and academia.”
Dr Schirra, from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, is developing new pest control methods by determining how plant proteins block the digestive enzymes of insect pests.

“The aim is to structurally characterise the interactions between the digestive enzymes of insects with proteinase inhibitors from plants,” he said.

“Nature has developed its own arsenal of defence mechanisms against insects and other pests, and we are trying to dip into this toolbox and utilise it.

“The outcomes include novel approaches to protect economically important crops such as cotton from insect pests, potentially saving millions of dollars in chemical pesticides and enhancing Australia’s crop production.”

Dr Louise Hutley www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/hutleyl.html

Dr Idriss Blakey

Dr Horst Schirra www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/schirrahj.html