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Mater Research is a recognised leader in medical research. Our bench to bedside philosophy sees us working across Mater Health’s hospitals and health services, The University of Queensland, and the world-class Translational Research Institute ( TRI ). We are committed to working closely with Mater Health, Mater Education and our growing network of partners and collaborators to turn scientific discovery into the best possible treatment, care, and outcomes for patients and our broader community.

Mater Research Institute - The University of Queensland (MRI-UQ) is an alliance between Mater Research and UQ, providing strategic benefits to both partners. Mater Research brings to the alliance considerable clinical collaboration opportunities and UQ brings all its expertise as a research, education, and teaching institution. Mater Research employees, through an affiliation to MRI-UQ have access to world-class research infrastructure and systems.

We continue to make great strides in medical research, read about our recent successes in our latest Annual Report .

Our key focus areas are Cancer , Chronic and Integrated Care , Healthcare Delivery and Innovation , Mother and Baby , Neuroscience .

A new report by Research Australia has highlighted the challenges that clinician researchers face and has recommended changes to attract more...

Bridging science and service through clinician researchers 

In 2024, Mater Research introduced a new funding scheme—the Future Leaders Fellowship—to support mid-career researchers in leading...

Fellowship creates leaders of the future

Enabling researchers to kickstart their consumer engagement journey and bring community needs to the forefront of their research is a priority...

Connecting researchers with the community 

Jan Mundt had just celebrated the birth of her first grandchild when she received a devastating cancer diagnosis. Despite having never...

Clinical trials help gran defy terminal lung cancer diagnosis

Three “outstanding” women awarded grant to bridge gender gap Equity, diversity and inclusion are workplace culture priorities at Mater Research.

Three “outstanding” women awarded grant to bridge gender gap

Mater Researchers are one step closer to advancing diabetes treatment thanks to new research focusing on IL-22RA1—a protein receptor that is...

Key pancreatic protein linked to regulation of insulin production

Mater Research is establishing a network of heath consumers to help shape the way we conduct research studies and clinical trials.

Join the Mater Research Health Consumer Network

In April 2024, four Mater Researchers embarked on a journey from Australia to Canada to take part in a cross-cultural learning exchange.

Now More Than Ever: bridging cultures for a healthier future

Neonatologist Professor Helen Liley has been caring for Mater mothers and babies for more than a quarter of a century and, this month, her...

Professor Helen Liley marks 25 years of neonatal care at Mater

A new Mater Research study has found that higher rates of stillbirth and adverse health outcomes in baby boys may be linked to dysfunction in...

Study links higher birth risks for baby boys to placental problems

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• QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Image: The QIMR Bergofer building in Brisbane

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QIMR Berghofer is one of Australia’s largest and most successful medical research institutes. Our researchers are investigating the genetic and environmental causes of some of the world’s deadliest diseases as well as developing new diagnostics, better treatments and prevention strategies. The Institute’s diverse research program extends from tropical diseases to cancers to Indigenous health, mental health, and infectious diseases.

Principal research areas

• Infectious diseases
• Mental health & complex disorders

Image caption: The QIMR Berghofer building in Brisbane, Queensland.

Image credit: QIMR Berghofer

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QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Established in 1945 by the Queensland Government, the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (formerly the Queensland Institute of Medical Research) is a world leading translational research institute focused on cancer, infectious diseases, mental health and a range of complex diseases. Working in close collaboration with clinicians and other research institutes, our aim is to improve health by developing new diagnostics, better treatments and prevention strategies.

QIMR Berghofer is home to more than 700 scientists, students and support staff in six research departments (in over 50 separate laboratories) and a support division.

• Visit qimrberghofer.edu.au/
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• Article Feed

Displaying all articles

Summer’s over, so how much sun can (and should) I get?

Katie Lee , The University of Queensland and Rachel Neale , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Our mood usually lifts in spring. But after early heatwaves and bushfires, this year may be different

Tara Crandon , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Emotional abuse is a pattern of hurtful messages – building parenting skills could help prevent it

Divna Haslam , Queensland University of Technology ; Alina Morawska , The University of Queensland , and James Graham Scott , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Is ‘climate anxiety’ a clinical diagnosis? Should it be?

Fiona Charlson , The University of Queensland and Tara Crandon , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

I’m at home with COVID. When do I need to see a doctor? And what treatments are available?

Tari Turner , Monash University ; Bridget Barber , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute ; Josh Davis , University of Newcastle , and Steven McGloughlin , The National Trauma Research Institute

‘Got no friends? Sit on the buddy bench.’ Untested anti-bullying programs may be missing the mark

Karyn Healy , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

There’s no single gene for left-handedness . At least 41 regions of DNA are involved

David Evans , The University of Queensland and Sarah Medland , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

You’re not the only one feeling helpless. Eco-anxiety can reach far beyond bushfire communities

Fiona Charlson , The University of Queensland and James Graham Scott , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Is social media damaging to children and teens? We asked five experts

Alexandra Hansen , The Conversation

Why do many people with Parkinson’s disease develop an addiction? We built a virtual casino to find out

Philip Mosley , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

For people with a mental illness, loved ones who care are as important as formal supports

Emily Hielscher , The University of Queensland ; James Graham Scott , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute , and Sandra Diminic , The University of Queensland

It’s perfectly legal for doctors to charge huge amounts for surgery, but should it be allowed?

Louisa Collins , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Origines de l’asthme : ce que l’on sait, ce que l’on suspecte

Simon Phipps , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Md. Al Amin Sikder , The University of Queensland

What causes asthma? What we know, don’t know and suspect

Why does Australia have so much skin cancer? (Hint: it’s not because of an ozone hole)

Terry Slevin , Cancer Council Australia and David Whiteman , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

New online tool can predict your melanoma risk

Phoebe Roth, The Conversation

Research Check: do most melanoma patients have fewer than 20 moles?

H. Peter Soyer , The University of Queensland and Richard Sturm , The University of Queensland

Interactive body map: what really gives you cancer?

Emil Jeyaratnam, The Conversation and Sasha Petrova, The Conversation

Nobel Prize in Chemistry highlights how our bodies can repair our fragile DNA

Kum Kum Khanna , Queensland Institute of Medical Research ; Amanda L Bain , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute , and Janelle L Harris , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Common painkillers could decrease skin cancer risk

Reema Rattan, The Conversation and Nicki Russell, The Conversation

Associate Professor, infectious diseases, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Senior Research Officer, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Professor and Group Leader at the Cancer Control Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Team Head, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Honorary Professor and Consultant Psychiatrist, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Research scientist, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Professor - Health Economics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Group Leader, Gynaecological Cancers Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Research Fellow, Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Principal research fellow, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Cordinator Mental Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Associate Professor, Respiratory Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Psychologist and PhD Candidate, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

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Queensland researchers reveal promising therapy that could treat the deadliest gynaecological cancer

A novel drug therapy which could potentially be used to treat ovarian cancer — among other types of cancer — is being developed by Queensland researchers.

Key points:

• Ovarian cancer kills one woman every eight hours in Australia, and most cases are diagnosed in late stages of the disease
• Queensland researchers are developing a drug therapy which could help to treat cancers by killing tumour cells
• Researchers are also developing a blood test to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages

A team of researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute have found the drug therapy kills tumour cells, while not harming normal cells.

The pre-clinical research published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal , showed the drug therapy inhibited specific proteins in model human tumour cells, allowing an increase in another protein, known as IL24, which kills the tumour cells.

The research lead at QIMR, Associate Professor Jason Lee, said the team was "particularly excited" because, if successful, the drug therapy could potentially be used to treat ovarian, breast and melanoma cancer.

"It's probably a few years away, because we need to actually work out the safety and efficacy of these drugs before it can be used for patients," Dr Lee said.

One Australian woman dies of ovarian cancer every eight hours, with only 29 per cent of women diagnosed at a late stage surviving more than five years, according to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Often the only signs include feeling full, bloating, cramps or needing to urinate more frequently, which are similar to symptoms of many other conditions.

With no test or method of detecting ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynaecological cancer, the only way to diagnose it is through an invasive surgical procedure.

New screening method

The researchers are also working on developing a blood test which could screen for ovarian cancer — hoping to detect the deadly disease in the early stages.

Dr Lee said the researchers were able to identify a class of "stable molecules" which are highly expressed in patients with ovarian cancer.

"So now the next step is for us is to actually move into looking at blood samples and see if we still detect the circular RNAs that are high in ovarian tumours," he said.

"It's particularly tough because … we don't have a lot of blood samples coming from early stage ovarian cancer patients, because obviously, not all patients are detected at that stage.

"But obviously coming up with and developing a biomarker for tests, you need hundreds and thousands of patient samples to validate."

Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) are also developing a blood test to detect ovarian cancer in the early stages.

Last year the researchers said their new test detected 90 per cent of early ovarian cancers compared with 50 per cent of cases in existing tests.

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Health and medical science

Professor Chamindie Punyadeera, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery – Leading researcher in saliva diagnostics, proteomics, and cortisol

• Over 100 employees health and medical research centres
• 3 times global average cited for AI-enabled healthcare
• 9 research hospitals across Queensland
• 361 million private manufacturing R&D investment annually

Queensland has an advanced research-informed healthcare system with world class health professionals, renowned researchers and state of the art facilities. Recent testaments to our highly collaborative, innovative, and well supported environment for conducting leading health and medical research include the development of the world’s first human papilloma virus vaccine, the mRNA vaccine and molecular clamp technology, and at-home non-prescription diagnostic kits for COVID-19. While many Queensland health and medical researchers re-prioritised their research on potential vaccines, treatments and other medical interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, other researchers have applied their expertise to other impacts of the pandemic upon our economy and other aspects of society.

AI-enabled healthcare includes analysis of the large volumes of personal and system-wide clinical data, management of electronic medical records, use of wearable devices, diagnostic imaging and genomics. In AI-enabled healthcare alone, Queensland researchers produced over 89,000 publications between 2017 and 2021, and the most recent of these (in 2020) were cited 3 times the global average (citation rate of attributable publications), with more than 1200 of these linked to patent publications. Queensland AI-enabled healthcare researchers collaborate most frequently with the USA (33%); the UK (25%); China (18%); Canada (12%), and Germany (11%).

Queensland has a network of infectious disease scientists and clinicians recognised internationally for research excellence that is supported by world-class infrastructure. The Queensland Infectious Disease Research Capabilities (PDF, 799.9KB) document provides comprehensive audit of infectious disease research capabilities across the Griffith University, QIMR Berghofer, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Bond University, University of the Sunshine Coast, James Cook University and the Translational Research Institute.

Queensland has world-leading researchers in areas such as:

• viral, bacterial and parasitic infection
• vaccine research and drug discovery
• genomics and personalised medicine
• digital and AI-enabled healthcare
• imaging and imaging technology
• cellular and molecular neuroscience
• advanced therapies for cancer

and has one the world’s leading high-risk pregnancy units.

Five out of Queensland’s nine universities have been rated ‘above’ or ‘well above’ world standards for medical and health sciences by the Australian Research Council.

Queensland boasts a critical mass of leading health and medical research precincts, institutes, and centres and over 140 research organisations involved in health and medical research. Queensland has nine universities – including three of Australia’s largest – all with strong research linkages with Queensland’s research hospitals and dedicated world-class research institutes and centres.

Leading health and medical research centres

All health and medical research centres

Industry-research collaboration and commercialisation

Vaccine development.

Millions of lives will be saved from cervical cancer by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil® that was developed at the University of Queensland by Professor Ian Frazer and the late Dr Jian Zhou to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Now produced by Merck Vaccines Gardasil® has led to a 90% decrease in the prevalence of HPV.

Diagnostic imaging

Most of the MRI scanners in the world use magnetic resonance technology research by Queensland Centre for Advanced Imaging . The Translational Research Institute (TRI) collaboration with the Siemens Healthineers enables researchers and clinicians to use advanced medical imaging without the need for invasive testing.

A universal vaccine for Malaria – a disease that annually causes over 200 million clinical episodes and more than 600,000 deaths has been developed by JCU’s Australian Institute for Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), is in clinical development in a project led by AITHM in collaboration with Townsville University Hospital , DMTC Ltd and Pfizer .

AI-enabled healthcare

In a project aimed at using AI and whole-genome sequencing to predict patient outcomes of cancer treatment, the QIMR Berghofer have partnered with Brisbane-based AI technology company, Max Kelsen , precision analytics firm, genomiQa , genome sequencing company, BGI Australia , and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital .

Personalised medicine

Fast-tracking of research into potential new lung cancer drug treatments has begun at the Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health in a partnership with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV that provides access to their Jump-stARTer Compound Library.

An acute-care bed dashboard to visualise unit bed capacity, patient status and care trajectory has been developed by Datarwe , a public-private collaboration with Griffith University , Gold Coast University Hospital , Queensland AI Hub and other healthcare providers and leading healthcare ecosystem partners.

Medical devices

The easily stored and administered needle-free vaccine delivery technology developed by researchers at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology has been commercialised by UQ spin-off company Vaxxas into their Nanopatch™ High-Density Microarray Patch (HD-MAP).

Working to identify cancer-causing genetic mutations for better cancer survival rates, the Australian Translational Genomics Centre is a partnership between QUT, Metro South Hospital and Health Service , and Pathology Queensland , and is one of the largest genomic diagnostic and research DNA sequencing services of its kind in Australasia.

Medical technology

Global medical technology group Stryker has established its first Australian research and development facility at the Herston Health Precinct in collaboration with The University of Queensland , Queensland University of Technology, Metro North Hospital and Health Service and the Queensland Government.

Contact the commercial partnership offices of Queensland universities and research institutes for details of their research-industry collaboration or investment opportunities.

Support for the health and medical industry in Queensland

Queensland’s health system.

The Department of Health is the lead government agency the state’s health system. It works in collaboration with 16 Hospital and Health Services (HHS) statutory bodies. Under the auspices of the Clinical Excellence Queensland , the Queensland Clinical Networks are formally recognised groups, established to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare across 25 areas of care.

Sustained investment

Several of the HHS operate major tertiary research hospitals in close partnership with the many specialised research centres and health faculties of Queensland’s universities and research institutes such as the Translational Research Institute (TRI), QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute , Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine and the Menzies Health Institute Queensland .

Successive Queensland Governments have developed several of these research hospitals and institutes over the last two decades. In 2022, further funding was announced for a new 150-bed Queensland Cancer Centre (A$750M) to be built within the Herston Health Precinct at Brisbane’s Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in partnership with the University of Queensland – Herston , Queensland University of Technology and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute . Also funded by the Queensland Government in 2022, is a medical manufacturing facility TM at TRI (A$60M of A$80M full cost) to be built in Brisbane. The facility will be equipped to produce promising drugs and vaccines for clinical trials.

UQ Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology – Illustration of blood clotting process

Photo credit: Dr Alexandr Kakinen

Biomedical industry

Queensland biomedical enterprises include biopharmaceuticals; generic pharmaceuticals; medical devices and point-of-care diagnostics; several multinational biomedical manufacturing businesses; and a thriving complementary medicines industry. The Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan released in June 2017 supports the continuing development the Queensland biomedical sector in the global value chain. The roadmap is supported by the Queensland Industry Partnership Program (2021–2025) that is investing A$350 million in several priority industry sectors including biomedical.

Institute for Molecular Bioscience investigates the stinging nettles of the world’s most venomous plants - the gympie-gympie tree

Photo credit: Darren Brown

Clinical trials

Queensland is a destination of choice for clinical trials, where it is far cheaper than the USA for early-phase clinical trials (28% cheaper before tax incentives and 60% after). Registered on the Queensland Clinical Trials Portal , one in five Australian clinical trials take place in Queensland across over 130 clinical trial sites.

CQUniversity Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research co-design research projects with First Nations organisations

Research and innovation support

Advance Queensland is the key Queensland Government initiative (A$755 million allocated as of July 2022) delivered by nine government agencies, to develop entrepreneurial and research talent and to support start-ups and businesses. There are several funding programs , including the Industry Research Fellowships program that is.

The Department of Health’s HEALTHQ32 Research Strategy 2032 promotes partnerships between industry, research organisations and government to invest in innovative research. The searchable Database of Research Activity covers all human research undertaken in the Department of Health and includes research funded under the Advancing Clinical Research Fellowships , the Nursing and Midwifery Research Fellowships and other funding programs .

The majority of health and medical research in Australia is funded by two independent statutory agencies, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC) .

Talent pipeline for health and medical R&D

All of Queensland’s universities offer under and postgraduate courses and units in health and medicine and partner with Queensland’s research hospitals. Most of the universities host major research institutes and specialised research centres supporting post-graduate and dedicated researcher.

From their earliest years students in Queensland engage with STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) under the strategy for STEM in Queensland state schools and teachers access resources via the STEM Hub and the Queensland STEM Education Network provided by Queensland universities.

High school students can be industry-ready under the Gateway to Industry Schools Health (external link) program. This is long-term program to support the development of a highly-skilled workforce is delivered by CheckUP .

Queensland Life Sciences – Globally Competitive 04:47

Find out why top researchers and industry leaders are saying Queensland is one of the best places in the world for life science research.

View Queensland life sciences video with Chinese subtitles 昆士兰生命科学 – 全球领先”视频（附中文字幕）

The Department commissioned two reports to support emerging science-based industries:

• A New Chapter: opportunities to seed new industries for Queensland over the coming decade (2021) (PDF, 7.7MB)
• New Smarts Supporting Queensland’s knowledge-intensive industries through science, research and innovation (2019) (PDF, 11.9MB) .

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Watch the Traditional knowledge and biodiscovery in Queensland video to learn more about biodiscovery in Queensland and the importance of protecting traditional knowledge.

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Working together to improve health and empower communities through medical education and research..

The University of Queensland Medical School is a leading provider of medical education and research in Queensland, with an internationally renowned medical degree program, and with leading mental health and skin cancer programs. We're committed to pushing back the boundaries of knowledge, translating research into clinical practice and educating future generations.

• Many people get withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop antidepressants. So how can you safely stop? 14 June 2024
• How a culturally informed model of care helped First Nations patients with heart disease 11 June 2024
• Severe mental illness linked to alarmingly high rates of physical ailments 1 May 2024

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The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory

World-class medical research institute gets multimillion dollar expansion.

Published Tuesday, 08 June, 2021 at 09:09 AM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for Trade The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning The Honourable Dr Steven Miles

Treasurer and Minister for Investment The Honourable Cameron Dick

A world leading Queensland medical research facility will receive a multimillion-dollar investment to ramp up the development and manufacturing of vaccines.

The project is the first to be announced under the Palaszczuk Government’s new flagship $1.84 billion Queensland Jobs Fund.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government was investing $20 million towards the development of a new Translational Manufacturing Institute at the existing Translational Research Institute (TRI).

“The $1.84 billion Queensland Jobs Fund is the next evolution of Queensland’s approach to industry development and jobs creation,” the Premier said.

“People and businesses are moving to Queensland in droves because they know it is one of the safest places in the world to live, work and raise a family.

“My government will provide up to $20 million to expand the existing TRI to include a new state-of-the-art Translational Manufacturing Institute called “TMI@TRI”.

“This will accelerate development of one of the State’s most important health-research precincts and ramp up Australia’s capacity to develop our biomedical industry and manufacture vaccines.

“It will also support an estimated 500 jobs over 10 years.”  

The project is the first to be announced as part of the Government’s new $350 million Industry Partnership Program, within the $1.84 billion Queensland Jobs Fund unveiled today.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland could be a vaccine manufacturing location for the whole country.

“The Queensland Jobs Fund is the government’s next step toward Queensland’s economic recovery,” Mr Miles said.

“What better project to kick it off than an investment in biomedical manufacturing that will create high-skilled jobs in Queensland and could lead to the development of life saving vaccines.  

“I want Queensland to lead the country in vaccine research, development, and manufacturing, and I’ve been talking to leading biomedical experts about how to do this.

“TMI@TRI was one of their strong recommendations.

“We want to keep growing the state’s biomedical sector, which already employs more than 10,000 people across more than 1200 companies.

“From the very start of the pandemic, Queenslanders have shown the world the capability of our biomedical research and development.

“Scaling up manufacturing is the next frontier for us. Imagine Queensland becoming Australia’s leading vaccine manufacturing location, right here at Woolloongabba.”

Treasurer and Minister for Investment, Cameron Dick said that under the $1.84 billion fund, the government is working to supercharge the economic recovery.

“Our strong health response to COVID-19 has enabled us to accelerate the recovery of our economy, which is now larger than what it was pre-pandemic,” the Treasurer said.

“We’re now ready to drive that next phase of economic growth”.

“Queensland’s COVID19 economic recovery plan is unashamedly focused on growing Queensland jobs and our state’s manufacturing base

“The Queensland Jobs Fund will help us unlock private sector investment to achieve this.

“If there is one thing that the pandemic has taught us, it is that we need to manufacture more things in Queensland, by Queenslanders, for Queenslanders.

“This includes manufacturing more medical equipment, personal protective equipment, and vaccines right here in our backyard.

“We want to work with investors on high impact projects will create a new generation of jobs now and well into the future.”

CEO of the Translational Research Institute Scott Bell said that the establishment of the Translational Manufacturing Institute (TMI@TRI) will support the local retention of start-ups to advance the commercialisation of their products, and help this industry realise economic and export opportunities.

“The provision of fully operational Good Manufacturing Practice cleanrooms will also see up to 100 people gain hands-on training in cleanroom processes and advanced manufacturing annually, creating a highly skilled workforce for the medtech industry.”

Professor Ian Frazer AC FRS, co-inventor of the Gardasil vaccine for cervical cancer said because of Australia’s limited manufacturing capability for biological products in the 1970s, the cervical cancer vaccine was unable to be tested and manufactured locally.

“This meant that large-scale clinical trials were conducted overseas. This remains the case today,” he said.

“I’ve recently contributed to the development of two research products, a potential treatment for COVID-19 and an immunotherapy for head and neck cancer.

“These were manufactured overseas, because we lacked the capacity to produce them here. 

“I would like to see Queensland help Australia to develop the capacity and capability to manufacture products like these here and TMI@TRI can help us achieve this.”

TRI has sought Australian Government funding under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) for this expansion at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Precinct.

The Queensland Government is prepared to support the project with up to $20 million, within the boundaries of the MMI funding guidelines, and is encouraging the Australian Government to support TMI@TRI.

The TMI@TRI project aligns with the government’s  Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan  to make Queensland a globally competitive Asia-Pacific biomedical hub by 2027.

Find out more at www.qld.gov.au/qldjobsfund

Media contact:        Deputy Premier’s Office - Katharine Wright 0428 957 903 Treasurer’s Office - Geoff Breusch 0417 272 875

UQ-led project to test technology-driven solutions for rural skin cancer screening

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A University of Queensland-led project will test a combination of technologies to improve the early detection of potentially fatal skin cancers in patients in regional and rural Australia.

Professor Monika Janda from UQ's Centre for Health Services Research said the aim is to inform work towards a national, targeted melanoma screening program for Australia.

Rates of skin cancer are higher in regional areas, however fewer than 10 per cent of dermatologists practice outside capital cities. We want to ensure equitable access to skin imaging services for regional Australians and reduce the time between detection and treatment, ultimately saving lives." Professor Monika Janda from UQ's Centre for Health Services Research

The project has secured $3 million in funding from the Medical Research Future Fund.

"Our study will look at how 3D total body photography, combined with artificial intelligence to support clinicians, can help improve and speed up skin cancer imaging," Professor Janda said.

"Along with technology, the project will include upskilling regional staff."

The research will be conducted at 9 regional hospital and health care centres across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, including a 3D total body imaging trial hub established in partnership with Mildura Base Public Hospital.

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"All 9 regional hubs will use new technologies to test AI in healthcare and minimally invasive biopsy methods," Professor Janda said.

"Conversations with consumers in regional communities have been pivotal in shaping the project's focus.

"Geographical isolation and limited access to healthcare facilities exacerbate the challenges of living in regional Australia.

"Delivering services in rural areas is complex, but technology can help us to tackle the obstacles of distance and a shortage of medical specialists."

Professor Janda said the project will improve research and clinical trial opportunities for patients in regional areas.

The project is an initiative of the ACRF Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis , comprising researchers from UQ, Monash University and University of Sydney.

The University of Queensland

Posted in: Device / Technology News | Medical Research News | Medical Condition News

Tags: Artificial Intelligence , Biopsy , Cancer , Clinical Trial , Health Care , Healthcare , Hospital , Imaging , Medical Research , Melanoma , Research , Skin , Skin Cancer , Technology

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3D-Printed Medical-Grade Polycaprolactone (mPCL) Scaffold for the Surgical Treatment of Vaginal Prolapse and Abdominal Hernias

Affiliations.

• 1 Department of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Brazil.
• 2 Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
• 3 Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
• 4 Queen Elisabeth II Jubilee Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia.
• 5 Medical Engineering Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4032, Australia.
• 6 Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
• 7 Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia.
• 8 ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
• PMID: 38002366
• PMCID: PMC10669821
• DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10111242

The expected outcome after a scaffold augmented hernia repair is the regeneration of a tissue composition strong enough to sustain biomechanical function over long periods. It is hypothesised that melt electrowriting (MEW) medical-grade polycaprolactone (mPCL) scaffolds loaded with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) will enhance soft tissue regeneration in fascial defects in abdominal and vaginal sheep models. A pre-clinical evaluation of vaginal and abdominal hernia reconstruction using mPCL mesh scaffolds and polypropylene (PP) meshes was undertaken using an ovine model. Each sheep was implanted with both a PP mesh (control group), and a mPCL mesh loaded with PRP (experimental group) in both abdominal and vaginal sites. Mechanical properties of the tissue-mesh complexes were assessed with plunger tests. Tissue responses to the implanted meshes were evaluated via histology, immunohistochemistry and histomorphometry. At 6 months post-surgery, the mPCL mesh was less stiff than the PP mesh, but stiffer than the native tissue, while showing equitable collagen and vascular ingrowth when compared to PP mesh. The results of this pilot study were supportive of mPCL as a safe and effective biodegradable scaffold for hernia and vaginal prolapse repair, hence a full-scale long-term study (over 24-36 months) with an adequate sample size is recommended.

Keywords: 3D printing; mPCL; mesh; pelvic floor prolapse; polypropylene.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

D.W.H. is a shareholder in Osteopore (Osteopore International Pty Ltd., Singapore). The remaining authors declare no competing interests relating to this paper.

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images…

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images showing the ultrastructural morphology of the medical grade…

Stiffness of healthy abdominal and…

Stiffness of healthy abdominal and vaginal tissue (control), mPCL mesh/tissue complex and polypropylene…

Histology overview of the vaginal…

Histology overview of the vaginal wall implanted with the PP mesh and mPCL…

Immunohistochemistry overview of the vaginal…

Immunohistochemistry overview of the vaginal wall implanted with the PP mesh and mPCL…

Histomorphometric evaluation of the vaginal…

Histomorphometric evaluation of the vaginal wall implanted with the PP mesh and mPCL…

Histology overview of the abdominal…

Histology overview of the abdominal wall implanted with the PP mesh and mPCL…

Immunohistochemistry overview of the abdominal…

Immunohistochemistry overview of the abdominal wall implanted with the PP mesh and mPCL…

Histomorphometric evaluation of the abdominal…

Histomorphometric evaluation of the abdominal wall implanted with the PP mesh and mPCL…

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• Tissue response to collagen containing polypropylene meshes in an ovine vaginal repair model. Darzi S, Urbankova I, Su K, White J, Lo C, Alexander D, Werkmeister JA, Gargett CE, Deprest J. Darzi S, et al. Acta Biomater. 2016 Jul 15;39:114-123. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2016.05.010. Epub 2016 May 6. Acta Biomater. 2016. PMID: 27163402
• Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Maher C, Feiner B, Baessler K, Schmid C. Maher C, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Apr 30;(4):CD004014. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004014.pub5. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Nov 30;11:CD004014. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004014.pub6. PMID: 23633316 Updated. Review.
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Groundbreaking medical pathway partnership renewed

By Jocelyn Sticklen

An Australian-first university and hospital partnership that has set the benchmark for regional medical training has been renewed for another five years.

The Regional Medical Pathway – a medical education and training pathway pioneered by CQUniversity, The University of Queensland, and the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services – will now see the popular program continue into the future thanks to the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between four the partners.

First established in 2021, the pathway allows up to 60 students per year to complete their entire medical studies in regional Queensland.

It sees students complete a three-year Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course with CQUniversity, before moving into UQ’s four-year MD program, with both education programs delivered locally in Bundaberg or Rockhampton.  As part of the partnership the Hospital and Health Services will provide students with internship opportunities and postgraduate training places within their regional footprints. 

The first intake of students entered the pathway in 2022 with aspiring doctors from across Australia relocating to Bundaberg and Rockhampton to commence CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) degree. 

This foundation cohort are set to complete their CQUniversity studies at the end of 2024 and will enter the full UQ MD program in 2025.

The pathway is now in its third year and just achieved its highest ever intake of first year students, with almost 50 percent of whom are local to the Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions, highlighting that aspiring doctors no longer need to leave the regions to undertake medical studies.

CQUniversity’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Nick Klomp said: “Today’s re-signing of the Regional Medical Pathway MOU is another important milestone in the delivery of this important education pathway.

“The success of the Regional Medical Pathway is obvious, with our first intake of students set to graduate and commence their formal MD studies in the region from next year. 

“As they progress through their studies and become doctors, it will make a huge difference to health delivery in our region, something that will be the direct result of four parties coming together to address the critical issue of health workforce shortages in regional and remote areas.”

Deborah Terry AC, Vice-Chancellor and President at The University of Queensland said: “The Regional Medical Pathway will help to address the difficulties in attracting and retaining doctors in regional, remote and rural areas, with the program attracting students from both the local area and other regions of Australia.

“The aim of the program has always been to deliver positive, sustained improvement in the health outcomes of regional communities, particularly here in Queensland. 

“UQ looks forward to continuing our work with CQUniversity and the Hospital and Health Services to nurture future health workforces in the regions and deliver a rich and fulfilling experience to medical students.”

The Chief Executives of the Hospital and Health Services in Central Queensland and the Wide Bay agreed with these statements and explained that a strong workforce pipeline would have a tangible impact on health service delivery in the regions. 

Lisa Blackler, Chief Executive, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services said: “ As we see students working their way through the Regional Medical Pathway, communities in Central Queensland and Wide Bay can be confident that future health workforces will be better equipped to deal with community growth and changing healthcare needs. 

“The Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions are growing, and the communities have an expectation that healthcare delivery will meet future demand, the Regional Medical Pathway is allowing us to develop a strong pipeline of future doctors who have a unique understanding of regional and remote practice.”

Debbie Carroll, Chief Executive, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services added: “ This collaboration allows us to deliver an end-to-end medical education and training program for doctors, right here in Central Queensland and the Wide Bay.   It has been specifically designed to secure long-term, locally trained workforces for the regions.

“To date we have seen the program deliver greater accessibility for regionally based students to study medicine locally and we have also seen students from metropolitan areas relocate to the regions.”

Students from the program also shared their positive experiences of being part of a regionally based training and education program with Bundaberg-based Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), Varun Lad saying he had formed strong local bonds with medical professionals and peers since relocating from Sydney in 2021. 

“Being among the foundation cohort of students in the Regional Medical Pathway has been a life-changing experience for me. I relocated to Bundaberg from Sydney to study in the program and haven't looked back since! It has been an enriching experience to be part of the Wide Bay community. 

“The program has given me a valuable head start when it comes to my future career in medicine, and I have been offered learning opportunities that have helped me understand medicine holistically. The observational placements as part of my medical science degree have been amazing, the academic staff are supportive, I have already established local professional networks, and I have also made lifelong friends with my peers,”  said Mr Lad. 

Meanwhile, Rockhampton-based third-year student, Tylin Guthrie said the program gave her the opportunity to learn on Country. 

“ Getting accepted into the foundation year of the Regional Medical Pathway was a dream come true. As a proud  Darumbal woman it gave me the opportunity to complete the entirety of my medical studies on Country.

“Studying the whole program in my local community allowed me to stay close to my support networks, and get an understanding of local healthcare challenges and how I can support better health outcomes for First Nations Australians. 

“As a future doctor, my career goal is to play a role in Closing the Gap by helping to ensure  Australia's First Nations peoples are equal in health and life to non-Indigenous Australians."

The Regional Medical Pathway model originally developed for the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Regions is now also being applied to the Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland Regions, helping to ensure that regional Queensland has a strong emerging medical workforce. 

For more information on the program please visit the  Regional Medical Pathway website . 

More information about the CQUniversity  Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course is available here . 

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A Scholarship Guide for Aspiring Researchers

Emelie Dahlskold, 24 June, 2024 | QUT Faculty of Science PhD student Jacinta Holloway-Brown

Are you an aspiring research student seeking financial support for your academic journey? Discover the wealth of scholarship opportunities available to fuel your research ambitions.

At QUT, we understand that every research student has unique needs and aspirations. That's why we offer scholarships year-round, catering to various study areas and interests. Whether you're committed to full-time, internal enrolment or looking for targeted support, our scholarship search tool is your gateway to finding the perfect fit.

2025 Annual Scholarship Round: Mark Your Calendars

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PBAC recommends free RSV vaccine for pregnant women

The RSV vaccine could soon become free for pregnant women following a recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. AMA Queensland has been advocating for free RSV vaccines to protect newborns and young children from serious respiratory illness.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has recommended adding the RSV vaccine to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for pregnant women.

AMA Queensland has been calling for the vaccine to be made free under the NIP as RSV rates have soared over the past two years.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved RSVpreF (Abrysvo) earlier this year for use in pregnant women 24-36 weeks’ gestation.

Research found infants from vaccinated mothers had an 82 per cent lower risk of severe infection due to RSV in the first three months of life compared to placebo, and a 69 per cent reduction in the following three months.

PBAC had previously rejected a submission from vaccine maker Pfizer to add Abrysvo to the NIP due to the vaccine’s cost.

Pfizer has returned with a reduced cost and PBAC has changed its recommendation.

As of 16 June, Queensland had recorded 23,485 RSV notifications in 2024, a 53 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Of those notifications, more than 7,000 were children aged less than two years and 1,366 of them were admitted to hospital.

The Queensland Government introduced free RSV immunisations for newborn babies (under two months) and infants under eight months old in March 2024.

As of last week, no newborns who received the immunisation have been hospitalised for RSV.

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The sydney student who uncovered a ‘shocking’ problem with global cancer research, by angus dalton, save articles for later.

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

Examine, a free weekly newsletter covering science with a sceptical, evidence-based eye, is sent every Tuesday. You’re reading an excerpt – Sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox .

Modern medicine stands on the shoulders of Henrietta Lacks, a woman who, in January 1951, presented to Johns Hopkins Hospital for cervical cancer treatment because it was one of the few places in Baltimore that would treat African American patients.

Lacks died shortly after but not before physicians, without her knowledge or consent, harvested a biopsy of her tumour. When researchers cultured the cancerous cells, they found something astonishing: the cells kept replicating.

HeLa cells were the first-ever cell line established outside the body and have underpinned countless medical discoveries since 1951. Credit: AP

The sample became the first “immortalised” cell line: collections of cells grown outside the body. These cells would become the bedrock of medical research. Before a medicine becomes a miracle drug, for example, it’s tested on cell lines such as this to gather evidence for safety and efficacy before the research progresses to animal or human trials.

Named “HeLa” from Lacks’ first and last names, that first cell line has been fundamental to the scientific study of polio, HIV, cancer, blood disorders, ebola and COVID-19.

Many other cell lines representing hundreds of cancers and tissues have been established since HeLa.

But when a Sydney undergraduate began poking through academic papers depending on this cellular research, she discovered something shocking: for a number of cell lines referenced in cancer research and drug discovery papers, and even vaunted scientific literature reviews, there was no evidence at all that the cells had ever existed.

Misspelt or missing entirely?

“I’ve been pretty intrigued and depressed and interested in this all at the same time,” says Danielle Oste, an animal science student at the University of Sydney who stumbled across the non-verifiable cell lines during an undergraduate project.

In two papers Oste and her group were analysing, guided by research integrity detective Professor Jennifer Byrne and PhD student Pranujan Pathmendra, they stumbled across five cell line names they couldn’t verify. Cross-checking cell lines used in experiments should be easy using a comprehensive online encyclopedia called Cellosaurus.

“When we found these five [non-verifiable cell lines], I just remember the Cellosaurus page coming up saying, ‘no results’, and thinking like, what? What do you mean? No results, how?”

Danielle Oste, who’s finishing off her animal science degree at the University of Sydney, travelled to Athens to present at a conference on research integrity. Credit: Danielle Oste

Byrne called Oste back to continue research on the issue, outside of class. They found more phantom cell lines – 23 in total – and zeroed in on seven that have been referred to across hundreds of papers.

These cell lines weren’t in Cellosaurus. There were no previous papers that described how the cells were established. They were missing genetic identification markers. And, although some researchers claimed they had obtained the cells from repositories (online stores for lab ingredients), Byrne and Oste couldn’t find them listed in catalogues.

Some of the missing cell lines may be the result of human error, such as researchers misspelling cell line names. But misspelling alone cannot explain the phenomenon in more than half of the 420 papers they analysed, the researchers say.

“I know it sounds terrible, but I don’t think these cell lines exist,” Byrne says. “We think we’ve discovered the tip of a much larger problem in the scientific literature.”

Why does it matter?

The existence of these phantom cell lines is chilling because it undermines critical medical research. Scientists need to be able to reproduce and verify each other’s work or look at results from cells and feel confident trying to reproduce the results in real organisms or humans.

“The concern that I have is that many laboratory researchers are actually out there possibly trying to reproduce experiments that never existed,” Byrne says.

“How do you reproduce an experimental result in a cell line if you cannot get hold of that cell line? The answer is: you can’t.”

The missing cell lines have also contaminated literature reviews, the gold standard of scientific evidence that collate hundreds of studies to draw robust and reliable conclusions. As unwitting scientists refer to studies with unverifiable cell lines, the cell lines get ironed into the literature and infect our understanding of human biology itself.

Professor Jennifer Byrne, a cancer expert and research integrity sleuth at the University of Sydney. Credit: Wolter Peeters

“The reach of cell lines forward into the literature is very long because they’re these foundational models that everyone uses at the start,” Byrne says. “If the foundation is rotten, then what you can build on that is not going to hold.”

Calling out the specific authors who used these non-verifiable cell lines was outside the scope of Byrne and Oste’s research, but they’ve written to affected journals to flag their concerns.

“Whether they start off as misspellings and then seem to take on new lives as independent cell lines, or whether other stuff’s happening, potentially, with AI or paper mill involvement, it’s hard to say,” Oste says. “But there’s some definite red flags there.”

Many of the problematic studies emerged from Chinese hospitals, which have been identified as a hotbed of “paper mill” activity. This refers to researchers churning out papers with shoddy data in disreputable journals just to boost their own professional standing or attract funding.

“We’re not trying to point fingers, but we just want to make it clear that this is of significant concern,” Oste says.

“Papers that are describing experiments with these non-verifiable cell lines should be retracted, and any literature reviews or other papers that refer to them should have expressions of concern.”

Oste, still an undergraduate, has just returned from Greece where she presented at a research integrity conference, ahead of her exams. Byrne says their paper reporting the missing cell lines, in the International Journal of Cancer , is a shining example of student-led research.

“Students who just have no preconceptions about what’s out there can actually make very powerful observations,” Byrne says. “Possibly hundreds of thousands of people have seen these identifiers, and no one has thought to check them – until we did.”

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